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The Rodeo Sonoran Migration: Feb 6-8 

The Rodeo Sonoran Migration: Feb 6-8 

$85.00

The Sonoran Desert might be a desert by definition, but in practice, it is built a little differently. Instead of being a barren rocky expanse, the Sonoran is the most ecologically diverse desert in the world, with hundreds of unique species of animals and plants that call the American Southwest home.

These plants and animals all have particular conditions where they thrive. Some like the hotter, more barren flat lands, and others enjoy the cooler mountains and highlands of the desert. Yet all of it coexists in and around Phoenix, Arizona, where the desert meets one of the biggest cities in the West.

In the winter, Arizona is Trail Donkey and Flaanimal country. Migrate with us February 6-8 to the desert to see what it’s all about.

Time is short to get ready for this last minute gathering, so we will be adding information to this page as we go. To start, just save the dates and get yourself to the Phoenix area for a mid day start.

The entry “fee” for this ride will cover campgrounds, the support vehicle which will carry water (or other gear) to camp, and will help offset the time it takes to organize, scout, and manage the event.

February 6-8

Friday: 

Morning breakfast and pack 

12 pm Rollout from Scottsdale/Phoenix location (TBD) 

Very easy, paved rollout until the Pima/Dynamite Trailhead. Then mostly dirt the rest of the way.

Optional climb up to Humboldt Peak at almost 6,000 feet. Much of the next days ride is visible from the top. 

4-6 pm arrival at Seven Springs camp 

6 pm all riders at camp (hopefully, short route ~48 miles without the climb) 

Dinner and campfire stories (pending burn allowances) wpad-side-10

Vehicle will meet us at camp with water or any food you may have stashed in it for transport to camp.wpad-side-10

Saturday: 

We ride at dawn! It is basically an 81-mile day minimum. 40 miles of which doesn’t have reliable water. 

Long ride around Horse Thief reservoir. The miles don’t suggest it, but this is rugged stuff! 

We are optimistic that we will have some possible spots to filter, but there are very few signs of humanity. The one reliable water spot is the Verde River at Sheep Bridge. Should be deep and swimmable. We hear rumors of a hot spring.

2-4 arrive at camp in the McDowell Mountain Preserve (optional additional unloaded trail rides) 

5-6 pm dinner.

Vehicle will meet us at camp with water or any food you may have stashed in it for transport to camp.

Sunday: 

Easy ride for Sunday. Option to do a nice morning unloaded route through McDowell. Easy trails for all types of off-road bikes. Minimum distance is around 40 miles. 

Load up and ride to Fountain Hills. Restaurants and grocery stores are there to celebrate making it through the hard stuff. 

Gather and mingle area at the end. TBD.

The Route: Playing the Hits and a Hidden Gem 

The Sonoran Migration is a three-day, two-night bikepacking trip that is not a race. Instead, it is a choose-your-own-adventure around the desert, with predetermined campsite and light support. And by light, we mean we’ll have someone drive out to the campsites that can bring water / food / gear resupply if you don’t want to carry it yourself. The rest of it is on you, just like it would be on a bikepacking trip. No vehicle will be available for rider rescue or extraction. If you have to make that call, it would be an emergency (SAR Search And Rescue) call, which is quite expensive if you don’t have SAR insurance.

The route for the ride is set, but there are some optional bits. We will have a few out-and-back options, but what we have outlined here is our curated tour of the northeastern cut of the Sonoran Desert, from “the Valley” all the way to some of the highest peaks you can get to in a day’s ride. 

In total, we are looking at a route with three general surfaces: road, gravel, and singletrack. None of the single tracks require a full-suspension bike, we’ve done it on a fat tire Donkey, but it isn’t a cake walk either. The gravel itself is also a mixed bag, which is par for the course deep in the desert, so use that tire clearance the bikes give you and go big or risk going home deflated, literally and figuratively. 

That being said, if you want to bring your mountain bike, or your trusty gravel bike isn’t a Rodeo, no worries! This isn’t an exclusive gathering. Our bikes are just well-suited for this kind of riding, so we like to get together with a bunch of our friends to do it from time to time.

In terms of ability, you should be comfortable riding long distances in remote environments. You should be fit enough to get up and over the mountains and climbs shown on the map above. If you aren’t comfortable with the potential to ride alone, bring a friend and commit to riding together. A number of people from Rodeo will be along on this ride, but we will not be providing support or assistance other than the water and food carrying capability to each campsite.

If you’re unfamiliar with the gear requirements for a multi day self supported bikepacking ride, we urge you to consult with a lot of the getting started articles on bikepacking.com, and we also have a starting point for a gear list here.

We will require all riders to sign a waiver for the event before riding with us.

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