The EMRP gets a bad name. Online forums and biking reviews about the park are almost downright rude! I am writing this review so the park gets a fair shot, maybe some of it's bad name can be relieved.
Getting There
To ride Estrella Mountain Regional Park (not the competitive loops) there are two main areas that I suggest parking. First, is through the main park entrance off of 143rd and Vineyard. This entrance will cost $6. Once through that entrance drive back to the Rodeo Arena and park there. In that location you will have the greatest and most immediate trail access as well as water and bathrooms available.
The other parking area (and my personal suggestion) is on the south west side of the mountain range through the community of Estrella. Park at the Foothills Park (future location of jump lines and a pump track) which is on the east side of Estrella Parkway, just south of Weststar Road by the High School. This park also has water and bathrooms available. Entry to EMRP this way will be on bike and only cost you $2 at an Iron Ranger.
To get into the park this way is a bit more complicated than parking at the Rodeo Arena, but not at all difficult. In about a mile or two of riding you will be there. Behind Foothills Park there is a dirt road. Go north on this road over a cattle guard and through a sandy wash. At this point you will see single track to your right. Follow the single track towards the mountains and the signs marked "PA" for Park Avenue. They will take you to the Iron Ranger and Connector Trail - which hooks up with Pederson trail and the rest of the park.
Pederson Trail
This Desert Classic-ish trail runs from the North West to the South East on a slight incline towards the Estrella Mountains. The trail travels in and out of semi deep washes offering a challenge, but nothing (besides one particular crossing in about 7 miles) that is too tough to make through without getting off your bike. The big draw of Pederson Trail - personally - is the isolation and absolute beauty of the desert mountain landscape that the trail offers. Do not expect to see hikers, horses, or anybody on this trail besides those who you are riding with.
As you get closer to the Estrella Mountain range you will travel through a massive cholla field - watch out for cholla balls on the trail - if those things get picked up by your tire and hit the crown of your fork - they are likely to end up in your leg!
This trail is great for 29 inch hardtails, single speeds, and those looking to explore new places and try something new. Due to the isolation I do not suggest beginners venture out on Pederson Trail alone, but it will be no problem for the experienced rider to tackle solo. Be sure to remember your camera. Pederson Trail is best done as an out and back, turning around at the Homestead Trail. Continuing on past this point will bring you to a sandy road better suited for a fat bike.
Getting to Pederson Trail requires some travel along other trails. From the rodeo arena take the Coachwhip Trail south to the Gadsen Trail. Continue south on Gadsen to the intersection with Pederson and head out towards the mountains. If you reach Toothaker Trail you have missed Pederson, turn back you have gone too far.
From Foothills Park, take the Connector Trail to the Pederson intersection. Go straight, do not turn on the sandy double track. Climb through some deep washes until you get to a saddle with a giant pile of Quartz rock on both sides of the trail. Go down hill to Toothacher Trail, to Gadsen, and then turn left on Pederson towards the mountains.
Homestead Trail
Homestead Trail is an alternate route to the top of Pederson, or back down to the connector trail from the top of Pederson. The trail is usually "San Tan Sandy" but it is a phenomenal ride after it rains. If the sand in washes you have crossed on the Connector Trail is reasonably packed down you know Homestead will be ready to ride! Although I do not own one, I can assume that this trail is a great place for your fat bike or 29+ rig, offering a ride option to loop Pederson rather than ride it out and back.
Personally, riding up Homestad after rain and down Pederson back to the junction with Gadsen trail was some of the most fun I've ever had. Spinning the pedals through the packed sand, with only some loose areas, never having to put a foot down was awesome - but conditions have to be just right. Homestead is a gradual climb, think Pemberton Trail at McDowell Mountain Park counter clockwise from the parking area - add in a bit more isolation, a bit more elevation, a few more rocks, more photo worthy scenery, and a more single-track like trail and you've got Homestad. The trail follows the areas largest wash - Corgett - along a mini canyon which gets deeper all the way towards the mountains.
Once you arrive at the junction of Homestad and Pederson turn left (North West) to follow Pederson trail back. Turning right will take you south of the park where Pederson turns into Williams Field Road - a beach. This wide dirt road with sand 6-12 inches deep is no fun to ride on a regular bike due to the sand, and probably no fun to ride on a fat bike because it is boring and straight. I do not suggest this part of Pederson Trail to be included in your park experience, but it will get you back to where you came from.
To climb Homestead - from the Foothills Park go past the Iron Ranger via the Connector Trail. When at the intersection with Pederson make a right (South) instead of staying straight. You will ride down a semi sandy double track - nothing too tough to pedal over. Go past Gadsen trail, cross over the wide Corgett Wash and take a left on Homestead shortly after. This is where your gradual ascent towards the base of the Estrellas will begin. At the top when you reach Pederson take a left and cross back over the wash (about 20 feet deep at this point) in the other direction and descend back down Pederson - which is a blast!
Rainbow Valley Trail (section north of Dysart Trail)
The Rainbow Valley Trail is likely the most popular trail in EMRP. On this trail keep in mind that you are probably going to see hikers, horseback riders, and other mountain bikers. It is ever important that mountain bikers follow the rules of the trail - especially in EMRP where the biking numbers are just beginning to increase. No reason to start making anybody mad! Get off the trail and off the bike for horses, and be sure to announce yourself and yield to hikers and uphill riders.
That being said - Rainbow Valley Trail is a blast!
From the rodeo arena riding Rainbow Valley is great in both directions. Heading north (counter clockwise) starts with a small climb to a junction with the Baseline Trail. For a loop of an additional mile or so and a few extra feet of climbing take this trail, that dumps you back onto Rainbow a few yards up. Or, just stick on Rainbow itself to avoid the extra miles.
Continue to climb to a saddle overlooking the Tres Rios golf course with a view of the Gila River. Continue on rounding the corner south to begin a descent, followed by a little climb, followed by more descending giving you a roller coaster like effect. All this while the trail is cut into the side of the mountain - and you will not start hitting wash crossings until your descent is complete.
The great thing about Rainbow Valley Trail is it that nothing is too rough, which is not the norm for a trail cut into the side of a mountain like this one. There are no drops or rock gardens to maneuver over, and it will give experienced riders a chance to push themselves on the uphills but new riders a chance to get some good sustained climbing in on a non technical terrain.
While descending south you will catch views of the custom homes nestled up against the mountains along Estrella Parkway, the Estrella Star Tower, the Buckeye Hills in the distance to the west, and the Maricopa mountains to the south. Take it all in as you wind down the mountain side.
When the trail flattens out again you will soon be at the intersection of Rainbow Valley Trail and Dysart Trail. Here you essentially have three options. One would be to continue up Rainbow to the south - a grueling semi-technical climb. Next would be to take a left on Dysart and head back towards the rodeo arena. Lastly would be to turn around and ride the Rainbow backwards (clockwise) - climbing the descent you just completed and descending on the other side!
To ride Rainbow Valley Trail clockwise to begin with - take the Toothaker Trail south from the rodeo arena to Dysart Trail. Take Dysart west to the intersection with Rainbow and make a right hand (north) turn to start the ride up the mountainside.
Off of the Rainbow Valley Trail there is another additional mile or so of riding and a good climb consider descending the Quail Trail that runs off of Rainbow on the west side of the trail. The quick fun descent will bring you to Saddle Trail which is the climb back up. It meets with the Baseline Trail and will allow you to eventually continue on Rainbow any way you choose.
Toothaker Trail
I like to think about Toothaker Trail as a connector between the north part and the south part of the park. I also like to think about Toothaker as one of the most fun trails in the valley. It runs from the rodeo arena in the north to the junction with Pederson just below the quartz rock saddle in the south.
The southern part of Toothaker is probably best ridden from south to north due to technical factors in the trail. When coming in from the Foothills Park entrance Toothaker is an incredibly fun way to get to the rodeo arena and hook up with other trails. Start by coming down Pederson from the quartz rock saddle and look for Toothaker on your left hand side.
Take the trail and you will immediately encounter a climb (with at least one false saddle) that will take you up to the top of the trail. Personally I only make it up this ascent about 25% of the time, so be prepared for a short bout of Hike A Bike (HAB) to get you to the top. I will mention that many friends of mine consistently do not dab on this trail. Once at the top get ready for an awesomely fun, techy descent. With some minor rock drops, baby heads littering the trail, and uneven staircase type features be sure to open your fork and control your speed. There are some twists around palo verde trees and cactus waiting to poke you if you brush too close. It is the type of downhill that really puts a smile on your face. Chunky, fast, and fun.
At the bottom of this descent there is a junction with Rainbow Valley Trail (south of Dysart.) Taking this trail will give you an additional climb and descent to be reviewed later. Continuing on Toothaker itself will take you around the mountain back to the rodeo arena, but still offer a challenge when dropping in and out of some petty steep washes.
Traveling north to south on Toothaker there is likely to be some HAB going up the descent that was just described. But who knows, maybe you have the legs to make it, and factoring in Toothaker from north to south just might work for the particular loop that you are planning to ride.
Rainbow Valley Trail (section south of Dysart Trail)
South of the Dysart Trail the Rainbow Valley Trail continues to offer some great riding options in both directions.
From south to north Rainbow starts at the junction with Toothaker. Choosing to climb up and over this hill has makes you earn it, but the reward is great. From Toothaker the ascent starts right away. Once your legs really start pushing you hit a loose area. Do everything you can to push through it - putting a foot down at this point makes for a hard uphill start in order to continue. After the loose section you continue to climb a few more yards to a steep but mellow switchback, wide enough for a 29er to get around with ease - if you are in the right gear. After the switchback the grade flattens out a bit (but not all the way) until you get to the top.
The descent starts with a flowly downhill for abut a quarter mile, then turns a corner and becomes steeper. (This corner serves as a false saddle when climbing up the other way.) Look for a downed Saguro that has been cut and moved from the trail. Near the bottom of the rocky, fast, makes you grin descent take it easy going through a rutted wash crossing. Getting your wheel stuck in the rut at speed could likely cause a quick flight over the bars! Continue through the wash to the junction with Dysart Trail - which turning right (east) will take you back to Toothaker to go to the rodeo grounds or continue on the north part of Rainbow described earlier.
Riding this part of Rainbow north to south offers a challenging climb for experienced riders - and even some HAB if your legs are not having the best of days. I have ridden up this trail numerous times but am still tricked by the false saddle mentioned earlier. The climb, however, mellows out a bit after the false saddle and there is not much further to push until you reach the top. Riding this way offers you the option at the bottom to ride Toothaker in either direction - back towards the rodeo grounds or south towards Pederson trail up the grueling climb described earlier.
Coachwhip Trail
(coming soon. one of my Favorite Trails in the park. Fantastic climb and descent, fun to ride in both directions.)
Butterfield Trail
I do not have the ride experience on this trail to write a meaningful review. I have ridden it several times and can say that it most likely incudes HAB for even the strongest of riders. I will get out and ride it again soon so I can write about the trail experience.
