Bobcat

Rating: 
One-way Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 1547 - 1647 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 20 mins.
Trailhead: Desert Vista
Fee: none
Attractions: Easy singletrack

The Bobcat trail is located in the Southern Area of the Sonoran Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona. Beginning off of the Dixie Mountain Loop the trail follows a route over seemingly flat terrain that actually has a gradual downhill grade to it that ultimately ends with a 100 foot loss in elevation. Near its end the trail crosses a wash and comes out on the Sonoran Desert Drive.

The Desert Vista trailhead is located at 1900 West Desert Vista Trail. There are restrooms and water available at the trailhead.

The Bobcat trail begins at the 2.2 mile point of the Dixie Mountain Loop.

There is a slight uphill stretch as the trail starts out and crosses a hump in the landscape.

The bigger rocks have been cleared from the trail creating a smooth route to follow.

Judging from the width of the Bobcat trail it looks like it may have served as a wagon road at one time.

As the landscape opens up the mountains in the Northern Area of the Sonoran Preserve come into view as well as a few of the trails that are there.

There are a couple of spots to watch out for along the way where the trail has a few ruts.

Right before the trail reaches the boundary of the preserve is crosses a shallow wash.

The last hundred yards or so of the trail is on the outside of the Sonoran Preserve. It all comes to an end when it reaches the Sonoran Desert Drive. We mountain biked the Bobcat trail in both directions when we were taking the photos for this post. If you feel a need for speed you will find it comes easy here. The Bobcat trail is pretty much one really long spur that connects the rest of the trails in the southern preserve to the people that live in the neighborhoods along its border. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is grab your bike or 'Take a hike'.