Riding in the Desert Southwest

What You Need to Know

Gravel riding in the desert southwest is unlike anywhere else in the US! It is rugged and demanding with ever changing conditions. You should expect sandy washes, sometimes for miles; you should expect washed-out trail from the heavy summer monsoon rains, and you should expect rocky and gnarly. One year, the riding is great; the next, it is not. That is why leaving ride comments and checking route updates are crucial.

Expect the Unexpected

Riding in the desert southwest often means navigating jeep roads, where a hardtail mountain bike with 2.2” (55+ mm) tires or a drop-bar bike like the Salsa Cutthroat is ideal. Our go-to setup is a Salsa Cutthroat with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 2.2″ tires, CushCore tire inserts, a Fox 32 Stepcast 100mm travel fork, and super low gearing. This kind of equipment provides the control and confidence needed for challenging terrain. If you’re used to “champagne gravel” in places like Colorado or California, prepare for something far more rugged.

But every once in a while, we get comments like this. …

I wanted to share my thoughts on this route after riding it yesterday. In my opinion, the description needs an update—”Challenging” doesn’t quite fit; “Dangerous” would be more accurate. I’ve designed many routes myself, and I think this one needs some adjustments.

First, the route would work better in reverse. The extremely rocky descents, combined with loose rocks, are better tackled in the first half when a rider is fresh rather than toward the end when fatigue sets in. These sections require intense focus to avoid crashes, which can be tough when you’re already worn out.

Additionally, there’s a lot of singletrack—maybe this can’t be changed, but it’s worth noting.Even with my experience handling difficult terrain, this route pushed my skills, bike, and patience to the limit. To be honest, I can’t recommend it as it is now. The first 20 miles or so felt deceptively easy, but the difficulty spiked in the latter half. It took me nearly two hours to cover the last 23 miles.

However, when we checked with our local experts, not much has changed. The error (most likely) being that the rider did not take the time to thoroughly read the Ride Guide.

From Andy:

I like the CCW direction as you have posted so that the single track and rocks are ridden trending downhill. I rode this shortly before the rider (above) with a group and no one had complaints. The bulk of the riders had wide enough tires to manage the cobbles and sand.

This year, there is a lot more sand than prior years through all our routes. That’s just a seasonal/annual variation.

The rider stated averaging better than 10mph, which is very reasonable for most of AZ terrain. I could imagine an out-of-state rider with 35-45mm tires accustomed to champagne gravel, being disturbed by the AZ conditions and this particular stretch. Cobbles are WAY harder on narrow tires than 2″ to 2.5″ appropriate for much of AZ

From Tyler:

I’d echo Andy’s comments.

This year much of the gravel has seen quite a bit of sand compared to normal. Some routes in Patagonia and Willow springs have been bladed more often so you won’t see this but some with more varied terrain have seen some increased sand.

In regards to tires I would say in AZ you shouldn’t run anything less than 45 even 50MM at this point. If you look at the pro gravel riders many of them are even running 2.1″ on the majority of their races. The width doesn’t slow you down and in our chunky gravel it gives you a bit more confidence.

Those coming from out of state (Colorado, CA, Montana, ect) have “Champagne” gravel. Ours is quite a bit more chunk but still enjoyable.

Tips to Riding Sand

When riding in the desert, you’re bound to come across sand washes—sometimes you’ll cross them briefly, other times you may find yourself riding in them for several miles. Here are some tips to help you stay smooth and confident through sandy stretches:

Lower Your Tire Pressure: Reducing your tire pressure helps your tires float on top of the sand, rather than sinking in. This improves traction and makes pedaling easier.

Run Wider Tires: Wider tires offer better flotation, which helps keep you on top of the sand instead of bogging down.

Shift Your Weight Back: Keep more of your weight over the rear tire and ride with your hands on the tops of the handlebars—not in the drops. This allows the front wheel to stay light and float over the sand instead of digging in.

Lock Out Your Suspension Fork (if you have one): An active suspension can cause the front wheel to bounce and dive, which makes it more likely to sink into the sand. Lock it out for a smoother, more stable ride.

Use a Low Gear and Keep Spinning: Steady cadence and consistent power help maintain momentum, which is your best friend in the sand. Don’t try to muscle through—it’ll only slow you down.

Let the Front Tire Wander: Your front wheel may shift side to side unexpectedly. That’s normal. Stay relaxed, keep pedaling, and make gentle course corrections rather than sharp turns, which can dig the tire in and stall your progress.

Pick the Right Line on Double-Track: On sandy double-track trails, the higher side is usually firmer. Rain tends to wash sand into the lower side, making it softer and harder to ride.

Not every gravel rider will enjoy the ruggedness of the Desert Southwest. Those who seek remoteness, desert beauty, and true adventure will find it rewarding. Others may find the technical demands daunting. This is hardtail mountain bike territory, and being “underbiked” will exponentially increase the technical difficulty.

Who Will Love This Ride?

Key Takeaways for Riding in the Desert Southwest

Bike & Tire Recommendations: Use a bike suited for jeep roads with at least 2.1” tires. Consider suspension or wider tires for added comfort and control.

Route Variability: Expect conditions to change annually, with sand and cobbles being common challenges.

Average Speed: Don’t expect to match your speeds from other regions—10 mph can be fast here.

Read the Ride Guide: We provide detailed descriptions, photos, videos, and user comments to help you prepare.

Figure out who you are as a rider and choose your adventures wisely. For those ready to embrace the challenge, the Desert Southwest offers an unparalleled gravel experience.

Filed Under:

Knowledge Base Stories