When my wife and I moved to Verrado almost three years ago, my realtor introduced me to a local resident who turned out to be the de facto organizer of group mountain bike rides. Voila, instant friends… just add bikes. We all still ride together, enter races and have taken our fellowship on road trips to mountain biking destinations. We are lucky to have the West Valley’s grandest natural setting so close to home.

Some of the best mountain biking trails in Buckeye are just moments from the Verrado community. The Lost Creek Trailhead is the gateway to several miles of dirt road and single track riding for every level of enthusiast on two wheels.

Lost Creek Dr. is a great trail for the novice mountain biker. This long dirt road follows the base of the mountain with steady climbs and descents where one can leisurely get the tires purring on the hard packed desert floor. It is here that you can take in the desert at a safe and comfortable distance, yet still be up close and personal. A ride from any front door in Verrado to the Tower Road along this route will get you sweating and maybe inspire you to try a bit more.

More you say? Just turn left onto the single track at the end of the sidewalk on Lost Creek Dr. This is the real deal in mountain biking. I have traveled all over the U.S. to biking destinations and I would put our Verrado trails right up there with the best. At first, they seem a bit rough and will challenge your balance but the single track will get you out there to see, smell and experience all of what the White Tank Mountains have to offer.

A map of all the single track routes is not yet available, but if you keep Verrado in sight you should be fine. All of the trails loop around the inner bowl of the peaks seen from the trailhead.

You will find some quick hard climbs like RBH hill, swift yet bumpy flow such as the upper ridge trail and death defying downhill of the “Widow-maker” just beyond the RV sized petro glyph. Got your imagination going? Just think of the views!

So grab some friends or head out for a solo ride but don’t pass up this mountain side feature so close to home. Spend a couple of hours in the sun riding your bike amongst the beautiful scenery.

I have not come back once feeling worse than when I went out…even the time when my rear wheel fell off in mid air! But that’s another story.

– Matt Bigham, Verrado resident and avid mountain biker