Route Overview
Region
New Mexico
Miles
Days Out
Physical Difficulty
Season
to Fall
Elevation Gain
22,500' Eastbound
Tire Size
Technical Difficulty
Route Map
Route Details
The Mogollon Connector links the WWR near Forest Lakes and Young, Arizona to the GDMBR at the Beaverhead Work Center, New Mexico with an eastward extension to Truth or Consequences. This route traverses rugged, remote, dry, and stunning Arizona high country from the Mogollon Rim, through the Springerville Volcanic Field, past the White Mountains, and along the Blue River. Into New Mexico, the riding becomes rockier in the volcanic landscape between the community of Reserve and Beaverhead, but then to the east, quiet paved roads continue on to Truth or Consequences. Resupply options and water sources are widely but regularly spaced along this route, and the riding tends to be slower, rougher, and more demanding than on most of the WWR and GDMBR. Nearly the entirety of this route is absolutely impassable when wet. The western 277 miles of this route serve as a connector between the WWR and GDMBR, and the eastward extension to Truth or Consequences is an additional 79 miles in length.
- Miles and miles of ponderosa pine forest riding with big views off the Mogollon Rim
- Riding among the meadows and lakes below the White Mountains
- Pedaling along the Blue River in its deep canyon
- The remote riding and small communities of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico
- What kind of bike should I ride? We recommend a mountain bike with tires at least 2.1” wide and front suspension.
- What’s the ideal time of year to ride the route? Generally late spring through late fall, but it depends on the year. See the route guide for more details.
- How long will the route take to ride? Generally 4 to 6 days from the WWR to GDMBR, and 5 to 7 days from Forest Lakes to Truth or Consequences, but it depends on the rider.
- Do I need any special permits? No permits are needed for riding on this route.
- Are there any specific safety considerations on this route? (1) Much of this route traverses high, dry, rugged desert – plan for slower-than expected mileage and carry ample water. (2) This route traverses black bear territory. (3) Because long sections of this route become absolutely impassable when wet, riders should carry extra food and water if there is any precipitation in the weather forecast. (4) Tubeless tires with ample sealant are strongly recommended.
- What is the longest distance between water sources? 40 miles. See the route guide for more details.
- What is the longest distance between resupplies? 120 miles. See the route guide for more details.
- Is it easy to find places to camp? Yes, dispersed camping is often relatively easy to find, but some routes also include some lengthy sections of private lands. See the guidebook for specific restrictions and suggestions.
- Can I ride the route in either direction? Yes. However, the guidebook is written west-to-east.
- How do I follow the route? These routes are not marked on the ground in any way. You will need to load the route data onto a GPS unit, or use the Bicycle Routes Navigator smartphone app.
If you encounter any inaccuracies or changes please let us know at [email protected]
- Near Show Low and Pine Top-Lakeside, Arizona, a 1-mile section of dirt road along the edge of the San Carlos Apache Reservation has been close to public access. Please follow this short detour on adjacent Forest Service trails. This detour has been made permanent in v1.2 of the Mogollon Connector GPS data (updated May 14, 2022).
Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.
Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.
- Kurt Refsnider for his route development.
- Nat Cobb for his contributions.
- The Adventure Cycling Association for partnering with us to develop this route.
- This route traverses the traditional lands of the Western Apache, White Mountain Apache, Chiricahua Apache, Hohokam, Zuni, and Hopi peoples.
- For additional riding opportunities in this part of eastern Arizona, check out the Arizona Divide Route from AZ Gravel Rides – these two routes share a few dozen miles of overlapping roads and offer opportunities for even bigger riding adventures.
