Arizona · Mountain biking

Big Sister Trail

1.2 mi
round trip
405 ft
climb
Mixed
surface
Out and back
route
Nov–Apr
best months

Is Big Sister Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mesa Ranger District. It doesn't name Big Sister Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Mesa Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Big Sister Trail is a mountain biking route in Arizona's Tonto National Forest, within the Mesa Ranger District. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a short, out-and-back ride of about 2.5 miles, with a total elevation gain of 405 feet. The climb is rated hard, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.8 miles in, where the grade reaches 10 percent. The trail starts at a low point of 1,516 feet and climbs to a high of 1,807 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Fountain Hills weather station show March highs around 74°F and October highs around 87°F, while summer highs climb into the 100s. Twisted Sister Trail and Riverview Trail both sit about 0.1 mile away, and Bush Lite West is about 0.2 mile off. For an overnight stay, Larry Forbis campground is about 5.4 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Nov–Apr

    Best time to visit Big Sister Trail

    Best months: November–April. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      64° / 45°

      4 wet

    2. Feb

      67° / 46°

      4 wet

    3. Mar

      74° / 51°

      3 wet

    4. Apr

      82° / 56°

      2 wet

    5. May

      91° / 64°

      1 wet

    6. Jun

      101° / 73°

      1 wet

    7. Jul

      103° / 80°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      102° / 80°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      97° / 74°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      87° / 63°

      2 wet

    11. Nov

      74° / 51°

      2 wet

    12. Dec

      63° / 44°

      3 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Fountain Hills, AZ, 6.4 mi away at 1,580 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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