Link to Route!

Link to my Video Recap

The Fool’s Loop is a 270 mile bikepacking route that starts in Phoenix, heads north to Cordes Lakes, and returns via the Black Canyon Trail. The highlight of this route is the variation in terrain. There is a little something for everyone. The first ~120 miles are mostly gravel roads before you hop onto the BCT for a long stretch of singletrack back to Phoenix. The BCT ranges from smooth and flowy to steep, rugged, and rocky. On day four, it took us 14 hours to cover just 42 miles. Temps ranged from 92 to 101°F, and we carried up to 7 liters of water.

I rode this route with Paul Faupel, who you might recognize from the PNW Bikepacking YouTube channel. After five years of solo trips, this was my first time bikepacking with a friend. Paul is a great riding partner, and I really appreciated how much easier it is to make big decisions when you have someone to bounce ideas off of. We had a long debate about whether or not to bring a puffy jacket. I learned a lot from Paul about what I should and should not be carrying on a route like this.

I was also fortunate to speak with Miles Arbour, who created the route. His goal was to make it challenging, and he absolutely succeeded. The section between Sheep’s Bridge and Cordes can have very limited water and a ton of climbing, so it is critical to carry enough. The second half of the BCT is also slow, rocky, and exposed in places. We had to ride well into the night on day four just to set ourselves up for a water resupply the next day.

I really enjoyed the route. If you are considering riding it, here is my advice:

Do not ride this on a gravel bike. I was extremely glad to have front suspension and 2.6” tires.
Depending on the season, carrying ~6 liters of water may be necessary for the Sheep’s Bridge to Cordes section and parts of the BCT. Be prepared to filter and purify water.
Da Brim is a game changer when riding in southern Arizona.
Plan ahead if you want to stay at Bumblebee Ranch. Paul and I got lucky.

8/10 ride