Prickly Pedal Trail Race

Prickly Pedal : Maricopa Trail, Cave Creek to Lake Pleasant

Prickly Pedal is a mixed mountain bike and trail-run event on the Maricopa Trail with multiple distances and formats. The event finishes at the 10 Lane Boat Ramp at Lake Pleasant Regional Park and supports the Maricopa Trail & Park Foundation.

• 36 Mile mountain bike point-to-point course from Cave Creek to Lake Pleasant.
• 15 Mile mountain bike "Sprint" course beginning at Pioneer Living History Museum.
• 10 Mile Trail Run out-and-back beginning and ending at Lane 10 Boat Ramp.

The 36-mile MTB route follows town streets to Spur Cross, then the Maricopa Trail to Lake Pleasant. It includes short, steep, rocky climbs and descents, flats, rock, sand, mud, and roller-coaster sections; some sections may require dismounting and hiking. Two on-course aid stations are provided for the 36-mile distance, with a main aid area at the finish. Crew access is limited to start and finish only, pacers are not allowed, and drop bags are available at the finish area.

The 15-mile course includes a museum loop, fast flat sections, a canyon approach, one on-course aid station, and ascent in the final miles. The 10-mile run follows Frogs Tank, Beardsley, Wild Burro, and Pipeline Canyon trails to Pipeline Cove and back, with one on-course aid station.

Courses are marked with orange ribbon, reflective signs, and wrong-way markers. MedStar Solutions provides on-site medical coverage. Shuttles transport riders and bikes from the finish to start locations for those who purchase a shuttle ticket. Lake Pleasant charges a park entry fee for spectators; racers dropped off or picked up have the fee waived. Camping is available in reserved group sites near Lane 10 with a per-unit fee and shared facilities. Event features include chip timing, finish-line photos, a finisher award, well stocked aid stations, and live split tracking. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

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