Black Canyon Ultras

From the BLM who manages the trail: “This 80-mile long trail features hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. This historic trail is of national significance, following a route used since the times of pre-historic Native American travelers and traders. The Department of the Interior officially established the route as a livestock driveway in 1919, when it was used by woolgrowers from the Phoenix area to herd sheep to and from their summer ranges in the Bradshaw and Mingus Mountains. The trail north of highway 69 is still used as a cattle driveway. The trail ends at the Prescott National Forest boundary. The Black Canyon National Recreation Trail was originally designed as a livestock driveway. Many segments of the trail roughly parallel the old Black Canyon stagecoach road between Phoenix and Prescott.” The Black Canyon Ultras features a 55 mile stretch of this trail beginning at Mayer High School in Spring Valley and ending at the Emery Henderson Trailhead near New River. Along the way, runners will cross through Black Canyon and the Agua Fria river multiple times.