Strawberry has some great riding, with more coming! Most of these trails were built by the Pine-Strawberry Fuel Reduction -a group of volunteers dedicated to reducing the risk of fire and creating trails for all user groups.
Trail 15
The trailhead for Trail 15 is just South of Strawberry off 87 Hwy. It is a blue category trail. Trail 15 has some fabulous, flowy, semi-technical riding that leads right to Two Ravens, a downhillers’ dream trail. Two Ravens can also be accessed from Hardscrabble Road. It is more of a green category trail.
You can exit at Waterfall, or keep going down to Bradshaw. Both come out on Cletus Ray. Bradshaw has some storybook, smooth downhill sailing and is worth the extra climb out.
Trail 15 also has options like Mohawk, Kestrel, and Towhee. Find them on Trailforks.
Bearfoot
The Bearfoot Trailhead honestly isn’t marked very well. Actually, it isn’t marked at all. It is on the East side of Hwy 87, a couple hundred yards south of the Trail 15 trailhead. It is basically an opening in the bushes. Take plenty of food and water.
This is a challenging, technical, black category trail. It is very rocky with some swoopy sections. It is worth the effort for the spectacular views.
Bearfoot crosses Pine Creek. Check Trailforks so you don’t get lost here. You climb a fire road and connect with Pine Canyon, which is also a challenging, technical, black category trail with some good elevation gain. It gets pretty hard, and you might question why you came this way. Don’t give up.
DO NOT TAKE GOOD ENOUGH! It sucks and you will regret it.
Eventually you will crest out and have a long descent to the Pine Trailhead.
Fossil Creek
To get to Fossil Creek, you can park at the Trail 15 Trailhead and ride through Strawberry down Fossil Creek Road. Go past the Bob Bear parking lot, all downhill, until you reach a barrier. Go around the barrier, and keep riding downhill about 4 miles to Fossil Creek.
The road is old and semi-maintained, there are often big rocks in the middle of it, and if your brakes fail, you are in a lot of trouble. I would not take a beginner down this.
The views are absolutely spectacular, and Fossil Creek is one of the most magical places I have ever seen. It is difficult to get to, which makes it even more special.
You also have to ride back up, about 8 miles back to Trail 15. The way is in full sun so plan accordingly.
Bob Bear
THIS IS NOT FOR BICYCLES.
Bob Bear is an iconic hike down 4 miles of steep rocky trails to Fossil Creek. (The toilet bowl section). I haven’t done it yet, but it is very popular. To get to the parking lot, follow Fossil Creek Road through Strawberry and on across the mesa into Tonto National Forest. You need a permit April – October. Take plenty of water, and don’t plan on being rescued if you can’t make it out.
