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4,216 ft
Distance
112 ft
Climb
-270 ft
Descent
00:15:23
Avg time
-158 ft
Altitude change
4,494 ft
Altitude min
4,727 ft
Altitude max
4,653 ft
Altitude start
4,495 ft
Altitude end
-3.8%
Grade
-32.9%
Grade max
12.5%
Grade min
1,854 ft
Distance climb
2,198 ft
Distance down
164 ft
Distance flat
00:15:23
Avg time
Ground Control Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaWestern Gateway
Sedona, Arizona -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (6 votes)
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Local Popularity85 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 65 in Trail Running
- 50 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Hiking SAC ScaleT1 Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM
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DirectionOne DirectionPopular Direction Shown
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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SeasonAll Season
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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TTFs on TrailBerm, Drop, Rock Face, Other
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Year Opened2020
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Land OwnerUSFS
Ground Control is one of the Western Gateway trails built by the USFS and mostly local Sedona volunteers. The only direction to ride the trail is north to south (Cockscomb to Outer Limits).
Tthe trail has some expert sections the will definitely challenge some advanced riders. There are several uphill sections over to the steep challenging downhilll section, some riders might walk. The trail tread on the traverse is constructed with soil with very little clay content, so it will be constantly eroding where it isn't supported by large rock. Shortly before making to the downhill section there are two short challenging steep step-ups, that some advanced riders might not clean.
The views on the trail before the challenging switchbacks are World Class to the northwest and northeast.
As you ride off the high point of the trail you are instantly wondering what kind of steep challenging terrain lays ahead of you. Hopefully your bike has a dropper post to give you a more enjoyable ride to the bottom. Halfway down the downhill section there is an expert spot on the left side or easier rocked berm line on the right. After that point trail becomes easier to ride.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 0 rides
6 Months
- 116 rides
- 16 miles avg distance
All
- 882 rides
- Last: Jun 9, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Ground Control Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
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- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- > 6 months
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- One Direction
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Directions to ground-control-249974 trailhead
(34.878500, -111.859950)
Photos
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Routes with this trail
★ 3.7 • 22 miles • 2,043 ft • 10 • Loop •
Park at cultural center, ride to Chuckwagon and continue long loop in a counterclockwise direction....
★ 3.5 • 18 miles • 1,723 ft • 8 • Loop •
Moderate loop for the intermediate to advanced rider that hits most of the goods in the area. , , , Ground...
★ 4.0 • 14 miles • 1,338 ft • 7 •
Recommended ride by thunder mountain bikes if you're looking to do , , Ground Control and Aerie.
17 Reviews & Comments
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Nearby Trails
- Axis 1,109 ft
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- Rover 1 mile
- Last Frontier 1 mile
- Doe Mountain Access 2 miles
- By johnf0246
& contributors - #249974 - 12,906 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ground Control
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Where is Ground Control located?
Ground Control is located in Western Gateway, Sedona, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Western Gateway trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 34.8785, -111.85995.
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How hard is Ground Control?
Ground Control is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 3.8%.
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What is the elevation gain for Ground Control?
Ground Control has 112 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 270 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,494 ft to 4,727 ft.
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Is Ground Control a point to point trail?
Yes, Ground Control is a point to point trail. The direction is One Direction. The trail type is singletrack.
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