By Roger Naylor
Castle Hot Springs offers a wide range of activities that promote wellness, while also highlighting the unique habitat of the scenic beauty that surrounds the property. And as a bonus, one of those activities will also make guests feel like kids again.
E-bike tours are unlike any other outing. They create an overlap of eras. Technology from the 21st century is used to explore the roads and pathways from the 19th century, once traveled by stagecoaches and the pack animals of miners. The experience is healthy, historic, and just plain fun—reminiscent of carefree days from childhood when the world was enjoyed from the seat of a bike and youthful legs never seemed to grow tired.
Seasoned adventurers will find the e-bikes at Castle Hot Springs a comfortable way to ride. These are fat-tire off-road electric bikes built for comfort and power while making distant corners of the resort property easy to reach, offering welcome support for tired legs. For the uninitiated, e-bikes should not be confused with cruisers or mountain bikes.
“The predominant difference is that e-bikes have a motor that can assist the rider,” explains Matthew Melamed, Adventure Guide at Castle Hot Springs. “The model we use has varying assistance levels as well as a throttle, so the rider can get the amount of assistance from the bike that they need to ride at a smooth and comfortable pace. This also allows for a much larger distance capability since your legs are not doing as much work.”
The resort offers three distinct guided e-bike tours. For each bike ride, guests will be provided helmets and gloves. It’s recommended to wear comfortable athletic attire and closed-toe shoes. Guides will provide safety and handling instructions.
E-Biking 101 serves as the one-hour introductory course. It allows guests to become more familiar with the e-bike while traversing the resort grounds for several laps. With a keener understanding of the fundamentals under their belts, it’s time for guests to venture out onto the gravel roads around the property.
Of the three outings, the Scenic Desert Guided E-Bike Tour is the most popular.
“The Scenic is our premiere bike tour,” says Melamed. “It’s perfect for those already comfortable on a bike. You will take the historic Castle Hot Springs Road on an 11-mile out-and-back ride, with a stunning overlook of the Bradshaw Mountains as the turnaround point.”
The most challenging is the Cow Creek Loop E-Bike Adventure, which probes deeper into the mountainous terrain. The 17-mile loop features steep hill climbs, rapid descents, and panoramas of Lake Pleasant over a variety of trail surfaces. Cow Creek is best suited for experienced riders.
Of course, custom e-bike adventures can also be arranged for interested guests. Reach out to the Adventures and Activities desk to schedule an individualized ride during your stay.
Much like the traditional bikes of our youths once opened up new horizons, e-bikes do the same for us as adults. They provide that same sense of freedom. The rugged desert landscape can be more easily managed on these quiet machines. Electric bike tours vastly expand our range for vistas and exploration. The summits, the scenery, even the wildlife sightings are all ours, deep into the Sonoran Desert. It can be an exhilarating experience.
Matthew Melamed has been guiding e-bike tours at Castle Hot Springs for the past two years. Working closely with the guests, he gets to see how they respond to these spirited adventures.
“Guests tend to come back to the resort with a high level of thrill and excitement,” says Melamed. “I see many with grins large and wide, offering strong handshakes to us after a tour, and strutting back to the resort a little taller than when they left it. Their tales are talking points at dinner that night, and they become like local legends during their stay. It’s very fun to witness.”
Perhaps the best part of the day comes after the ride is over. Because waiting for you, whenever you return, will be the soothing, mineral-rich waters of the hot springs. Climb the path to pools of heated water that are wrapped in tall cliffs and savor a soak. When you step out, don’t be surprised if any weariness in the muscles is gone.
Melamed offers a final piece of advice. “Be honest with us about your skills and comfort level, and I promise you will have an adventure that will live fondly in your memories. Never be afraid to reach out with any questions you might have. Above all else, we want you to have an experience you will never forget.”