Towering saguaros, 115-degree summer temperatures, Major League Baseball spring-training parks: They are all signature features of Phoenix, Arizona. A bit more under the radar, perhaps, is the well-established network of trails that crisscrosses the massive urban area.
For visitors who come to town for the mild winter weather and desert terrain, the sheer variety of Phoenix-area trail offerings—from the wide, paved canal pathways, to rugged routes that scale the mountain preserves, to walkways through shady neighborhood parks—can come as a bit of a surprise. The trails are a product of the city’s diverse terrain, which dips to 1,086 feet elevation at the desert floor, and soars to 2,704 at Camelback Mountain, its highest point. Tying it all together for cyclists, runners, and walkers is the network of wide, flat concrete and asphalt paths and trails that follow the desert washes, riverbeds and canals that carry water through the Phoenix area. From the nearly 70-mile-long Arizona Canal Path, to the 6-mile Indian Bend Wash Trail and 5-mile Tempe Town Lake Trails, Phoenix and its surrounding communities offer hundreds of miles of multi-use trails.
Tempe alone is home to 175 miles of bike paths and trails, according to the city’s tourism site. In 2015, Tempe-based Arizona State University was named a Gold-Level Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists, and the downtown streets carry heavy bike traffic. Tempe Town Lake serves as the epicenter of it all, with the bustling Mill Avenue just steps away, the ASU campus within riding distance and a host of trail-connection options branching in virtually all directions.
Among the major connections is the massive Arizona Canal Path, which cuts a northwesterly route across the metro area, taking in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Glendale and Peoria. The trail, which follows the route of the Arizona Canal, passes through countless neighborhoods and offers canal-side access to an assortment of restaurants, breweries, parks and hotels. At its northwestern end, the canal path also connects up with the New River Trail—a paved route that begins in Glendale and passes through Peoria’s family-friendly Rio Vista Community Park, before continuing on to the north—for 16.5 miles in all.
Another perk of Phoenix-area trails: The numerous mountain preserves that dot the desert landscape. For those seeking a challenging climb and sweeping views, Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak are tempting spots right in the city. And at the southern edge of Phoenix, the South Mountain Preserve offers a birds-eye view of the shifting topography. From the summit of the craggy Mormon Trail, the mountain ridges stand out like spines of a desert lizard, offering relief from the rooftops, skyscrapers and strip malls.
Phoenix’s mild sunny days throughout much of the late fall, winter and early spring make the trail system a popular spot for recreation, as well as a convenient way to get from city to city. Local experts emphasize, though, that use of the trails is decidedly seasonal. When the late-spring and summer temperatures rise to 100 degrees and often hover at the 110-degree mark, the scenario changes dramatically. Hikers, walkers and cyclists are warned to take the heat seriously, and to carry adequate water. Even on the flat canal trails, the heat and sun can be brutal. While the urban parks often feature shady trees and lakes, much of the canal trail system is exposed to the sun. As a reminder, signs remind users that dogs are not allowed on the trails after the temperatures reach 100 degrees. Still, on those 75-degree days in February and March, the Phoenix-area trails are hard to beat, sunny skies and sweeping views serving as a national draw for the winter-weary.
View of Arizona Falls
South Mountain Trail
New River Trail
New River Trail in Rio Vista Park
Arizona Canal Path in Arcadia
Springtime rules in Phoenix, with temperatures in the 75-to-80-degree range. Other good options are November, when the average high is 80 degrees, and late December with a 65- to 70-degree average. For those who prefer a warm 85 to 90, Phoenix is at its sunny best in mid-October. The most difficult season is the 100-degree-plus territory of summer, which can run from April to early October.
Once in Phoenix, renting a car is the best option for getting around on the massive freeway system, although a growing Valley Metro light-rail system is available in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, as are bus routes. And for those who are looking for bike/ped options, a network of trails runs along Phoenix’s canals, washes and mountain preserves.
The Grid Bike Share program offers bike stations in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale. For more information, visit gridbikes.com. Dockless bike-share systems are also available in the region, including LimeBike (limebike.com), Spin (spin.pm) and Ofo (ofo.com).
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a major hub and offers flights from all over the world. The nearby Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport also has options on regional airlines.
Check out these helpful websites for planning your travel in Phoenix.
Located in Papago Park, the zoo dates back to 1962
- The downtown Phoenix museum is the largest of its kind in the southwestern U.S.
A downtown museum known for world-class exhibitions and Native arts
Located in Phoenix¿s Papago Park, the garden showcases the best of desert plant life
Offers long-term rentals
Opening in June 2017, the new shop plans to offer rentals by fall
Offers rentals in road bikes, mountain bikes, and kids¿ bikes
Downtown Tempe location offering a range of rental options
Offering rentals bikes within a quick ride from Tempe Town Lake
With a comfort-food menu, the restaurant features open-air dining and a patio overlooking the Arizona Canal
With a comfort-food menu, the restaurant features open-air dining and a patio overlooking the Arizona Canal
A remodeled 1920s cottage near downtown Tempe featuring seasonal contemporary American fare
A canal-side brewery and eatery that caters to cyclists and runners along the Arizona Canal Path
Located at restored pecan farm, The Farm Kitchen serves up homemade sandwiches, soups and salads
The famed pizzeria in downtown Phoenix, known for its wood-fired fare
A breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot in Tempe, located steps from the Tempe Town Lake
An Arizona classic dating back to 1929, known as the ¿jewel of the desert¿
An art-focused boutique hotel in downtown Phoenix with an industrial aesthetic
A lushly landscaped resort that features outdoor spaces and al fresco dining
Urban boutique hotel in downtown Phoenix, featuring the Lustre Rooftop Bar
Urban boutique hotel in downtown Phoenix, featuring the Lustre Rooftop Bar
A retro boutique hotel near the Arizona State University campus with a college-life theme
A retro boutique hotel near the Arizona State University campus with a college-life theme
The paved Crosscut Canal Path links Tempe and Scottsdale via a route alongside the Crosscut Canal, which dates to 1912. The trail follows the entire...
The Skunk Creek Trail runs along the banks of its namesake waterway, connecting Peoria, Glendale and the eastern edge of Phoenix. The trail provides a...
The paved Rio Salado Pathway runs along both banks of the Salt River in Tempe. The generally dry waterway was expanded into Tempe Town Lake in 1999,...
The New River Trail parallels its generally dry namesake waterway through the populous Phoenix suburbs of Peoria and Glendale. The entire route is...
The Indian Bend Wash Path—also sometimes referred to as the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt or the Scottsdale Greenbelt—follows the banks of Indian Bend...
Overview The Arizona Canal Path is one of the longest multi-use trails in Maricopa County, running between Peoria, Glendale, Phoenix, Scottsdale...
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The doorways to San Francisco are always open. Visitors can arrive by car, public transit, ferry or bike. Its position at the waterfront, characteristic hills, compact streets and unique districts lead to the city being very congested, yet very walkable. The established trail network leading to and along key destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park and the Presidio sits...
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Despite the hills, despite the rain, Seattle is a great city for walking and biking. And, thanks to the city’s infrastructure investments, it’s slowly getting better all the time. In 2016, Bicycling Magazine ranked Seattle the 5th best bike city in the U.S. WalkScore says Seattle is the 8th most walkable city in the country.
The Magic City is a multicultural destination with water, water, everywhere. The greater Miami metropolitan area stretches from the Everglades, the famed River of Grass, in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, so the city’s trails cover a variety of landscapes and settings. From protected natural areas and sandy beaches to historical neighborhoods and urban hot spots, there’s something for...
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To really understand why Bicycling Magazine recently placed Chicago first on their list of the 50 best U.S. cities for cyclists, it takes a look beyond the 100 miles of new protected bike lanes Chicago has added since 2015, the nearly 600 bright blue Divvy Bike Share stations and, of course, the city’s iconic Lakefront Trail.
Water, most notably the Mississippi River, but also Minnehaha Creek and the Chain of Lakes, shaped the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, literally. The river, creeks and lakes provide the defining beauty and character of the landscape. They also attracted people, supported the industries the led to the growth of the cities and encourage the active lifestyle of today’s citizens.
Towering saguaros, 115-degree summer temperatures, Major League Baseball spring-training parks: They are all signature features of Phoenix, Arizona. A bit more under the radar, perhaps, is the well-established network of trails that crisscrosses the massive urban area.
Picture year-round mild weather, miles of multi-purpose trails, one-of-a-kind sights and a mountains-to-coast terrain with small hills, short hills, large hills and long hills—all interspersed with acres of level land. If you see a pattern here—best described “perfect”—you’ve captured San Diego County’s biking and hiking scene.
