While some think retirement is a good time to relax and take it easy, for the residents of Friendship Village Tempe, it is an excellent time to put the pedal down … on the biking trails in and near Tempe. One of our leaders of the pack is Lolly Skillman, an 83-year-old dynamo and biking extraordinaire. Lolly has biked across the country and hikes and bikes the Black Hills of South Dakota each year. In fact, she bikes 20 miles twice a week.
As a 2019 Gold-Level Bicycle-Friendly Community Award winner, as voted by League of American Bicyclists, Tempe offers 217 miles of biking trails, from Sonoran Desert trails to bike lanes on city streets. Plus, we offer the weather that makes it easy to put your wheels in motion all year round.
Our Guide to Tempe’s Best Biking Trails for Seniors
Crosscut Canal Path
This path along the tree-lined canal winds through Papago Park and features several public art installations as well as a disc golf course. You’ll see the buttes of Papago Park, the Rolling Hills Golf Course and even a few aqueducts that connect to the canal system. If you ride along the other side of Mill Avenue, just behind the Marquee Theatre, you can connect to the paths on the north shore of Tempe Town Lake. Then you can head west and go over the lake via the Elmore Pedestrian Bridge and cruise through Tempe Beach Park.
Tempe Town Lake and Tempe Beach Park
Connected to the Crosscut Canal Path, you can cruise this 2.5-mile urban lake with paved paths on either bank. The north and south shores of Tempe Town Lake are connected by the Mill Avenue bridge, the Elmore Pedestrian Bridge and the Rural Road Bridge — all of which are particularly stunning at sunrise and sunset. Paths around Tempe Town Lake are open from 5 a.m. to midnight everyday. The complete loop, from south McClintock Drive to north Priest Drive, is 7.5 miles.
Rio Salado Pathway
This paved path along the Salt River shore stretches 19 miles and includes Tempe Town Lake. Running from just south of downtown Phoenix all the way east to Mesa, it gives riders hopping on in Tempe plenty of options. Head east and you’ll pass Tempe Marketplace off south McClintock, or head west and you’ll pass Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Offering both rural and urban landscapes, you should also be on the lookout for birds and small wildlife.
Indian Bend Wash Path
Indian Bend Wash Path (aka the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt or the Scottsdale Greenbelt) is a wide and mostly flat biking trail that connects several public parks, schools and golf courses, and features multiple bridges and tunnels to avoid major traffic. It follows the banks of Indian Bend Wash for nearly 20 miles from the north side of Tempe Town Lake north to Scottsdale’s Venturoso Park. From Tempe, you can hop on the Rio Salado Pathway. You can also access the south entrance of the path on east Curry Road, just east of Miller Road.
Kyrene Canal Path
A great stretch for biking in south Tempe is the Kyrene Canal Path. It travels through quiet neighborhoods and has some lovely tree-lined stretches. You can enter the canal just southeast of Kyrene and Warner roads. If you’re near the Ken McDonald Golf Course, be on the lookout for a wide variety of birds and rabbits. Across Guadalupe Road to the north, you’ll find Kiwanis Park, a 125-acre oasis featuring a bike trail around its scenic lake.
Actively Pursue Your Lifestyle at Friendship Village
Being a part of a community that shares your goals and desire to actively enjoy life can help you reach and even surpass your goals. To learn how to become a part of our engaging lifestyle, contact us here.