Gilbert and the surrounding areas offer some great opportunities for bikers. There are plenty of trails to choose from within the city and more rural ones nearby. There’s no better way to experience the city and the outdoors than from getting up close and personal on a bike.
Here are some of our favorite places to ride.
Western Canal Path
One of the longest trails in the area, the Western Canal Path, offers a great place to get some time on the bike in. It’s 21.9 miles long, starting at W. Carver Road and S. 35th Avenue in Phoenix and ending at the Consolidated Canal Path in Gilbert. From this trail, you can access Tempe, Chandler, and Mesa if you have a destination in mind. Most of the concrete trail is hollowed by another gravel-surfaced trail.
Consolidated Canal Path
Straight through the heart of Gilbert lies the Consolidated Canal Path. It’s 18.9 miles long and stretches from the Tempe Canal Path and South Canal Path in Mesa to Hunt Highway and SR 87 in Chandler. This path offers some great chances to see waterfowl and fish in the canal. The path is shared by horseback riders and fishers.
Baseline Road
If you’re looking for a trail you can complete in a shorter amount of time, head over to Baseline Road. It’s 3.3 miles long and stretches from E. Baseline Road to the Eastern Canal Path. This trail winds through residential areas and passes by many businesses on Baseline Road. It’s completely paved to provide an easy ride through Gilbert.
Eastern Canal Path
The Eastern Canal Path is 19.6 miles long and stretches north to south from the Southern Canal Path in Mesa at E. McDowell Road to E. Riggs Road in Chandler. The trail alternates between pavement and gravel and follows along the South Canal.
Queen Creek Wash Trail
If you’re trying to find a nearby trail that gets more into nature, try the Queen Creek Wash Trail. Through its 5.6 miles, it follows its namesake through farmland and some residential areas, but for the most part feels more like a ride through a natural park. It starts at S. Power Road and ends at East Village Loop Road west of 215 Street in Queen Creek.
Southern Canal Path
North of Gilbert lies a great trail for gravel bikers — the Southern Canal Path. There are 9.3 miles between its start at Tempe Canal Path and the Consolidated Canal Path in Mesa and the Arizona Canal Path at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. This path offers some fantastic views of Arizona in its natural state and hooks up with four other trails. Most of the trail is in the open desert, so make sure to bring plenty of water.
Take some time to explore all the trails the area has to offer. Be courteous to others on the paths and enjoy our great city and the state of Arizona. And let us know where your favorite places to ride are.
Image via Flickr by desertdutchman/Under use by CC BY 2.0
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