Categories Outdoors

Where to Run – Phoenix, Arizona

Posted on by Liz Filion

What better way to explore than through running! Moving to Arizona in March 2019, I was very eager to hit the road and find the best places to run. Below I’ve accumulated a mix of trails and roads I’ve found so far.

I’ll update this on a regular basis as I find new locations, so bookmark this page and come back! If you have suggestions, please feel free to drop a comment.

Where to Run

Updated July 14, 2019

Long Loop Hike

  • Area: McDowell Sonoran Preserve
  • Distance:6.1 Mile Loop
  • Elevation: Ascent: 507′, Descent: -503′, High: 1,755′, Low: 1,559′
  • Directions: Granite Mountain Trailhead – 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262
  • Fees: None
  • Trail Amenities: None on the trail. Bathrooms at the trailhead. No water
  • Trail Guidance: Take the Bootlegger Trail, turn left onto Saddlehorn Trail at the fork, then right onto Granite Mountain Loop Trail, and back around.

Apache Wash Loop

  • Area: Sonoran Desert Preserve
  • Distance: 5.6 Mile Loop
  • Elevation: 200′ Change
  • Directions: Apache Wash Trailhead – 1600 E Sonoran Desert Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85085
  • Fees: None
  • Trail Amenities: None on the trail. Bathrooms at the trailhead. No water
  • Trail Guidance: From the Apache Wash Trailhead, start on the Sidewinder Trail. When you get to an intersection, take a right onto the labeled trail “Apache Wash Loop”. Followup the loop back to the trailhead.

Tempe Town Lake Loop

  • Area: Tempe, AZ
  • Distance:
    • 3.5 miles one way — MAP
      7.5-mile loop — MAP
  • Elevation: 97′ (aka… flat)
  • Directions: Town Lake Marina Boat Launch, Tempe, AZ 85281
  • Fees: None
  • Trail Amenities: Restrooms at Town Lake Marina Boat Launch and at Tempe Beach Park. Scatter water fountains along trail Bathrooms at the trailhead. No water
  • Trail Guidance: Park anywhere along the route, but I found the boat launch to be easiest (on the north side of the lake). There is a trail that goes along the entire lake. There are several other bridge options with walking trails if you choose to shorten your loop.

Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt

  • Area: Scottsdale, AZ
  • Distance:
    • 11 miles full trail, one-way
    • Multiple distances
  • Elevation: Unknown, generally flat
  • Directions: El Dorado Park (2311 N Miller Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257) is a good option for parking, though there are many options along the path
  • Fees: None
  • Trail Amenities: There are restrooms and water fountains in the parks along the entire route.
  • Trail Guidance: You’ll run through parks, lakes, and golf courses! The greenbelt features 24 grade-separated crossings, meaning you can avoid major cross traffic. The trail connects on the north end to the Pima Road Trail and the Indian Bend Rd. to Shea Blvd. Trail. On the south end, the greenbelt runs into downtown Tempe, and the Tempe Lake trails.

Papago Park

  • Area: Phoenix, AZ
  • Distance: .5-3 Miles
  • Elevation: Varies
  • Directions: Papago Park – 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
  • Fees: None
  • Trail Amenities: Restrooms throughout the park with water fountains
  • Trail Guidance: View Various Trails Here