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Explore the<br />
Outdoors<br />
By Jake Poinier<br />
Ethan Hill Media<br />
By Land<br />
BIKING<br />
BIKE PATHS<br />
Designated a Gold-Level Bicycle<br />
Friendly Community by the<br />
League of American Bicyclists,<br />
Tempe features about 217 miles of<br />
bikeways in all. Generous<br />
bike lanes allow cyclists to<br />
navigate safely on city streets<br />
and the BIKEiT bike boulevard<br />
system’s low-motorized traffic<br />
volumes and speeds are ideal for<br />
bicycle travel.<br />
Slaven Gujic<br />
Ethan Hill Media<br />
Find the unexpected side of the Sonoran Desert<br />
in Tempe. An ideal location and picturesque<br />
landscape make Tempe the perfect place to spend<br />
a sunny day boating, hiking or biking.<br />
Within and around the city, there’s no limit to<br />
the activities and adventures—but here are a few<br />
ideas to spark your imagination.<br />
"A" Mountain<br />
For a totally motor-vehicle-free<br />
experience, take a spin on one<br />
of the eight multi-use paths.<br />
Popular routes run along Tempe<br />
Town Lake, with spurs to the<br />
north on the Cross-Cut Canal,<br />
Grand Canal and Indian Bend<br />
Wash. To the south, riders<br />
can enjoy the extensive canal<br />
system’s options, such as the<br />
Highline Canal, Western Canal<br />
and Kyrene Canal.<br />
BIKE RENTALS<br />
Whether you want to take a<br />
two-hour ride or a seven-day<br />
adventure, the Bicycle Cellar<br />
can outfit you with the right set<br />
of wheels—including a lock,<br />
helmet, lights and a flat repair kit.<br />
Their roster includes urban bikes,<br />
mountain bikes, a tandem, or<br />
even an e-bike equipped with a<br />
kid hauler.<br />
Tempe Town Lake<br />
Papago Park<br />
HIKING<br />
PAPAGO PARK<br />
Several trails wind through Papago<br />
Park with views spanning across<br />
the Valley of the Sun, Downtown<br />
Tempe and Tempe Town Lake.<br />
The Double Butte Loop Trail is<br />
one of the best-known routes,<br />
with a mostly wide, flat dirt path<br />
that circumnavigates the large red<br />
sandstone buttes.<br />
“A” MOUNTAIN<br />
Thanks to its convenient location<br />
in the heart of Downtown Tempe,<br />
“A” Mountain (officially known as<br />
Hayden Butte Preserve) offers a<br />
quick, high-intensity hike—with the<br />
Leonard Monti Trail gaining about<br />
250 feet in less than half a mile.<br />
SOUTH MOUNTAIN<br />
PARK AND PRESERVE<br />
The largest municipal park in the<br />
U.S., South Mountain Park, has<br />
trails suitable for every level of<br />
hiker: flat, steep, short, long and<br />
everything in between. If you’re<br />
up for a moderate challenge, the<br />
1.7-mile Marcos De Niza Trail is<br />
among the most popular loop<br />
options.<br />
PIESTEWA PEAK<br />
The Summit Trail at Piestewa<br />
Peak is a strenuous yet rewarding<br />
hike within the Phoenix<br />
Mountains Park and Recreation<br />
Area. In addition to 360-degree<br />
views from the top, it’s a climb<br />
that provides a heart-pumping<br />
workout.<br />
CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN<br />
The Greater Phoenix area’s most<br />
visible landmark, Camelback<br />
Mountain, is a must-hike for<br />
its views and desert flora and<br />
fauna. Be prepared for numerous<br />
challenging sections and lots of<br />
fellow hikers; parking at the Echo<br />
Canyon trailhead is competitive<br />
on weekend mornings.<br />
By Water<br />
TEMPE TOWN LAKE<br />
If it floats, you’ll probably see it<br />
on Tempe Town Lake. Kayaks,<br />
stand-up paddleboards, pedal<br />
boats and rowing shells are<br />
constantly cruising the 2-milelong<br />
lake. In addition, Boat<br />
Rentals of America – Tempe<br />
Town Lake recently added donut<br />
boats to the mix: circular electric<br />
boats with canopies and tables<br />
that hold up to 10 people.<br />
KIWANIS LAKE<br />
No boating experience? No<br />
problem! Boat Rentals of<br />
America – Kiwanis Lake rents<br />
single and double kayaks and<br />
pedal boats – including bimini<br />
tops for shade and whimsical<br />
duck boats for style. At 1/2 mile<br />
long and 1/8 mile wide, it’s the<br />
perfect way to catch some rays<br />
on the water as part of a day at<br />
Kiwanis Community Park.<br />
24 #OurTempe TempeTourism.com<br />
TempeTourism.com #OurTempe 25