Bicycling in Phoenix

Cruisers

Cruisers are made more for fun than fitness. So they’re perfect for exploring downtown Phoenix’s bike-friendly historic neighborhoods, such as the Willo or Encanto-Palmcroft districts, where you’ll find lovingly restored homes—in architectural styles ranging from Mission Revival to Classic Bungalow—dating to the 1920s. 

Or wind your way along the banks of the Salt River Project’s web of irrigation canals, where more than 100 miles of paved and packed-dirt paths crisscross Greater Phoenix, passing neighborhoods, urban parks and shopping and entertainment districts.

For those who like a reward at the end of a morning ride, try the beer brunch at O.H.S.O Eatery + Nanobrewery’s Arcadia locale, where bike racks, locks and tools for simple repairs attract riders from the nearby canal path. 

Before you rent a cruiser, check with your hotel to see if it has a bike program. Greater Phoenix properties such as The Clarendon Hotel and Spa, Kimpton's Hotel Palomar Phoenix, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, Bespoke Inn and The Saguaro all offer guests complimentary loans of bicycles.

Skill Level

Easy

Best For

Leisurely ride to brunch
 

Mountain Biking

Pack the trail mix, because Greater Phoenix is heaven for mountain biking. Between its parks and preserves, the metro area boasts hundreds of miles of mountain-bike-friendly trails that put you in the midst of the Sonoran Desert, often just minutes from urban centers. As you careen around switchbacks, keep your eyes peeled for saguaro and prickly pear cactuses, spring wildflowers and desert critters such as roadrunners, coyotes and javelinas.

In northeast Phoenix, parts of Phoenix Mountains Preserve offer lengthy, easy treks, such as the 10.7-mile Charles M. Christiansen Memorial Trail, which uses a series of tunnels to cross under a freeway and busy streets. Or try more challenging rides, such as the 4.8-mile Perl Charles Memorial Trail, which loops the backside of landmark Piestewa Peak. 

At South Mountain Park, the National Trail follows 14.5 miles of the mountain’s ridgeline, offering great views of downtown Phoenix. For those who want to hone their skills, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department has specially constructed competitive tracks (as well as general mountain biking trails) at Estrella Mountain, McDowell Mountain and White Tank Mountain regional parks.

Don’t own a mountain bike? No problem. The outfitters mentioned below offer rentals, guided tours and transportation to and from area hotels.

Skill Level

Moderate to difficult
 

Ideal For

Exploring the great outdoors
 

Where to Rent a Bike

REI Co-Op Experiences and Cactus Adventures
 

Road Biking

For adventurous riders who don’t mind biking 10 or 20 (or more!) miles at a time, bike lanes and bikeable routes lead outward from downtown Phoenix to different parts of town—and even into different cities.
 
From downtown, ride east to Papago Park to admire sandstone buttes and visit the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo. To the north of Greater Phoenix, the Sonoran Preserve’s Skip Rimsza Paseo is a five-mile, paved multi-use path that winds past the gentle hills of the city’s newest desert preserve. To the south, South Mountain Park—with its more than 16,000 acres of desert and mountainous terrain—is ideal for cycling. During the park’s monthly Silent Sundays, the rule on the paved roads is bikes only, no cars allowed. Pedal to numerous viewpoints with breathtaking city vistas.

Naturally, you’ll want to stop for sustenance along the way. Gertrude’s serves up seasonal dishes at its indoor/outdoor setting in the midst of Papago Park’s Desert Botanical Garden, while The Farm at South Mountain offers breakfast and lunch options in the shade of an old pecan grove. On the way back from the Sonoran Preserve, coast into Culinary Dropout at The Yard, a former motorcycle garage, for cocktails and appetizers.

Skill Level

Moderate to difficult

Best For

Citywide exploration

Where to Rent or Buy a Road Bike

The Bicycle Cellar and Trailhead Bike Café