Difficulty: Easy
Access: Start at the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail. Proceed left to access Crosscut Canal Trail.
Description: The Crosscut Canal Trail follows along the canal on the dirt and concrete banks of the canal. The trail is a wide canal bank trail that allows many different types of users to enjoy the trail. The trail passes be the Desert Botanical Garden and The Phoenix Zoo. There are many entrance and exit points along the trail.
Distance: 1.4 miles
Elevation Change: 20 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Access: Start at the West Park Drive parking lot. Proceed north to the Elliot Ramada Loop Trail.
Description: The Elliot Ramada Loop Trail loop is a marvelous trail that has a wonderful ramada rest stop at the halfway point. Trail users travel along a dirt path and a paved roadway. This trail also provides spectacular views of the downtown corridor and several benches are placed along the paved portion of the trail.
Distance: 2.7 miles
Elevation Change: 50 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Access: Start at North Mountain Park. Proceed to Penny Howe Barrier Free Trail.
Description: This trail offers two small loops which are very user friendly. There are interpretive plant signs located throughout the trail.
Distance: 0.3 miles
Elevation Change: 40 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Access: Start from Northeast Central Avenue Trailhead. Proceed to North Overbank Trail.
Description: This is a dog friendly trail running along the north side of the Rio Salado Riverbed. It provides ADA accessible opportunities for bird watching and enjoying the beautiful riparian scenery. This asphalt trail is perfect for walking, biking, inline or roller skating, and dog walking. The trail also offers excellent views of the Low Flow Channel, South Mountain and downtown Phoenix, along with the sights and sound of wildlife inhabitants.
Distance: 3.7 miles
Elevation Change: 0 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Access: Start from Southeast 7th Street Trailhead. Proceed to South Overbank Trail.
Description: This is a dog friendly trail running along the south side of the Rio Salado Riverbed. It provides ADA accessible opportunities for bird watching and enjoying the beautiful riparian scenery. This asphalt trail is perfect for walking, biking, inline or roller skating, and dog walking. The trail also offers excellent views of the Low Flow Channel, South Mountain and downtown Phoenix, along with the sights and sound of wildlife inhabitants.
Distance: 3.0 miles
Elevation Change: 0 feet
Difficulty: Easiest
Access: Start at Apache Wash Trailhead. Proceed south on Badger Brawl Trail. From Badger Brawl Trial, take a left to continue on to East Skip Rimsza Paseo.
Description: East Skip Rimsza Paseo is a paved concrete surface used primarily by walkers, joggers to some degree by bikers. For the most part it parallels Sonoran Desert Drive and can be accessed in either direction from the Apache Wash trailhead. At the trailhead head south down the sidewalk back towards the main road and then head either east or west. This trail is great for families and the elderly as it has a very gradual incline, not even noticeable, and has good views of the area. Don’t mind the traffic noise as the roadway has become very popular.
Distance: 1.9 miles
Elevation Change: 37 feet
Difficulty: Easiest
Access: Start at Apache Wash Trailhead. Proceed south on Badger Brawl Trail. From Badger Brawl Trial, take a right to continue on to West Skip Rimsza Paseo.
Description: West Skip Rimsza Paseo is a concrete trail with little gain in elevation. The trail stays close to Ocotillo Trail but then heads south and ends at Dove Valley Road.
Distance: 3.1 miles
Elevation Change: 15 feet
Judith Tunell Accessible Trail
Length: 1 mile (Segmented into two 1/2-mile loops.)
Elevation Change: Minimal
The trailhead is located at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center at 10919 S. Central Ave. (Central Avenue south of Dobbins Road). There are a number of disabled accessible parking spots at the center. The trail is open even when the center is closed.
Difficulty: The Interpretive Loop generally contains more moderate grades with a maximum grade of 7.5 percent. The Challenge Loop is slightly more difficult with a maximum grade of 8.5 percent.
This is the city's newest preserve-based accessible trail. The trail consists of two, ½-mile loops made of stabilized granite. The Interpretive Loop includes interpretive signs, water fountains, benches, three shade ramadas and a bridge over a wash. The Challenge Loop also contains ramadas, benches and water fountains.
Barrier Free Access Nature Trail
Length: .75 miles
Elevation: Less than 50 feet
Open to people of all abilities. The trail starts 1/2 mile to the east over a concrete path. Bicycles and horses are prohibited. The trailhead is located on the east side of Tatum Boulevard just north of Union Hills Drive. The trail is a partially paved loop that meanders through both upland and xeroriparian desert habitats that are supported by intermittent stream flows. Common plants in this habitat include mesquite, palo verde, acacia, hackberry, desert broom and ironwood. The increased density and variety of plant life in this habitat provides for additional cover, food, and water for wildlife which supports increased numbers of species and overall animal numbers. Some common wildlife species associated with this habitat include dove, quail, cottontail and jackrabbit and coyote.
Twenty different locations along the trail provide information signs on the flora and fauna that a visitor may encounter while walking the trail. The loop also features a small pond and picnic area. Please note that portions of this trail exceed a five percent grade, and visitors using wheelchairs may require assistance.
If you need assistance or have questions regarding park facilities, please call the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department at 602-534-9440.