Map of the Grand Canal Trail
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Grand Canal Trail
The Grand Canal Trail is a 23-mile long system of paved and unpaved trails located in Glendale and Phoenix that travels through the middle of the metropolitan area. For most of the way, the trail follows alongside the Grand Canal through residential and business districts. It starts at the University of Phoenix Stadium near Highway 101 and extends east to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Grand Canal Trail goes by multiple schools and parks. The route of the trail reduces the number of roadway intersections, but It does have numerous roadway crossings at street level.
The west end of the Grand Canal Trail starts near Highway 101 and Bethany Home Road, just south of the University of Phoenix Stadium. It travels east from this point and goes through Glendale's Grand Canal Linear Park. After the park, the paved trail heads to the southeast on both sides of the canal. there are multiple access paths for the local neighborhoods. From N. 67th Street to Indian School Road, the trail on the southwest bank is unpaved. South of W. Indian School Road, the trail exists only on the southwestern bank of the canal, but it is paved.
At N 59th Avenue, the Grand Canal Trail goes right by Maryvale High School, Frank Borman Middle School and Maryvale Baseball Park and Stadium. Farther east, the trail goes nearby to Glenn L. Downs Elementary School. East of N. 43rd Avenue, the trail goes by Pueblo Del Sol School. This section of the paved Grand Canal Trail stops at N. 35th Avenue. The unpaved trail continues traveling east on both sides of the canal, with a couple of short sections of pavement. There is a break in the trail at Highway 60 and then again at Interstate 17.
The Grand Canal Trail along the south bank of the canal is paved from N. 7th Avenue to S 44th Street. In this stretch, the trail goes by Central High School and Steel Indian School Park, goes under the Piestewa Freeway, goes under Red Mountain Freeway and travels right by the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. On the east side of S 44th Street and the airport, the trail is unpaved, except in a few short sections.
The Grand Canal Trail continues traveling east of the airport for another three miles to N. Mill Avenue and W Washington Street. This location is close to the Cross Cut Canal Trail and the trails in Tempe, such as the Tempe Town Lake Salt River Trail and the Salt River Trail. You can cross the lake to get to Tempe Center for the Arts and Tempe Beach Park. You can also connect to the Indian Bend Wash Trail that heads north to Scottsdale.
Read more about the recreational trails in Phoenix, Arizona
Resources
Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the communities and trails mentioned in this article.