Map of Indian Bend Wash Trail
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Indian Bend Wash Trail
The Indian Bend Wash Trail is an 18-mile long paved trail that extends from E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road to Tempe Town Lake Salt River, through Scottsdale and Tempe on the east side of the Phoenix metro area. The north portion of the trail crosses the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct and goes through Horizon Park. From this point, the trail heads south through the residential areas of Scottsdale. The route passes several parks and golf courses. the south end of the Indian Bend Wash Trail meets up with trails in the Tempe area and come near the Arizona Canal Trail.
The north end of the Indian Bend Wash Trail is at a point near E. Westworld Way and E. McDowell Mountain Ranch Road on the northeast side of the Phoenix Metro area. The trail passes by McDowell Mountain Ranch Park, where there is a parking lot and restroom. The next point of interest on the trail is Horizon Park on N. 100th Street. This is a large park with athletic fields, dog park, tennis courts, restrooms and parking. From the park, you need to cross N. 100th Street to continue on the trail. The crossing is just east of the main entrance.
Indian Bend Wash Trail then wanders through residential neighborhoods, follows N. Thompson Peak Parkway for 1/3 of a mile, then jogs to the east to follow alongside N. 96th Street for 1.4 miles and then jogs west at E. Cactus Road to follow alongside N. 94th Way. The trail wraps around Paradise Memorial Gardens and crosses N. 92nd Street and Shea Boulevard with underpasses. The remainder of the trail follows greenbelts with underpasses for most of the road crossings. There is a junction with the Pima Road Trail on the west side of the underpass for the Pima Freeway, Highway 101. Just west of Highway 101, the Indian Bend Wash Trail goes by Mountain View Park and the trail to the park leads to trails in neighborhoods to the north.
Farther south, the trail goes under East Via de Ventura and past the McCormick Ranch Golf Club. It then runs alongside N. Hayden Road then takes a jog to the west at the Scottsdale Silverado Golf Club and shares the route of the Arizona Canal Trail for a short stretch. The Indian Bend Wash Trail heads to the southeast alongside the golf course and goes under E. McDonald Drive. At this point the trail splits into multiple paths, some of which cross N. Hayden Road and go through Chaparral Park, Camelback Park and Indian School Park.
After going under E. Indian School Road, the trail goes by Continental Golf Club and there is a bridge for crossing Osborn Road. After crossing Murry Lane, the trail goes through El Dorado Park then under E. McDowell Road. South of McDowell Road, the trail goes through Vista Del Camino Park and past Yavapai Elementary School. The trail continues south into Tempe, with an underpass at E. McKellips Road, E. Curry Road and Red Mountain Freeway.
After passing under Red Mountain Freeway, the trail follows the shore of Tempe Town Lake on Salt River to the SRP Tempe Town Lake Marina. This is the south end of the Indian Bend Wash Trail, but you can connect to other Tempe trails and also to the Grand Canal Trail and the Crosscut Canal Trail in this area.
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.