Roadrunner Park Thompson Peak Pkwy Loop

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Scottsdale, Phoenix, AZ, US

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Panoramica del percorso

Ravi Khalsa

Road rides in Phoenix-Scottsdale Arizona

53 km

200 m

Starting and ending in north Phoenix, this ride takes you by Westworld and on Thompson Peak Parkway, one of the Northeast Valley's beautiful areas to ride.

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Dettagli del percorso

## Getting There
Park at [Roadrunner Park](http://www.yelp.com/biz/roadrunner-park-phoenix), 3502 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85032. It's in North Phoenix at SR 51 and Cactus Ave.

## The Ride

North on 36th St to the @photo[Indian Bend Wash pathway](779102). It's just before the stop sign at Sweetwater, turn right (east) onto the pathway. Trivia, much of the Indian Bend Wash is an [EPA Superfund cleanup site](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Bend_Wash_Area). More trivia, the [Scottsdale Part of the Indian Bend Wash](http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/greenbelt/indianbendwash) is well known. The Phoenix part is not.

Pass @photo[under 40th St](779109) then under Cactus Rd. The path turns left then enters [Stone Creek Golf Club](http://www.stonecreekgc.com). *Stay off Cactus Rd*, use the sidewalk. The path begins again almost immediately,  @photo[on your right… alongside the golf course](779085).

*At @photo[this point](779091), if the pathway is wet be careful as you go down and turn. And, this is an area where golfers sometimes do not undertand that the pathway is shared.*

Follow the path @photo[under Tatum](779098), then follow @photo[this guy](779082) to Cholla.

We have been avoiding traffic going to [Paradise Valley Mall](http://www.theparadisevalleymall.com/Directory). If you need repair or cycling stuff, there is an [REI at PV Mall](http://www.rei.com/stores/paradise-valley.html). We will make our way back to Sweetwater, our main eastbound street as we head toward North Scottsdale.

Cholla takes us east to 56th St, where we cut through [Orange Tree Golf Course](http://www.orangetreegolfcourse.com) neighborhood to 60th St and eventually rejoin Sweetwater. *@photo[Cross Cactus Road](779094) with care! It can be busy and vehicles are moving fast*.

@photo[At Sweetwater](779108) turn right (east). When you get to Scottsdale Rd, cross with the light. It's a busy street!

Sweetwater ends temporarily at Hayden, we have to make a jog through a neighborhood to rejoin Sweetwater. *It is important to get back to Sweetwater as we are going to use a @photo[non-motorized bridge over the 101 (Pima Freeway)](779090).* Follow the cues.

North (left) at 100th St, a route that is frequented by cyclists. There is a cyclist-friendly @photo[Circle K Convenience Store/Gas Station](779106) on the southwest corner of 100th St and Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. You can ask for the key to the bathroom.

[Taliesin West](http://www.franklloydwright.org) is close by, if you are a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright.

After crossing Thompson Peak Blvd, watch on your right for [Horizon Park](http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/horizon). Turn in at the @photo[3rd entrance](779104). Follow the sidewalk/path to @photo[this bridge](779097). Welcome to the secret entrance to [Westworld](http://www.westworldaz.com)!

Follow the cues to a nice @photo[clean bathroom in Westworld](779081), then back to Bell Road (a busy street but has a bike lane) and a left (north) on Thompson Peak Parkway. Be careful maneuvering across Bell Rd to the left-turn lane. *You can ride up to the intersection and use the crosswalks.*

Thompson Peak Parkway is a beautiful ride along the foot of the [McDowell Mountains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDowell_Mountains). This area is part of the [McDowell Sonoran Conservancy](http://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/content/pages/missionAndVisionII#sthash.TpswuvyD.dpbs). Stop by the [Gateway Trailhead](http://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/trailhead/displayLocation/1#sthash.9vKpcEku.dpbs) to learn more about this incredible area.

After you cross Pima Rd, Thompson Peak Parkway gets busier but there is a bike lane and this area is well traveled by cyclists. Turn left at Hayden, cross under the 101. Hayden traffic is moving very fast but you have a bike lane and, again, this is a well used bicycle route. Your next turn is a right (west) on Princess Drive. Make your way past the [The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess](http://www.fairmont.com/scottsdale/) toward Scottsdale Rd.

If you are a racing fan, the [Penske Racing Museum](http://www.penskeracingmuseum.com) is close.

Follow the cues to Mayo Blvd. You have a bike lane most of the way on Mayo and where you don't, the cars have a center lane. Mayo is also well traveled by cyclists.

Follow Mayo to Tatum Blvd, where you make a left (south) turn. On the @photo[southwest corner](779100) is the [Musical Instrument Museum](http://themim.org), a must visit if you are a musician! And a great visit for anyone.

Ride south on Tatum, pass [Horse Lovers Park](http://azhorseloverspark.org), over the [CAP Canal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Arizona_Project) and turn right on Union Hills Drive. There are good bike lanes on Tatum and Union Hills.

*After riding west on Union Hills, we are going to ride south on a pathway that runs alongside [SR 51](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_State_Route_51). This pathway is seperated from the freeway and avoids busy Phoenix streets. And it has really cool @photo[non-motorized bridges](779096) over major east-west arteries.*

On Union Hills at 40th St, cross over and @photo[ride on the sidewalk](779107) on the south side of the street for a few blocks. Before crossing the exit ramp from SR 51, @photo[turn left (south) on this pathway](779083).

Immediately after you enter the path, you will see @photo[Paradise Valley Park](779086) on your left. Bathrooms, shaded picnic tables, water fountains.

Ride on the east side of SR 51 until you @photo[see this bridge](779089) at Paradise Ln. @photo[Cross over](779092) and follow the pathway left (south) on the other side of SR 51.

After you cross over Greenway Road and after you pass [Venturoso Park](http://www.yelp.com/biz/venturoso-park-phoenix) (on your right), the pathway crosses under SR 51. @photo[A second underpass](779110) takes you under Thunderbird Rd. Follow the @photo[Indian Bend Wash pathway](779103) a few more blocks to 36th St, turn right (south). @photo[Roadrunner Park](779095) is on your right at the corner of 36th St and Cactus.

Roadrunner Park Thompson Peak Pkwy Loop

Panoramica del percorso

Dettagli del percorso

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