Monday, September 26, 2011

Biking Skunk Creek Trail

Glendale, arizona's Skunk Creek Trail follows the namesake creek for 4.2 miles, passing several parks including Foothills Park with its water park and skateboard park, as well as residential and commercial areas.

I saw the trail while driving along Bell Road and parked in a shopping center lot by Carl Jrs. at N.73rd Ave. and rode the trail not realizing how short it was. I tried to find the connection to the longer Arizona Canal Trail but didn't find it. Checking Google map now, I see that what I took for a half mile to the west was not just an access trail.  It turns south, crosses Grandview and then West Sandra Terrace (looking like a sidewalk more than a bike trail and with no signage at all) gets you to a continuation of Skunk Trail to the west and the lengthy Arizona Canal Trail to the east.






Most road crossings are via underpasses, and the lack of signage in places got me on several access trails ending in residential areas instead of on the main trail, though there are many signs reminding you that these underpasses flood during storm season as seen below...




The Phoenix area has done a marvelous job utilizing the canals and flood arroyos for recreational trail use. The local residents no doubt learn the routes by using them, but we visitors passing through town would appreciate better signage to direct us to the the trails and keep us on the correct trail.


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