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The State Route 51 Trail parallels Arizona State Route 51, also known as the Piestewa Freeway, on a paved route between the Reach 11 Recreation Area and Venturoso Park. The trail provides access to surrounding communities, county government facilities, schools, neighborhoods, hospitals and numerous parks and businesses.
Parking for the State Route 51 Trail is available in a parking lot at the northwest corner of Sweetwater Avenue and 36th Street. You can also park at Venturoso Park at the end of E. Hearn Road and along the cul-de-sac at the ends of Blanche Drive, Nisbet Road, Beck Lane, Betty Elyse Lane, Carol Ann Way, Tiera Bueana Lane and Marconi Avenue.
Additional parking is available at Paradise Valley Park and at the Maricopa County building (40th Street and Union Hills Drive).
Started at Stonecreek Golf Course and headed north. The trail is in good shape and the overpasses at Thunderbird and Bell offered a challenge for me.
This is a nice fully paved trail that runs parallel to the AZ 51 Fwy. There are a lot of places to pick up this trail, but I recommend parking right off of 40th St and union hills and starting at the bridge right there.
There is a huge parking lot at the batting cages on that intersection and a small sidewalk that takes you straight to the bridge.
From there you can either head north towards the 101 and connect to the w211s trail or head south towards Paradise valley Mall.
I took the trail as far south as it goes and ended up at the golf course on Cactus and Paradise village parkway.
There are some fun but also exhausting bridges that you have to cross on your way there and those are the highlight of the trip.
I'll¿ ride this again next time I want to go to PV Mall.
The trail is nice and clean and gets the job done. I use it on days that I just need to go and get my run out of the way because it's close. However,it wouldn't be my first pick. A little too industrial meaning it's not very scenic running along the interstate looking a wall. And the wall makes me feel a little isolated.
This is a nice, fairly quiet path alongside the AZ 51 freeway. There are overhead passes you pass though to cross to the other side. I saw some bikers, walkers and a few runners this morning. It was easy to follow. I ran until I got to the canal and then headed back towards Cactus. I parked at the Indian Bend Wash park which is near the Shadow Mountain Senior Center (they share a parking lot).
All in all, I will be visiting again:)
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