Discovering the end of the Arizona Canal in Peoria, Arizona


Although the Arizona Canal has flowed through Phoenix since 1885, most people who live there really have no idea where, exactly, it is and fewer still know where, exactly, it ends. I've been fascinated by the history of Phoenix for many years now and I really didn't know until this morning. Ride along with me to the end of the Arizona Canal, which is at 75th Avenue north of Greenway Road in Peoria, a suburb of Phoenix.

The Arizona Canal looking west towards 75th Avenue, just north of Greenway Road

Well, to be fair it doesn't just abruptly stop. It makes a turn and kinda trickles out into the ground just past the water treatment plant. And that's because the water gets mostly used up along the way from the Salt River, where the canal begins at Roosevelt Dam.

Along the wash

Looking back east on the wash

But don't worry if you want to continue to ride along the wash, which is just north of the canal. Technically, it's a flood detention area, but mostly it's just nice wide-open space that you can ride, or run alongside of. Or you could just walk, or walk your dog. 


I love to ride along the canal very early in the morning, when it's just deliciously quiet. And if you go there, and see me, be sure to wave - I'm the guy on the recumbent trike with the big flag. But please, no motorized vehicles, no camping, no fires. You aren't trespassing, this is Federal Land, which means that it belongs to all of us. And remember to yield to quails, bunnies, and roadrunners!

Thank you for the encouragement! If you want to see daily pics of my adventures on my recumbent trike in suburban Phoenix (just for fun, of course!) you can follow me on Buy me a coffee, and you can buy me a coffee if you'd like to:

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