Scottsdale Greenbelt bike and hike: Hole in the Rock views

A short hike rewards you with views across the entire Phoenix valley floor.

A guided bike and hike tour in Scottsdale combines riding the Greenbelt Park system down to Tempe Town Lake with a light hike to Hole in the Rock in Papago Park. You'll pedal through Eldorado Park and the Rio Salado Riverway, learning the history of the Salt River development and the Sonoran Desert, then climb to an overlook with sightlines across the Valley of the Sun toward Hunts Tomb and the Phoenix Zoo.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bike and hike Scottsdale parks

• Bike Scottsdale Greenbelt path
• Pass championship Disc Golf Course
• Learn Rio Salado Project history
• Tour Papago Park trails
• Hike Hole in the Rock
• View Valley of the Sun
• See Hayden's Ferry site
• View Tempe community event spots

The experience

The tour starts on the Scottsdale Greenbelt bike path system, a network that runs through Eldorado Park and feeds into the Tempe Habitat Wash area. You'll ride on dirt paths toward Tempe Town Lake, passing a championship disc golf course that sits within the park system. The guide walks you through the history of the Rio Salado Project and what the lake and surrounding recreational areas mean to the region, then continues into Papago Park, a desert oasis full of trails carved into the landscape.

At Papago Park, the riding stops and the hike begins. The climb to Hole in the Rock is described as light and easy, but the payoff is the reason people come: from the top you see the full Valley of the Sun spread out below, with the Phoenix Zoo and Botanical Garden visible in one direction and Hunts Tomb rising in another. The guide shares what the Sonoran Desert looks like up close and points out where Hayden's Ferry once shuttled people across the river, plus traces of Hohokam Indian farming that shaped this area a thousand years ago.

You'll need good balance and the ability to handle a bike on dirt. The operator recommends riders 5'2" and above with at least moderate fitness. Bikes, helmets, a backpack for your water and gear, and a neck gaiter are all provided. The whole experience runs just under two hours, which leaves most of the day open for other stops around Scottsdale or Tempe.

What’s included

• Use of a bicycle.
• helmet.
• backpack for water and personal items.
• neck gaiter.
• guided commentary on the Rio Salado, Tempe Town Lake, Papago Park, the Valley of the Sun, the Sonoran Desert, and local history.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 11:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Youth (16 to 17 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Greenbelt Bike Tours of Scottsdale

Is this one for you?The tour fits into a morning or early afternoon without eating your whole day, leaving time to explore Scottsdale or Tempe afterward. You'll need good balance and moderate fitness to handle dirt paths on the bike and the light hike, and the operator recommends riders 5'2" and above.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 17 years). Children under 16 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Hole in the Rock and why do people hike to it?

Hole in the Rock is a natural opening in the red rock formation inside Papago Park, and the hike to it ends at an overlook where you can see across the entire Valley of the Sun, with views toward the Phoenix Zoo, Botanical Garden, and Hunts Tomb.

Do I need to be an experienced mountain biker to do this tour?

You need good balance and the ability to control a bike on dirt paths, plus at least moderate physical fitness, but the operator describes the hike portion as light and easy, not technical.

What does the guide talk about during the ride and hike?

The guide covers the history of Tempe Town Lake and the Rio Salado Salt River development project, the Sonoran Desert landscape, Hohokam Indian farming from a thousand years ago, and where Hayden's Ferry crossed the river.

How much of the tour is riding versus hiking?

You bike through the Scottsdale Greenbelt and down to Tempe Town Lake, then hike the short climb to Hole in the Rock in Papago Park. The whole tour runs just under two hours.