Long distance bicycle touring in Phoenix can turn an ordinary day into a memorable outing when the ride has a destination. This adventure idea connects the airport area, a canal ride toward Tempe, a northbound journey through Scottsdale, and a meal stop at Persian Room in North Scottsdale. The inspiration comes from a local rider’s description of an approximately 50-mile round trip.

Add a bicycle trailer and the outing becomes a useful introduction to carrying supplies for longer rides. You can practice packing, pacing, and planning without committing to an overnight tour. The goal is a satisfying day on the bicycle, with enough energy left to enjoy the return journey. Browse the MrBikeMan shop if you are choosing a bicycle for your next adventure.

A Phoenix bicycle touring idea, with room to personalize

The reported ride starts near the airport, follows a canal toward Tempe, turns onto a bicycle path toward south Scottsdale, and continues north before returning. Treat this as the outline of an outing, not a verified turn-by-turn route. The precise starting location, trail junctions, street connections, and return alignment have not been mapped here. Your distance will depend on the route you select.

Use the City of Scottsdale paths and trails resources and current local maps to build a continuous route. Check crossings and transitions as carefully as the attractive stretches of path. A line that looks connected on a small map may involve a street crossing or a connection that requires closer inspection before riding.

Save your chosen route before departure and identify places to shorten the outing. A roughly 50-mile goal is useful for planning, but there is no benefit in chasing a number when conditions change. A shorter ride that leaves you eager for another trip is a better result than stretching an uncomfortable day beyond your experience.

Starting near the airport without riding terminal roads

“Airport area” should not be confused with a recommendation to ride through terminal traffic. Phoenix Sky Harbor’s official bicycle information directs cyclists toward the 44th Street PHX Sky Train station and describes access from Washington Street. Review those instructions if that station is relevant to your starting plans. The airport recommends parking bicycles there before taking the train into the terminals.

Choose an actual meeting or departure point that everyone can locate. Confirm any parking rules independently, especially if you expect to leave a vehicle for several hours. Photograph your starting landmark or save it in your navigation app. At the end of a long ride, clear directions back to your original access point are especially welcome.

From canal riding toward Tempe and Scottsdale

The canal portion gives this ride its touring character: a longer journey built around connected corridors rather than repeated neighborhood laps. Phoenix’s Grand Canalscape information describes its multiuse pathway network. Tempe and Scottsdale also publish path resources. Use those official sources to distinguish the specific corridor you intend to ride from similarly named canal paths.

Move through unfamiliar intersections deliberately. Slow before crossings, check the signs, and verify the next connection while stopped away from moving trail traffic. Do not assume a path continues on the same side of a canal indefinitely. With a trailer, a mistaken turn can be more awkward to reverse, so a brief map check can prevent unnecessary maneuvering.

Shared paths are places for patient riding. Give walkers space, communicate when passing, and wait when the available room is narrow. Your bicycle and trailer form a longer combination than a bicycle alone. Leave space for the trailer to clear a person, post, or corner before moving back across the path.

Make Persian Room your destination, not your navigation plan

Persian Room lists its Scottsdale restaurant at 17040 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255. That gives the outing a clear North Scottsdale destination. Confirm the restaurant’s current opening times and arrangements directly before riding there. This guide does not promise bicycle parking, trailer storage, or a particular menu item.

Plan the final approach separately from the main path portion. Restaurants sit within a street network, and reaching the front door may require different decisions from following a recreational trail. Check the crossings and access points, then walk the bicycle where appropriate. Agree on a secure place for the bicycle and trailer before settling into your stop.

Allow time to eat without rushing the return ride. Consider how a longer restaurant break affects daylight, weather, and your schedule. Keep the meal stop flexible: if your timing changes, adjust your plans instead of increasing your riding effort simply to meet an arbitrary arrival time.

Choosing a bike trailer for long-distance bicycle touring

A cargo trailer can carry supplies, but compatibility comes first. Check the trailer manufacturer’s instructions for the hitch, axle arrangement, bicycle compatibility, loading, and operating limits. Different trailers are designed for different purposes. A cargo trailer is not a passenger trailer, and a product name alone does not establish that it suits your bicycle.

Burley’s cargo trailer comparison illustrates that designs differ in attachment and handling. Use the manual for your exact model rather than borrowing a weight limit or instruction from another trailer. If you ride an electric bicycle, check both manufacturers’ towing guidance and the rules for your chosen paths.

Practice with a modest load before attempting a long outing. Notice how the combination turns, stops, and moves through gates. Check that the hitch and required safety connections are installed correctly. A short trial near home is an opportunity to identify problems while returning is still easy.

Pack for the ride you are actually taking

Begin with water, food appropriate to your plans, a phone, identification, payment, and the bicycle supplies you know how to use. A compatible pump and suitable flat-repair equipment can be useful. Consider the trailer’s tires as well as the bicycle’s tires. Carrying a tool is only helpful when it matches the equipment and you understand its use.

Secure everything according to the trailer instructions. Keep loose straps clear of wheels and other moving components. Protect items that should remain dry, and avoid carrying unnecessary weight simply because space is available. A day trip to a restaurant requires a different packing list from an overnight camping tour.

Prepare a way home if the outing ends early. A trailer can complicate transport, so check any proposed pickup or vehicle arrangement in advance. Share your broad plan with someone who can help if needed. Keep enough phone battery available for navigation and communication on the return leg.

Pacing, weather, and the return journey

Set a pace that allows for the whole trip, including stops and unexpected delays. Begin conservatively while you assess the loaded bicycle. Check current weather and heat conditions before leaving and reassess during the ride. Phoenix’s heat safety resources are a useful planning reference. Change the ride when conditions exceed your preparation.

Count the return as part of the adventure rather than an afterthought. After your stop, check the bicycle, trailer attachment, load, and remaining supplies. Reopen your saved route before restarting. Build in time to enjoy the last miles instead of assuming the journey is finished when you reach the restaurant.

Build up to your first loaded fifty-mile day

If your normal ride is short, use several smaller outings to learn what works before extending the distance. First test the bicycle without a trailer. Next, try the attached trailer with a light load on a familiar route. Finally, practice carrying the supplies you intend to take. Change one part of the setup at a time so you can recognize what improves comfort.

Keep a brief packing note after each trial. Which items did you use? What was difficult to reach? Did the load remain secure? Were the tire valves compatible with your pump? These observations create a more useful touring checklist than buying accessories without testing them. Resolve rubbing, rattling, and attachment questions before the longer trip.

Ride with companions who understand the plan. Discuss stopping points, a comfortable pace, and what happens if someone wants to turn back. When a rider has a trailer, the group should allow extra time for crossings and parking. A shared destination can make the day enjoyable without requiring everyone to ride at the same speed.

After returning, record the actual mileage and the connections you used. That personal route record will help you refine the next outing and distinguish your completed ride from a general touring idea.

Frequently asked questions

Is this an exact 50-mile mapped route? No. Approximately 50 miles is the rider-reported round-trip distance. Map your own starting point and connections before using that estimate.

Do I need a bicycle trailer? No. A trailer is an optional way to practice carrying touring supplies. Choose equipment that matches your bicycle, experience, and actual needs.

Where can I find a bicycle for longer rides? Check current MrBikeMan bicycle listings, compare fit and condition, and ask questions about any model you are considering.

Choose manageable goals, review your equipment, and leave time to enjoy the journey.