The Best e-bike Routes in Scottsdale

Scottsdale is one of the best e-bike cities in the country. Smooth paths, big skies, and easy access to the desert. We send customers on these rides every single week, and every route below starts within a few miles of our shop on Miller Road. Distances are round-trip unless noted, and every ride is doable on any e-bike we rent or sell.

1. Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt (the beginner classic)

Distance: up to 13 miles one way, ride as much or as little as you like. Difficulty: easy. Surface: smooth pavement the whole way.

The Greenbelt is a paved, almost entirely car-free path running north-south through the heart of Scottsdale, from Shea Boulevard down to Tempe Town Lake. It winds through parks, past lakes, and under road crossings, so you rarely touch a street. If you have never ridden an e-bike before, this is where we tell you to start: no traffic, no hills, and plenty of places to stop for water or a snack.

Trailheads: Chaparral Park (5401 N Hayden Rd) is the most popular starting point, with parking and restrooms. From our shop, it is a five-minute ride east to join the path at Camelback Park. Going north takes you toward McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park; going south connects you all the way to Tempe.

2. Old Town Loop (coffee, art, and people-watching)

Distance: about 8 miles round-trip from the shop. Difficulty: easy. Surface: city streets with bike lanes plus canal paths.

Start at our shop, ride south into Old Town Scottsdale, and make a morning of it: coffee at one of the Fifth Avenue cafes, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Waterfront, and the shops along Main Street. Then loop back along the Arizona Canal path, which gives you a quiet, shaded ride home away from the traffic. This is the ride we recommend to visitors who want to see the city rather than just exercise.

Best time: mornings, especially October through April. Old Town gets busy on weekend afternoons, and the canal path is more pleasant before midday heat.

3. Arizona Canal Path to the Salt River (the long, quiet one)

Distance: 20+ miles round-trip depending on where you turn around. Difficulty: easy to moderate (flat, but distance adds up). Surface: paved and packed-dirt canal paths.

The Arizona Canal runs diagonally across the whole Valley, and the path alongside it is one of the most underrated rides in Scottsdale. Head north and east and the city noise falls away; on a good winter morning you can spot herons, wild horses near the Salt River, and the McDowell Mountains rising in front of you. An e-bike turns this from an all-day commitment into a comfortable two-to-three-hour outing.

Practical note: there is little shade and no water on the canal path, so bring more water than you think you need, especially May through September. We keep a stock of insulated bottles and extra cages at the shop for exactly this ride.

4. Pima & Dynamite Loop (the desert workout)

Distance: about 25 miles. Difficulty: moderate to hard. Surface: road riding with bike lanes, rolling hills.

For more experienced riders, the loop out to Pima and Dynamite in North Scottsdale is the local favorite. Rolling hills, big desert views, and long stretches where it is just you and the saguaros. This is where a Class 3 e-bike shines: the 28 mph assist lets you keep momentum on the rollers and hold a comfortable pace on the long straightaways.

Start early. There is no shade, summer afternoon temperatures make this ride unsafe, and the morning light on the desert is the whole point. Cell coverage is fine the whole way, but tell someone your route anyway.

5. Tempe Town Lake Connector (the full afternoon)

Distance: 18-22 miles round-trip. Difficulty: easy. Surface: paved paths almost the entire way.

Ride south on the Greenbelt and it delivers you straight to Tempe Town Lake. Loop the lake, cross the pedestrian bridge, add a lap of the ASU campus or a stop on Mill Avenue, and you have a full afternoon ride without ever planning a turn. It is the best first-day ride for visitors: flat, scenic, and impossible to get lost on.

A few rules of the trail

• Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are welcome on all of these paths; Class 3 is restricted on some unpaved sections, so check signage
• Yield to pedestrians, the Greenbelt is shared with walkers and runners
• May through September: ride before 9am or after sunset, and carry twice the water you expect to need
• A bell or a friendly "on your left" goes a long way on busy weekends

See our Where to Ride page for full maps, or stop by the shop. Every rental includes a printed route map, and we will happily mark up a route based on how far you want to go and what you want to see.