98 FUN & GAMES SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 trail was all in a day’s work. For you, it can be the perfect opportunity to find a new hobby, bond with a friend or partner or simply take in the beauty of Arizona. Black-owned Copper State Riding Club — which just expanded to a larger ranch in Gilbert — makes it easy and fun to enjoy the magic of horses however you’d like: a quick beginner lesson, a romantic trail ride or even a fun setting for a photoshoot or music video. They even offer party packages, sober living group rides and group therapy sessions. With cooler temps around the corner, it’s the perfect time to saddle up. e e e B E S T B I K E P AT H INDIAN BEND WASH GREENBELT SCOTTSDALEAZ.GOV/PARKS/GREENBELT Cycling is huge in the Valley, and while we have the greatest respect for our mountain biking comrades, we prefer our routes to be simple and flat and paved. Our most-traversed path is the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, usually known just as the greenbelt. This urban route is about 11 miles long and mostly runs along Hayden Road from south to central Scottsdale. The southern terminus is on Curry Road on the border of Tempe, and it stops at Indian Bend Road on the northern end. It’s a popular path that you’ll almost never have to yourself, so be prepared to accommodate other cyclists, walkers and runners. Along the way, you’ll see parks, ponds and wildlife. You’ve got plenty of infra- structure along the way; when you need a restroom or a rest, you won’t have to go too much farther to find it. A ride along the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt is one of our favorite ways to spend a weekend afternoon. e e e B E S T WA L K I N G P AT H MURPHY BRIDLE PATH In the arid, concrete-laden city, there are few locations that feel like a lush oasis. The historic, tree-lined Murphy Bridle Path is one of those rare places. Stretching from the northeast corner of Bethany Home Road and Central Avenue, this wide, dirt-packed trail ambles northward about 2.5 miles until it runs into the Arizona Canal. The path was origi- nally designed for horseback riders who lived in the Orangewood neighborhood, which William J. Murphy established in 1895. Soak up the shade of ash and olive trees while eyeing some of Phoenix’s great historic homes. This path is ideal for a casual bike ride, run or ambling Saturday walk with a coffee from the Uptown Farmers Market. e e e B E S T WA L K I N G C L U B F O R T H E G I R L S , G A Y S A N D T H E Y S PHOENIX BABES WHO WALK BABESWHOWALK.COM Getting outside? Check. Getting exercise? Yup. Making new friends? That too. Feeling safe? Thank goodness. Local social club Phoenix Babes Who Walk hosts events around the Valley for women, queer folks and those who identify as nonbinary to promote wellness and community. Since 2022, the group has hosted more than 100 walks, hikes, yoga sessions and other social events. There’s rarely a cost to attend unless it’s something like a workout class or a Phoenix Suns game, and walks are held all over the Valley, from Glendale to Gilbert. It’s a great way to spend time with your friends, or show up solo and possibly meet some new ones. In any case, Phoenix Babes Who Walk is a great way to enjoy the outdoors in a safe, inclusive environment. e e e B E S T S C E N I C D R I V E APACHE TRAIL TO TORTILLA FLAT If you’re up for some adventure in exchange for gorgeous desert vistas, saddle up and take a drive to Tortilla Flat. About an hour from central Phoenix, the small town filled with Old West history and saloons is worth visiting on its own. But the ride, which takes drivers down State Route 88, otherwise known as Apache Trail, is the real destination. As the road winds out of the city, it travels along Lost Dutchman State Park and its impressive views of the towering Superstition Mountains. Keep going and the elevation increases, winding up into hills sprinkled with saguaros. A few hairpin turns test a driver’s concentration and the stomachs of their passengers. But there are plenty of gorgeous stopping points to take a break, get out and enjoy the view. Peek down over the hills and you’ll start to see the shim- mering waters of Canyon Lake against the dusty desert. As you descend toward the water, be aware that there are multiple one- lane, two-way bridges. This means you have to pick your moment and hope the car on the other side is paying attention. But the twists, turns and wild water crossings are all part of the adventure on this uniquely Arizona scenic drive.
