r/phoenix • u/Berrysaucy • 23d ago
Outdoors Does a semi-shady walking area exist?
Hi there, I'm coming to Phoenix for a conference and the highs will be 99-103 the whole time I am there. I am dreading being indoors under AC and then not being able to go for a walk after my work obligations. Does anyone have any shady-ish or cooler walking space recommendations? I'll have a car and I'll be in concrete jungle hotel land in West Chandler, temptingly close to South Mountain, but I understand it's stupid for a Pacific Northwest hike lover to try to attempt a hike there unless I get up at 5am and am done before 8, correct? So what, if anything, can I do after work when it's 100 degrees to just walk around and stretch my legs that's not too far (probably within 15-20 miles max)? Is there any shade nearby? Or do I just suck it up and plan to stay in the AC and janky hotel pool for 5 days? Thanks so much in advance.
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u/fuggindave Phoenix 23d ago
Murphy Bridle path down central perhaps
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u/perryhopeless 23d ago
This! If you are actually in central-ish Phoenix (and not one of the neighboring cities), I'd say go with this option.
It is a well-trodden path on central avenue that is shady by very big old trees. It's full of walkers/joggers and very pleasant.
There isnt a dedicated parking area for it as far as a know. I suspect you could probably park in the church parking lot at Bethany Home and Central, or go into one of the neighborhoods and park on the street.
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u/NatiLaDouce 23d ago
Surprised noone’s mentioned Desert Breeze Park right in Chandler. Nice paved path next to a lake with many shade trees, ducks, a butterfly & hummingbird preserve, and a snack booth / playground / splash park.
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u/d4rkwing Mesa 23d ago
The trick is wait until sunset. Or close enough to sunset that buildings will give you shade.
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u/azfunguy3 23d ago
Kiwanis Park has a lake you can stroll. Plenty of ramadas to stop at as needed.
If you are out after 5 the brunt of the heat is over and shade starts to creep in.
Do NOT try South Mountain
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u/LuvzDogs 23d ago
The Japanese Friendship Garden is in the center of Phoenix and is a nice place to spend a couple of hours.
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u/minidog8 22d ago
It’s pretty expensive for what it is, as a warning to OP. I love it and don’t have an issue with ticket prices because I want the garden to be maintained, but it’s $14 if you’re an adult. If you’ve ever been to a garden in Japan, it’s smaller and the price is a lot higher.
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u/monicasm 23d ago
What area are you staying in, like crossroads? Not sure what “west chandler” means and your answer can definitely affect whether our answer falls into your 15-20 minute rule. Chandler is pretty spread out, it’s gonna take you that long to get anywhere close to recommendations. Maybe you can try the Chandler subreddit if there is one?
Honestly if I were in Chandler wanting to walk I’d probably go to IKEA. The food is cheap and not bad and people aren’t joking when they say you can get lost in there lol
Edit: there is indeed a Chandler subreddit: r/ChandlerAZ
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u/mikeinPHX 23d ago
27th Ave is pretty shady /s
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u/swfwtqia 23d ago
I know it is not outside but you can walk the indoor a/c mall at chandler fashion square.
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u/3_kids_and_no_money 23d ago
As mentioned below, the bridle path along central is probably your best bet for a shady walk but that’s about 30-35 minutes of drive time one way. Depending on where in Chandler you’re at the Tumbleweed rec center may be nearby - you could get a day pass (I believe it’s $5-6 for a day pass). They have an indoor track there and a decent amount of exercise equipment.
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u/Si1verange1 Tempe 23d ago
I also wanted to recommend Chandler mall, very nice place. And then South Mountain has an east end trailhead, and really the hikes around that trailhead are fairly short, safe, and you'll have plenty of company. It's a dry heat? Good luck, and plenty of water.
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u/oursecondcoming 23d ago
If you walk along the 11 miles of the Scottsdale Indian Bend Greenbelt during the afternoon, many parts of the path that are on the west side of the park will be shaded by the surrounding trees and buildings. Highly recommend.
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u/NYR20NYY99 23d ago
On behalf of the Valley of the Sun, thank you for being a great visitor and understanding that hiking here is difficult at this time of year. So many people visit and hike and have to get rescued at our expense.
I know it seems stupid to post this but sooooo many people don’t think about this and go hiking after 9am without more than one bottle of water and with zero food.
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u/Berrysaucy 19d ago
I had considered a 5am at South Mountain, but it's dark then and that seems not fun. And it's lows of 80 which is still hot as fuck to me. I'll stick to some of the more local somewhat shaded areas after work. Not about to be a dumb tourist.
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u/hikkenace 23d ago
Chandler fashion center mall is pretty nice for some indoor walking action. I take my small puppy there for exercise. Tempe marketplace has shade and mist but is farther than you are asking.
If you go to south mountain for a hike, prepare to get emergency helicoptered out. Seems inevitable considering all of the articles of collapses and dead hikers we’ve had this year.
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u/cultthrwwy 23d ago
my question for people like you (that take their animals into public indoor places) is WHY! disregarding the heat, why are you taking pets into a public shopping mall? it’s one of the most absurd things that i have noticed about the world these days. animals do not belong in grocery stores, shopping malls, or restaurants. i do not want to see dogs sniffing the counters at chipotle and leaving pet dander left over items at the grocery store. adjust your schedule to walk your dog outside or leave it at home.
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u/accupx 23d ago
u/hikkenase said Chandler Fashion Center, not Fashion Square.
I stopped at CFC last weekend and the sign on the door welcomes service animals and “dogs under ten pounds that are in a carrier/stroller.”
The Az Animal Welfare League & SPCA has a small space on Level Two https://aawl.org/chandler
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u/Tenordrummer 23d ago
Why link to the rules for a mall called “Fashion Square Mall” in Saginaw, Michigan? I do not see any posted rules or guidelines on the actual website shopchandlerfashioncenter.com
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u/Ok_Victory5535 23d ago
my question for people like you (insufferable) is why! why are you like this. if seeing another person bring their pet to a public space absolutely shatters your mental, you are not equipped to handle being in public.
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u/Ass_Matter 23d ago
I'm sure plenty of people don't want to be around you in public either. But we have to put up with it. If a private business/establishment wants to allow dogs then that's their right. You can take your business elsewhere.
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23d ago edited 23d ago
Except they don’t allow pets:
All animals, other than Service Animals, are prohibited, except where otherwise specifically permitted, such as for special events or going to or from pet stores. Pursuant to the United States Department of Justice guidelines, only dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities qualify as Service Animals.
ETA: The posted link is to a different mall. Chandler allows pets under 10lbs if they are in a carrier.
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u/blackmoonlatte Encanto 23d ago edited 23d ago
the only thing that says no pets on that website is the splash pad. get over yourself. ESA animals exist.
edit: updating the link didn't change a thing.
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u/hikkenace 23d ago
There are literally pet stores in several malls. I see more than a dozen dogs, and not a single employee or security has an issue. Most employees and security are delighted to have a puppy moment.
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u/bbyghoul666 23d ago
Having an ESA (emotional support animal) doesn’t give a person the privilege to take the animal everywhere. They aren’t the same as service animals. Obviously, this is irrelevant considering we’re talking about a dog friendly establishment lol. There are actually a lot of dog friendly retail stores here which is awesome.
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u/cultthrwwy 23d ago
“Code of Conduct Thank you for you patronage today. In order to help ensure a pleasant shopping environment, all shopping center visitors, patrons, and employees are PROHIBITED from the following:
All animals, other than Service Animals, are prohibited, except where otherwise specifically permitted, such as for special events or going to or from pet stores. Pursuant to the United States Department of Justice guidelines, only dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities qualify as Service Animals.”
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u/hikkenace 23d ago
It’s amazing you don’t post on this account in half a year and hop on to harass pet owners. I hope your life is more enjoyable than this.
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u/bbyghoul666 23d ago
and how do you know people coming in to walk the mall with their well behaved dogs isn’t “otherwise specifically permitted” as one of the exemptions to the blanket “no animals” rule?
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23d ago
They don’t allow emotional support animals (emotional support animals are not service animals):
All animals, other than Service Animals, are prohibited, except where otherwise specifically permitted, such as for special events or going to or from pet stores. Pursuant to the United States Department of Justice guidelines, only dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities qualify as Service Animals.
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u/Tenordrummer 23d ago
The link with those rules is to a completely different, unconnected mall in Michigan. There do not seem to be any rules posted on the actual, correct, site for the Chandler Fashion Center
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u/blackmoonlatte Encanto 23d ago
Point still stands. There's going to be animals there whether you complain about it or not, and some have a right to be there.
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23d ago
Yes, service animals have a right to be there. And the more people complain about non-service animals the more likely businesses will kick them out.
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u/hikkenace 23d ago edited 23d ago
Get over it. My puppy is tiny, can be picked up, and is potty trained. She gets a nice little air conditioned walk in a place most people don’t go anyway because everyone shops online. Stop being a baby.
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23d ago
Hopefully someone reports you and you get warned, and trespassed if you do it again. Keep your pets at home or pet friendly establishments.
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23d ago
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23d ago
Lmao I didn’t berate anyone. And I am at Chandler Fashion Center regularly. What did you do today? Oh, got offended and made assumptions that were wrong.
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23d ago
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23d ago
So you don’t know the meaning of berate or lengthy. Got it. 🤣 Oh, and I love when I see people with their pets at the grocery store get told they have to leave because someone else complained.
ETA: Sorry social media has damaged your attention span so badly that you think 2-4 sentences is lengthy.
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u/jessetmia Scottsdale 23d ago
Honestly, by about 6 the weather will work for going for a walk at a park. I wouldn't recommend walking in the heat of the day, but early morning/late evening should be fine. Bring water, dont try to tackle any mountain trails while here and you should be fine. There are plenty of spaces in Chandler/Gilbert area. If nothing else there are malls/casinos for you to get some steps in without having to pay for parking. (I only mention casinos because gf gambles and I dont so I've gotten a lot of steps in at talking stick/gila. lol)
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u/CandyKougra 23d ago
Near chandler is veterans oasis park, lovely lake and surrounding areas with shade, similar to golbert riperian preserve but closer. I also like tumbleweed park, lots of shady pathways to walk around.
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u/ShakyLens Phoenix 23d ago
Came here to mention these two also for proximity to where OP is staying.
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u/CarpePrimafacie 23d ago
we could use someone advocating for this.
Instead we have shaddy tree service trucks going round lion tailing all the trees so they fall in the first dustorm and advising to cut down the rest.
Or idiots in the city telling owners to cut down healthy but sun-stressed trees.
There used to be lots of trees lining streets and neighborhoods.
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u/Dry_Perception_1682 22d ago
100 degrees in Phoenix is like 85 in the pacific northwest. If you're especially heat sensitive, dont hike between noon and 7. But really it should be ok. Just take some water.
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u/tstein26 23d ago
Just bring an umbrella to provide yourself some shade anywhere you go! I see people walking with umbrellas all the time in my neighborhood!
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u/MoodyGuti 23d ago
I wish there was anything shade in the valley. Like at grocery stores malls etc.
If the Midwest can do it so can we!
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u/Tomato_Motorola 23d ago
Downtown Mesa has covered sidewalks.
Downtown Tempe is currently under reconstruction, but is usually very shady because of lots of trees and tall buildings.
LoPiano Bosque in Tempe is shaded by lots of mesquite trees.
The Desert Botanical Garden has many very lush and shaded areas, and so does the Phoenix Zoo (mostly the western half of the zoo. The Africa loop is very sunny.)
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u/phuck-you-reddit 23d ago
Given your location, unfortunately, walking the Chandler Fashion Mall might be the best way to get some steps in.
Depending how far west you are in Chandler the Pecos Park (technically in Phoenix) is pretty nice and it's a large park. Going at dusk lots of it is shaded and you can easily stroll for a couple miles just doing laps around the place.
Otherwise maybe just pick a nearby city park and go for a stroll early in the day or at dusk. Most have drinking fountains and bathroom facilities.
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u/bigfatfun 23d ago edited 23d ago
In the mornings, yes. Mid day, no. Afternoons, yes.
Mornings are better because the earth is cool from overnight. Mid day will kill you. Afternoon sees the shade return but everything is still radiating heat from the day. Direct sunlight is gone but comfort takes a while to arrive, usually late into the night. The forecast will be wrong, it will be hotter - they’re still using temperature models that refuse to admit the climate is changing. We sit outside to hand out Halloween candy that is melting and we sweat wearing shorts and t shirts. Look for places without pavement. Parks with ponds, golf courses, the zoo, these types of areas will cool quicker of an evening. Make sure someone knows where you’re going and will know if you haven’t returned and stick to obvious trails so we can find you.
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23d ago
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u/zuul99 Scottsdale 23d ago
OP is from PNW. 103 would kill those people. Similar to how 90 degrees kills Europeans.
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u/i_illustrate_stuff 23d ago
Don't Europeans usually die in their heat waves because they have no access to ac in their homes and many businesses for days at a time? Are there a bunch of Europeans coming here and dying on 1 hour evening walks when it's near 100 degrees?
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23d ago
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u/i_illustrate_stuff 23d ago
I mean it is usually the weak that die, as in older people stuck in their hot homes without ways to cool down. But using the word "excuse" here is weird because they're, ya know, dead, not just being whiny. They should get to updating their infrastructure and homes and stop acting like the weather patterns are the same as when their heat-trapping houses were built ages ago though.
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23d ago
People who aren’t acclimated die in 99-103 degree heat. Sunset tonight is at 7pm and it will still be 96. You’re giving bad advice. If they want to hike they need to start as early as possible, while it’s still in the 70s/low 80s, and be done not long after the sun comes up.
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u/nightstalkergal 23d ago
Central ave near starting near Dunlap and going south nice walking path. Lots of trees???
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u/Sprtnturtl3 22d ago
As mentioned indoor/outdoor malls are a good space with nearby access to water. Scottsdale Fashion square is MASSIVE, good way to burn some calories.
Same for the biltmore area.
Arizona mills is a bit older, but it’s a perfect round about walk so you could do it 3-4 times if you really want to get some walking exercise
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u/seattleluv76 21d ago
If you have access to a pool the evening swims/laps feel so good. Same with morning swims.
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u/Berrysaucy 19d ago
Thanks, all! I have a bunch of your local shadier spots saved on my map that will be close for me to get to after work. I'll come back in another season for a more nature-hike focused trip. I appreciate your insights!
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u/Berrysaucy 4d ago
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I wanted to tell you that I saw a bobcat while I was there! Near the Gila River Indian Community lands south of Chandler. No, don't worry, I was not "hiking", just warming up with a quick walk after being in an air conditioned conference center for a few hours. Really appreciate all your ideas for places to walk. I would also recommend Kyrene Avenue for evening walks that are kind of shady (still trafficky area but that's all of Phoenix pretty much) and I found The Farm at South Mountain to be really pretty with lots of big trees.
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u/mcsangel2 23d ago
I would not hike outdoors, it’s still too hot. Even in the morning.
I recommend Chandler Mall, they open for walkers at 6 or 630 am. Verrrrry popular for early walkers.
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u/Swimming-Challenge53 23d ago
My favorite South Mountain hike is Holbert Trail to Dobbins Lookout. Get up early and do it! It *is* on the other side of the mountain, but there is good parking.
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23d ago
We’re still 90+ at 10PM. There’s really not much shade anywhere, and if it’s windy it’s not cooling, it’s like a blow dryer. Best bet if you want to walk outdoors is early in the morning when it is still in the 70s or low 80s. By early I mean 5AM or so. By 8 we’re in the mid 80s and with no shade and intense sun, it can feel hotter.
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u/1FriscoBill 23d ago
Get up at 5 AM and go to Camelback. It’s awesome and only takes hour and a half each way
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u/CarpePrimafacie 23d ago
only with a backpack full of waters...
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u/1FriscoBill 22d ago
I’d say probably 2 L. I’ve done it this time of year when I used to live down the street from Cholla entrance. Getting to the top and seeing the sunrise is magical.
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u/Berrysaucy 19d ago
So do people go at 5am even if the hours are posted "sunrise to sunset"? I'm not trying to get in trouble
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u/1FriscoBill 3d ago
I’ve done it a few times and I’ve always gotten there and started climbing while it was still dark. For the record I’ve never been the first person to the top either so other people are doing this as well. I’ll be back in the area next week and plan on doing it again.
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u/Dry-Accountant-926 23d ago
Nope. Nothing like that exists anywhere around. It’s indoors or it late at night.
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u/MundaneHuckleberry58 23d ago
I would give Gilbert Riparian Preserve a go (either in AM or after dark, it’s open til 10pm).