Gilbert trail systems connect town and country

If your home backs up to a trail, Gilbert is hoping you’ll get on your bike rather than drive a car for a trip — especially to one of the town’s many parks.

Gilbert has three trail systems that run north-south…Why not ride your bike, rather than drive!!!  These 3 trail systems — Heritage Trail, Santan Vista Trail and Marathon Trail — and one that runs east-west (Western Powerline Trail). They connect to most of the parks throughout Gilbert and the three riparian preserves.

And here is the best part…the approximately 30 miles of trails also connect with Gilbert’s neighbors – Queen Creek, Mesa and Chandler.

While many of the major parks and green areas are connected to a trail, during the past few years, the town has also integrated the community to the trail system with enhancements that were designed with recreation, connectivity and safety in mind.

And there’s a bonus of wildlife — fowl, lizards and birds attracted to the water.

Rustic-looking pedestrian bridges have been installed across the canals, connecting subdivisions to parks and trails. The bridges can handle horses.

Timed crossing lights have been installed where the trails intersect with arterial streets.

Pocket parks with shady and flowering trees, ramadas, drinking-water fountains and other features enhance the recreation experience. One ramada, accessed from Greenfield and Guadalupe roads and designed to replicate the shape of Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine, borders the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. Although it’s close to traffic, it’s situated in a way that allows people to hear the wildlife from the preserve instead of urban noise.

The trails entice solitude seekers and groups. The pocket parks are suitable for conducting educational programs.

The changes haven’t gone unnoticed by cyclists.

Although north and central Gilbert’s trails have been enhanced, the town is yet to work on the lesser-populated southeast section of the town, which connects to Queen Creek via the Sonoqui and Queen Creek washes. This includes the Marathon Trail that ends in its southern point with Queen Creek Wash.

Pedestrian bridges are to be installed along the trail in the future. Generally, these projects are funded by grants that are awarded when a certain population density is achieved.

Rittenhouse Basin and Chandler Heights Basin, both on the Marathon Trail, are also to be developed into recreational areas.

Ryall said an "incredible amount" of thought and planning has gone to the trail system to increase connectivity.

"When we approach build-out, you’ll have options to pretty much use the trail system through the whole town," she said.

Gilbert maintains about 30 miles of trails

Powerline Trail (part of the Sun Circle Trail along Western Canal in between Elliot and Guadalupe roads).

Heritage Trail (along Consolidated Canal running north-south from east of Lindsay Road to McQueen/Queen Creek roads).

Santan Vista Trail (along Eastern Canal running north-south from west of Greenfield Road to Gilbert/Riggs roads).

R.W.C.D./East Maricopa Floodway (Marathon Trail running north-south from east of Recker Road to Val Vista Drive/Hunt Highway; goes into Mesa, too).

If you are looking for other routes through the Valley: srpnet.com/water/canals/distances.aspx

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