Indian Bend Canal–Papago Ponds, 3 lakes is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Papago Park near Papago Peaks Village, AZ. The route passes Papago Ponds before reaching Indian Bend Canal at the turnaround, 2.3 miles in. It climbs 343 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi1,181 – 1,329 ft6.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Unnamed 33.46241, -111.96072
Nearest town Papago Peaks Village, AZ
Directions
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Indian Bend Canal–Papago Ponds, 3 lakes
4.6 mi · ▲ 343 ft · 1 hr 42 min
Elevation 1,181–1,329 ft
Out & Back · Papago Park
Trailhead: 33.46241, -111.96072
Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:06 AM · sunset 6:48 PM
Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & Bushmaster Blvd stop 318 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Elliot Ramada Loop, heading NE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading E.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Double Butte Loop, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto 5k Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading E.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading S.
- 300 ftPass Papago Ponds.
- 150 ftTurn right, heading E.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Zoo Staff Only, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 300 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Crosscut Canal Multi-use Path, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn right, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 350 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right, heading E.
- 150 ftBear right, heading E.
- 100 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
- 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Lizard Trail, heading S.
- 450 ftReach Indian Bend Canal, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
- 100 ftBear left, heading S.
- 150 ftBear left, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading SE.
- 350 ftBear right, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Crosscut Canal Multi-use Path, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
- 50 ftBear left, heading S.
- 300 ftBear right onto Zoo Staff Only, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right, heading N.
- 100 ftTurn left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Double Butte Loop, heading NE.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading NE.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Elliot Ramada Loop, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto 5k Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
72% dirt11% paved8% sand9% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:06 AMSunset 6:48 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 6:27 PM for the 6:48 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:05 PM — 9 min before dark.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: McDowell Rd & Bushmaster Blvd stop 318 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from this trailhead
- 5k Trail & Elliot Ramada Loop Loop 2.1 mi · ▲ 89 ft
- Porcupine–Desert Tents, 5 sights 3.4 mi · ▲ 135 ft
- Indian Bend Canal & Papago Ponds via 5k Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 343 ft
Get outside more
A wild hike near Papago Peaks Village, emailed to you once a week.
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