Mesa Canals 2: Eastern Canal

The SRP canal map calls this the last mile or so of the Eastern Canal. Supposedly, the distance between the place the EC crosses McKellips and where it joins the Southern Canal (the north endpoint of the map above) is 1.68 miles. From where the red route line starts at essentially Hermosa Vista and Gilbert Roads, is probably three-quarters of a mile, and unpaved. The northwest bank of the canal is blocked close to McDowell Road with an SRP complex of pumping stations and dams maybe 200 yards from the junction with the Southern Canal. The stretch, however, since it parallels the edge of the mesa for which Mesa is named, has excellent views of the McDowell and Goldfield Mountains, as well as Red Mountain. If one could follow this canal far enough, one could finally reach Granite Reef reservoir. In later posts, I'll point out the barriers on this canal between McDowell and Greenfield Roads, at which point the canal right-of-way becomes clear on the South bank all the way to Granite Reef.

This was the originating point of most of my searches for the location of the Lehi marker, and is also a good connector from the neighborhoods west of Gilbert Road in Mesa to the Lehi Road intersection north of McDowell. The two-mile stretch of Lehi Road north of McDowell is isolated enough to provide nice riding for either road or mountain bikes, though the neighborhoods are beginning to build up. However, there are still orange groves and a gravel operation that border the road at present.