Mesa Canals 4: Eastern Canal, University to Gilbert

This segment connects to the ending segment of the Eastern Canal, that I wrote about in Mesa Canals 2.


On March 13, 2011, I did a quick ride, just to get rid of the cobwebs imposed by three weeks of sickness out of the previous eight, and to try (unsuccessfully) to condition for the MS 150 out in Florence. In the event, I had a great ride in the morning from essentially the intersection of the Eastern Canal at University Avenue to where the canal almost intersects Gilbert Road. In this 3.8-mile segment, the rider can get a sense of the range of canal riding experience in Mesa. The segment ranges from paved path to unimproved right-of-way. One passes the back yards of all kinds of Mesa residences, from upscale subdivisions to historic trailer parks.

From University to 8th Street/Adobe, the canal right-of way is essentially unimproved; just north of University on the west bank of the canal is a small ROPES course for a youth facility. High-tension electrical lines also run along the eastern bank of the canal before turning off at a catchment basin and park south of Adobe.



The picture on the left was taken at the University end of the route. Notice that the 8th Street/Adobe cross street is an excellent paved connector for a number of canals in this area.

Once past 8th/Adobe, the rider can find an SRP reservoir (hidden by high berms) on the west bank, near the property of Central Christian Church. On the east bank are the back yards of an upscale development. At the crossing of Brown Road, both sides of the canal make for good riding through further subdivisions. The canal crosses Lindsey Road just north of Mountain View High School, where the east bank pavement begins. The area north and west from Lindsey gives a great cross-section of Mesa's history--on the southwest bank are new subdivisions, some with horse property. But the real horse property is on the northeast bank. There, as well, are some interesting small ranchettes and trailer parks. I've encountered people fishing the canal on this stretch. Occasionally the canal is not walled off from the surrounding streets. Joggers, dog walkers and bicyclists use this stretch on a regular basis, especially the last stretch, north of McKellips Road. It's a nice ride, and if one continues beyond the Gilbert Road curve, there are some great views of Red Mountain, North Loop 202, the McDowells, and even the Superstitions and Four Peaks.