Best Walks Along the Scottsdale Greenbelt: Easy, Scenic and Family-Friendly Routes
One of the best things about the Scottsdale Greenbelt is that you do not need to walk all 11 miles to enjoy it.
Different sections offer completely different experiences. You can walk around a lake filled with ducks and geese, take the kids to a park, explore South Scottsdale away from the golf courses, or leave the Greenbelt near the Civic Center and walk straight into Old Town Scottsdale.
Here are some of my favorite Greenbelt walks depending on what you want to see.
Quick Guide: Which Greenbelt Walk Should You Choose?
Best overall first walk: Chaparral Lake
Best scenic or longer walk: Start north of Chaparral Lake and walk south
Best for seeing animals: Chaparral Lake
Best with kids: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
Best city walk: Scottsdale Civic Center into Old Town
Best away from golf courses: Vista del Camino Park
Best with a dog: Chaparral Park
Best quiet northern walk: Mountain View Park
If you are visiting the Scottsdale Greenbelt for the first time, start with Chaparral Lake.
1. Best Overall Walk: Chaparral Lake
Chaparral Park
5401 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
Chaparral Lake is my favorite easy introduction to the Scottsdale Greenbelt.
You get water, grass, mature trees, paved walking paths, plenty of activity, and easy access to the rest of the Greenbelt.
You can simply walk around the lake and call it a day, or continue onto the main path if you want a longer outing.
It is especially good for first-time visitors because you do not need much of a plan. Park, find the lake, and start walking.
Chaparral also has a playground, restrooms, open space, and the Chaparral Dog Park nearby.
2. Best Walk for Seeing Animals: Chaparral Lake
Chaparral Lake is also one of my favorite Greenbelt stops if you want to see some wildlife.
There are usually plenty of ducks and geese, along with other birds attracted to the lake and surrounding grass.
You will also see fishermen around the shoreline throughout much of the day.
That makes this a particularly fun walk with kids because there is almost always something happening around the water.
Morning and evening are especially nice, both for wildlife activity and cooler temperatures.
3. Best Scenic or Longer Walk: Start North of Chaparral Lake and Walk South
For a longer Greenbelt walk, I would start on the north side of Chaparral Park and walk south.
This is also my choice for one of the best scenic walks because it gives you Chaparral Lake at the beginning and then lets you continue through several different Greenbelt environments.
You start with the lake, mature landscaping, grass, and the activity around Chaparral Park. From there, keep following the Greenbelt south toward Indian School Road.
The nice thing about this route is that you can make it as long or short as you want.
Walk for 20 minutes and turn around.
Continue toward Indian School Park.
Or make it a much longer outing and keep heading south.
Use the Greenbelt Guide Distance Calculator before leaving if you want to choose a specific turnaround point.
4. Best Walk With Kids: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
7301 E Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
If younger kids are coming along, I would make Railroad Park the destination and the Greenbelt walk part of the outing.
Kids can ride the train, ride the carousel, explore the playgrounds, see the railroad exhibits, and then take a short walk around the surrounding Greenbelt area.
That usually works much better than asking younger children to spend several hours simply walking a trail.
It is one of the best family destinations anywhere along the Greenbelt.
Best Greenbelt Stops for Kids:
5. Best City Walk: Scottsdale Civic Center Into Old Town
If you want something completely different from lakes and parks, use the Greenbelt as the beginning of a city walk.
Start around the Scottsdale Civic Center and then walk west into Old Town Scottsdale.
This is one of the most interesting ways to combine the Greenbelt with the rest of Scottsdale.
Around the Civic Center you will find landscaped public spaces, public art, museums, and Scottsdale's civic center. From there, it is an easy transition into Old Town with restaurants, shops, galleries, historic buildings, and Scottsdale's entertainment areas.
This is the walk I would recommend to visitors who want to experience both outdoor Scottsdale and Old Town without moving their car between every stop.
You can spend some time along the Greenbelt first, explore the Civic Center, and finish with lunch, dinner, or drinks in Old Town.
6. Best Walk Away From the Golf Courses: Vista del Camino Park
Vista del Camino Park
7700 E Roosevelt Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Golf courses are a major part of several sections of the Scottsdale Greenbelt.
If you would rather have a walk that feels more like a traditional public park, head south to Vista del Camino Park.
This section has ponds, open grass, walking paths, playground areas, disc golf, and neighborhood park space.
It has a different feel from the northern Greenbelt and McCormick Ranch.
If you want more distance, continue north from Vista del Camino toward Eldorado Park.
That gives you a nice South Scottsdale walk connecting two major park areas.
7. Best Walk With a Dog: Chaparral Park
Chaparral is also my favorite Greenbelt walk with a dog.
You can walk around the lake, continue along the Greenbelt path, and combine the trip with some off-leash time at the Chaparral Dog Park.
Vista del Camino is another good option farther south because it also has a dog park.
If you want to grab something to eat afterward, there are plenty of dog-friendly patios close to different sections of the Greenbelt.
Best Dog Parks Along the Greenbelt:
Dog-Friendly Restaurants Along the Greenbelt:
8. Best Quiet Northern Walk: Mountain View Park
Mountain View Park
8625 E Mountain View Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
For a quieter walk near Shea Boulevard, Mountain View Park is an easy choice.
It feels more like a neighborhood park than one of the Greenbelt's major destinations.
There is parking, a playground, sports fields, restrooms, and access to the surrounding path network.
It is especially good for a quick morning or evening walk when you do not necessarily want crowds or a major destination.
Which Greenbelt Walk Should You Do First?
If you have never explored the Scottsdale Greenbelt before, I would keep it simple.
Start at Chaparral Lake.
Walk around the lake, watch the ducks and geese, see the fishermen, and enjoy the park.
If you want more distance, start north of the lake and continue south along the Greenbelt.
After that, try something completely different.
Take the kids to Railroad Park.
Walk from the Civic Center into Old Town.
Explore Vista del Camino for a more traditional park setting.
Or start at Mountain View for a quieter northern walk.
The Greenbelt changes significantly from one section to another, which is exactly why it is worth exploring more than once.
Scottsdale Greenbelt Walking FAQ
What is the best walk on the Scottsdale Greenbelt?
For most first-time visitors, Chaparral Lake is the best place to start. It is easy to access, scenic, and connects directly to the rest of the Greenbelt.
Where can I see ducks and geese on the Scottsdale Greenbelt?
Chaparral Lake is one of the best places to see ducks, geese, and other birds around the Greenbelt. The lake is also popular with fishermen.
What is the best longer Greenbelt walk?
Start on the north side of Chaparral Park and follow the Greenbelt south. You can turn around whenever you reach the distance you want.
What is the best Greenbelt walk with kids?
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is the best family destination because you can combine a short walk with trains, playgrounds, a carousel, and other activities.
Can I walk from the Greenbelt into Old Town Scottsdale?
Yes. The Civic Center area provides a great way to combine a Greenbelt outing with a walk into Old Town Scottsdale.
Do I need to walk the entire Greenbelt?
Not at all. The best way to explore the Scottsdale Greenbelt is often one section at a time.
Not sure where to begin?
