Hole in the Rock & Tempe Lake E-Bike Tour – 2 Hours

Desert scenery arrives fast here. This two-hour ride links Old Town Scottsdale, Tempe Lake, Papago Park, and Hole in the Rock without asking you to arrange several separate outings. I like the small group limit of eight, which gives you a better chance to hear your guide and receive help with the bike. I also like the easy route, free water, and short hike at the end.

The main caution is the pace and timing. Two hours is enough for a useful introduction, not a slow, stop-and-study tour. The route covers a fair distance, and the Arizona sun can make even an assisted bike ride feel warm. Bring sunglasses, wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and save your most ambitious sightseeing for another part of the day.

Key points at a glance

• Hole in the Rock finish: Park your e-bike and take a short, easy climb to an old lookout with broad views and strong photo opportunities.
• Four areas in two hours: The route connects Scottsdale, Tempe Lake, Papago Park, and the desert paths near the Phoenix Zoo.
• Beginner-friendly e-bikes: The motor lets you pedal as much or as little as you like, making the ride approachable for novices and easier on tired knees.
• A real local route: Greenbelt paths, canals, and Papago Park show you parts of the area you would not see from a standard city tour.
• Small groups: The maximum of eight people helps with safety instructions, questions, and keeping the group together.
• Good first-day activity: The ride gives you a quick sense of the area and may help you decide what to revisit later.

Starting in Old Town Scottsdale on the Greenbelt

You meet at Segway of Scottsdale Tours, 7330 E Earll Drive, Suite R, in Scottsdale. The tour begins from Old Town, then moves onto the Greenbelt bike path. This is a smart opening because you get away from ordinary city traffic early and settle into the rhythm of the ride.

Before setting off, your guide provides an e-bike, helmet, and bottled water. You must wear a helmet, and you need to weigh at least 80 pounds, or 45 kilograms, to ride. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

If you have never used an e-bike, do not let that stop you. The motor assistance makes the bike easy to handle, and guides such as Allie, Jonathan, Anthony, Nick, and Jackson have been praised for patient instruction, clear safety expectations, and a comfortable pace. Still, you should already feel reasonably comfortable on a bicycle. An e-bike helps with effort, but it does not remove the need to steer, brake, and watch the path.

The Greenbelt section also helps your guide explain how the group will ride. Safety matters on a short tour because the route uses shared paths, crossings, and stretches where the group needs to stay alert. Jayce was specifically praised for setting expectations early and putting safety first, a good sign for anyone who wants fun without a reckless rush.

Tempe Lake and the first wide views

The route continues toward Tempe Lake, where the group stops at a lookout. This is one of the tour’s best early pauses because it gives you time to catch your breath and take in the open setting before the route turns toward Papago Park.

Tempe Lake is not treated as a long sightseeing stop. Think of it as a scenic rest point and a chance to understand the relationship between the city, water, paths, and desert surroundings. The stop also breaks up the ride nicely. You are not expected to pedal continuously for two hours.

This part can be especially useful on your first visit to the Scottsdale and Phoenix area. The tour gives you a sense of how close these places are, while showing you routes that are easy to miss if you stay on main roads. You may also get a few local suggestions along the way. Jackson, for example, was praised for offering ideas about restaurants and other places to visit.

Papago Park: the desert arrives in full view

From Tempe Lake, you ride through Papago Park toward Hole in the Rock. This is the section that gives the tour its strongest sense of place. Papago Park is known for its distinctive red rock formations and desert scenery, with cactus and other native plant life along the route.

I like this portion because it does not treat the desert as a distant backdrop. You move through it at a human pace, close enough to notice the shapes of the rocks and the changing views. Several riders especially appreciated the cactus features and botanical variety, so bring your sunglasses and keep your phone handy.

The route passes near the Phoenix Zoo, adding another familiar landmark to the ride. You also see Hunt’s Tomb from the bike path, the resting place of Arizona’s first governor. You do not get a long visit inside a site here, but the view gives your guide a useful opening to explain local history while you keep moving.

That balance is important. The tour is not built around lengthy talks at every stop. Instead, your guide supplies short pieces of information between scenic sections. Jonathan and Anthony were both praised for making those bits of history interesting without taking over the ride.

The short climb to Hole in the Rock

The main stop comes at Hole in the Rock. You park the bikes at the base, then take a short hike up to the ancient lookout point. The walk is described as easy, but it is still a rocky climb, so proper walking shoes matter more here than fancy cycling gear.

You have about 20 minutes at the site. That is enough time to climb, look around, take photos, and enjoy the view, but not enough for a long wander. The opening in the red rock creates a memorable frame for pictures, and the lookout gives you a broad view across the surrounding area.

This is the tour’s clearest payoff. The e-bike ride gets you there without a long, tiring approach, and the walk adds a small physical challenge without turning the outing into a strenuous hike. One rider recommended good walking shoes and brought a hydration supplement, which is sensible advice for warm conditions. Water is supplied, but you should still arrive well hydrated.

The site can be popular, so your experience depends partly on the conditions when you arrive. With only 20 minutes, you will want to move directly to the lookout rather than linger at the base. If you need extra time for photography or prefer an unhurried visit, plan to return separately.

Behind the Desert Botanical Garden and along the canals

After Hole in the Rock, the group rides past the back side of the Desert Botanical Garden. You do not receive admission to the garden, and the tour does not include a garden visit. The value here is seeing the surrounding desert setting and getting another view of one of the area’s major attractions.

The return leg follows canals toward Old Town Scottsdale. This is a particularly enjoyable change from the red rocks. The canal paths offer a quieter, more local-feeling ride, and they show how water routes shape the area. You are no longer looking only at famous landmarks. You are seeing the connective tissue between neighborhoods, parks, and open ground.

Camelback Mountain comes into view along the canals. Depending on visibility and the position of the group, this may be one of the day’s strongest photo moments. The mountain gives you a clear sense of scale and helps tie together the Scottsdale setting you have seen from the bike.

The return route also explains why an e-bike tour works well here. You cover more ground than you would on foot, yet the route remains relaxed enough for sightseeing. Several people described the ride as easy and appreciated that the motor allowed them to pedal as much or as little as they wanted.

What the two-hour format really gives you

Two hours is the tour’s greatest strength and its main limit. You can fit it around a morning or afternoon without giving up half a day. It works well for families, couples, solo visitors, and anyone who wants an introduction before choosing which places deserve more time.

The tradeoff is that stops are brief. Tempe Lake is a lookout break, Hunt’s Tomb is seen from the path, the Desert Botanical Garden is viewed from behind, and Hole in the Rock receives about 20 minutes. You get a well-planned sampler, not a deep visit to each attraction.

For a first day in Scottsdale, I see that as a good exchange. The tour helps you get your bearings, learn the basic geography, and gather ideas for later. If you already know the area well, the value shifts toward the route itself and the ease of riding through Papago Park and along the canals.

The ride is also a practical choice for people concerned about stamina. The e-bike can make the distance manageable for riders who might avoid a standard bicycle tour. It is not a motorized sightseeing vehicle, though. You still ride, stop, climb briefly, and share paths with others.

Guides, group size, and the quality of the ride

The guide can make or break a short tour. There is little room for a poorly organized start or vague directions. The strongest guide feedback has focused on safety, local information, friendly energy, and a pace that does not leave beginners behind.

Allie was praised for her area knowledge and for keeping a good pace with a parent and 12-year-old child. Jonathan received repeated praise for patience, local facts, and a fun manner. Nick was described as a delight, while Anthony was noted for combining local information with careful attention to safety and enjoyment.

The group limit of eight is useful here. A smaller group is easier to manage on bike paths, and you have a better chance of asking questions during the stops. The experience has earned a 4.9 rating from 173 reviews, with 99 percent recommending it, which fits the repeated praise for the bikes, guides, and route.

There is one practical weakness to watch for: one person had trouble hearing the guide. If you ride near the back, speak up if commentary is hard to catch. A short tour loses much of its value if you hear only fragments of the local stories.

Is $89 a fair price?

At $89 per person, the price is reasonable if you value the equipment and the route. The fee includes the two-hour guided ride, e-bike, helmet, and bottled water. You are also paying for the guide’s route planning, safety management, local context, and the convenience of linking four distinct areas in one outing.

The value is stronger for first-time visitors. Renting a bike on your own might cost less, but you would need to find a suitable route, navigate between Scottsdale and Tempe, identify the paths, and decide how to fit in Papago Park and Hole in the Rock. The guide removes that work.

The price may feel less appealing if you want long visits at attractions or a private experience. This is a shared tour with up to eight people, and the schedule is set. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the meeting point on your own.

The experience is often booked about 14 days ahead. That suggests you should reserve before your trip, especially if you need a particular morning time or are visiting during a busy period. Confirmation arrives at booking, and cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, the payment is not refunded.

Who should book this Scottsdale e-bike ride?

I would recommend it to first-time Scottsdale visitors, active families, couples, solo visitors, and anyone who wants a quick introduction to the area. It is also a good fit if you are unsure about e-bikes and want a supported first ride rather than renting one without guidance.

It suits a 12-year-old who can follow directions and ride safely, provided the age rules are met. Children under 16 need an adult with them, and everyone must meet the 80-pound minimum. The short hike is manageable for most people who can comfortably walk and climb over rocky ground, but you should use caution if uneven surfaces are difficult for you.

I would choose another activity if your main goal is a long hike, extended photography, a full botanical garden visit, or a detailed tour of Tempe Lake. This route gives you an overview with several excellent snapshots, not a full day at any one place.

What to wear and bring

Wear comfortable clothes and closed, comfortable shoes that work for both cycling and the rocky climb at Hole in the Rock. Sunglasses are strongly recommended, and they will help on bright paths and open desert sections.

A helmet and e-bike are supplied, along with bottled water. You may still want to bring extra water or an electrolyte drink, especially in hot weather. Keep your phone or camera accessible, since the best views can appear briefly along the canals, at Tempe Lake, and near Hole in the Rock.

Should you book the Hole in the Rock e-bike tour?

Book it if you want an easy, active way to see a broad slice of Scottsdale and nearby Tempe in two hours. The route is well chosen, the e-bikes reduce the strain, and the Hole in the Rock stop gives the outing a clear highlight.

Skip it if you need long, unhurried visits or dislike riding on shared paths. For most first-time visitors, though, $89 buys a useful mix of scenery, local stories, exercise, and orientation. I would book ahead, choose a comfortable time of day, and treat it as a smart introduction to the area rather than the final word on Scottsdale sightseeing.

FAQ

How long is the Hole in the Rock and Tempe Lake e-bike tour?

The tour lasts approximately two hours and ends back at the starting point in Old Town Scottsdale.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and finishes at Segway of Scottsdale Tours, 7330 E Earll Drive, Suite R, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251.

What is included in the price?

The $89 price includes the two-hour guided e-bike tour, use of an e-bike and helmet, and free bottled water.

Is the e-bike tour suitable for beginners?

Yes. The e-bikes are described as easy to operate, and you can pedal as much or as little as you want. You still need to know how to ride, steer, and brake a bicycle.

Are there age or weight requirements?

People under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Riders must weigh at least 80 pounds, or 45 kilograms. Helmets are required for everyone.

How difficult is the hike at Hole in the Rock?

The hike is short and easy, taking you from the parked bikes to an ancient lookout. Wear comfortable walking shoes because the climb is over rocky ground.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.