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Cliff Walk Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 5.6 mi · Point to point

A flat 5.6-mile point to point. Good shade throughout; water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortFlat
ShadeHigh shade
Certified dog policySource: Trail Rules | Phoenix Parks and RecreationAvoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Entrance #3

Cliff Walk Trail is a 5.6-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 223 ft. Looking for more options in Phoenix dog-friendly trails or across dog-friendly trails across Arizona? Use the sections below for dog policy, access points, shade/heat, water, terrain, and safety.

Dog Fit

Dogs allowed status, leash expectations, and suitability by dog type

Dogs must be on a leash in all Phoenix city parks. Phoenix City Code §23-18.
Suitability by dog type

By Dog Type

How this trail suits different kinds of dogs

Small Dog
Toy & small breeds
76%
Good fit
May need extra breaks
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
65%
Good fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Long for senior dogs
Smooth surface — easy going
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
100%
Great fit
Usually quiet — fewer encounters
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
97%
Great fit
Soft natural surface
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Quiet — less stressful
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
87%
Great fit
Moderate — build up to this
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
42%
Caution
Water nearby — no swim confirmed
Water along most of the route
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Well-shaded, waterside trail — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsHeat-sensitive dogsReactive dogsWater-loving dogs

Most comfortable when

Avoid after heavy rain

— Trail gets significantly muddy — surfaces become slippery and paws stay wet

Why this trail works

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • River or lake alongside much of the route
  • Natural, soft surface

Safety & Conditions

Hazards, heat exposure, crowd level, and nearby emergency vet context

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded
NEAREST VET3.1 km awayLovet Pet Health Care - Dove Valley

Terrain & Comfort

Elevation, surface, shade, heat, and water signals for dog hiking comfort

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterGood

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 5.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:223 ftGain/mi:40 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 223 ft gain + 40 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,870 ft1,742 ft0 mi5.6 mi12345
Trail Width
Narrow
Narrow
< 6 ft
In-between
6-10 ft
Wide
10+ ft
NARROWTypical: ~0 ftWIDE

Mostly single-file with tighter passing space.

Surface & Paws

Surface coverage helps you plan for paw comfort and choose routes that match your dog's tolerance for rough or hot terrain.

Surface

What your dog will walk on

Mostly: Ground

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Ground
100%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Ground. Generally paw-friendly with decent grip. Generally comfortable for most dogs.

Best fordogsrunnerscasual hikes

Shade & Heat

Shade coverage and heat exposure are summarized to show when this trail is safer for warm-weather dog hikes.

🌳 Shade

HIGH

High shade coverage

100.0%
Shade along the trail
0 mi5.6 mi12345SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
0%
Partial
0%
Shade
89%
Dense
11%

Quick read

Most of the trail benefits from consistent tree cover.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (100%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 100%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby100%
Water along the trail
StreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStream0 mi5.6 mi12345Stream

Water types nearby

CanalLake/PondRiverStream

Canal • Lake/Pond • River

Quick read

Water is frequently near the route—great for cooling breaks. Bring a bowl anyway. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots0
Capacity—
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 0 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Gate #1
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~300 m from trail

Other access points

Gate #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~310 m from trail
Entrance #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~380 m from trail
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Parking availability unknown
—Estimated capacity
0 parking locations
No known parking fee

Map & Route

Trail layout, trailheads, parking, and dog-relevant points of interest

Map

Explore More

Highlights, viewpoints, and bailout options

Highlights

Highlights

0 total
Closest: — · —

No highlights are available for this trail yet.

Bailout & exit options

Exit options (Bailouts)

Bailout: mediumScore: 0.35

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 2Dead ends: 0Closest Start: 0 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 0 mClosest near Midpoint: —Closest near End: 1 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi5.6 mi2.8 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 0 m from start
  • Low dead-end count (2) improves bailout options.
  • Entrance count is estimated from graph topology (proxy).
  • Graph-based route structure estimate using stored segment geometry.

Top exits near Start

Trail entrance / exit

Near Start · 0 m from start

EntranceDead End
0 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Current hazard level is marked as low. 3 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 1.9 mi

Lovet Pet Health Care - Dove Valley

1.9 mi from trail · Veterinary · 4815 East Carefree Highway, Cave Creek, 85331

Animal Hospital At Terravita

4.6 mi from trail · Veterinary

Arizona Animal Hospital

4.9 mi from trail · Veterinary

Hazards

Updated: —

Low
Cliff: 5

Primary concerns: Cliff/steep edge (5)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 0
Water crossings
0
Cliff / steep edge
5
Bike conflict
0
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Cliff Walk Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Cliff Walk Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Cliff Walk Trail?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on Cliff Walk Trail, as per the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Cliff Walk Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Cliff Walk Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

Cliff Walk Trail has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percentage of 100%.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Cliff Walk Trail?

The trail surface is 100% natural, consisting of ground material.

How muddy does Cliff Walk Trail get after rain?

Cliff Walk Trail has a high risk of getting muddy due to its mostly natural surfaces.

How crowded does Cliff Walk Trail get, and when is the best time to visit?

Cliff Walk Trail is considered low crowd density, with reasons including low access infrastructure nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Cliff Walk Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

What amenities are available at Cliff Walk Trail (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

Unknown based on available data.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Cliff Walk Trail (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

There are 5 cliff or steep-edge hazards noted on Cliff Walk Trail. The heat risk is low, and there are no water crossings.