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Foot Path/Horse Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 2.5 mi · Network

A flat 2.5-mile network. Mostly sun-exposed; water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortFlat
ShadeExposed
Certified dog policySource: Trail Rules | Phoenix Parks and RecreationAvoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Parking #2

Foot Path/Horse Trail is a 2.5-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · low shade. Elevation gain is about 85 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.

Foot Path/Horse Trail is a 2.5-mile trail with a mix of dirt and natural tread, nearly flat. The route passes a creek near the start, with likely swim access to cool off. Expect sun for most of the route — best done early or late in the day. Keep dogs leashed here.

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
83%
Great fit
Manageable length
Natural & paw-friendly
Mostly exposed
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
98%
Great fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Comfortable distance
Smooth surface — easy going
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
71%
Good fit
Moderately busy — stay alert
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
61%
Fair fit
Soft natural surface
Mostly exposed
Moderate traffic
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
100%
Great fit
Good training length
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
74%
Good fit
Swim spots confirmed on this trail
Water along most of the route
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Exposed, with swim access trail — good fit with minor considerations

Best for

Senior dogsSmall dogsEasy walksWater-loving dogsFirst-time trail dogs

Use caution if

Reactive dogs

Trail conditions may be challenging for reactive dogs

Most comfortable when

Morning or late afternoon

— Limited shade — more comfortable outside peak midday hours

Weekday visits

— Moderate traffic — calmer on weekdays

Avoid after heavy rain

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

Why this trail works

  • Swim access confirmed — water features along the route
  • Natural, soft surface
  • Essentially flat — average slope under 3%

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSMedium
SHADE / HEATExposedHeat risk present
CROWDMediumModerate use, mix of busy and quiet times
NEAREST VET1.3 km awayNorth Scottsdale Animal Hospital

Heat exposure

Low shade coverage — bring extra water and avoid midday in summer.

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeLow
WaterGood

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 2.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:85 ftGain/mi:34 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 85 ft gain + 34 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,453 ft1,414 ft0 mi2.5 mi12
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
Surface along the trail
0 mi2.5 mi12Natural/SoftGravel/Compacted

Top surfaces

Ground
65%
Dirt
20%
Not mapped
14%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Ground. A notable share is dirt (20%). You will also encounter not mapped (14%). 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

LOW

Low shade coverage

0.0%
Shade along the trail
0 mi2.5 mi12SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
100%
Partial
0%
Shade
0%
Dense
0%

Quick read

Limited natural shade. Expect prolonged sun exposure.

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: Likely
Water nearby100%
Water along the trail
0 mi2.5 mi12Stream

Water types nearby

CanalStream

Canal • Stream

Quick read

Water is frequently near the route—great for cooling breaks. Bring a bowl anyway. Swimming spots may be available. Check current/flow after rain.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots4
Capacity296spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 4 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Parking #1
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~240 m from trail

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~240 m from trail
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~240 m from trail

Amenities along the route

Nearby facilities around the start, middle, and end of this trail.

Near the start

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the middle

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
2
closest: 361 m • nearby
Point details
  • Parking area
    361 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    361 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the end

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
2
closest: 341 m • nearby
Point details
  • Parking area
    341 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    343 m • nearby
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~296 spacesEstimated capacity
4 parking locations
No known parking fee

Parking generally sufficient for peak times.

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: highScore: 0.75

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 4Dead ends: 0Closest Start: 0 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 4Actionable exits: 4Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 0 mClosest near Midpoint: 125 mClosest near End: 743 m
🚪 Exits0 mi2.5 mi1.3 mi
4 actionable exits· closest 0 m from start
  • High access density (1.59/mi).
  • Route structure (network) supports alternate exits.
  • Entrance count is estimated from graph topology (proxy).

Top exits near Start

Trail entrance / exit

Near Start · 0 m from start

EntranceDead End
0 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Trail entrance / exit

Near Start · 360 m from start

EntranceDead End
360 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Current hazard level is marked as medium. 5 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 0.8 mi

North Scottsdale Animal Hospital

0.8 mi from trail · Veterinary

Raintree Pet Resort & Medical Center

0.9 mi from trail · Veterinary · 8215 East Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, 85260

Horizon Animal Hospital

1.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 14150 North 100th Street, Scottsdale, 85260

Lovet Pet Health Care - Scottsdale Hills

2.1 mi from trail · Veterinary · 7139 East Thunderbird Road, Scottsdale, 85254

Banfield Pet Hospital

2.3 mi from trail · Veterinary · 10030 North 90th Street, Scottsdale, 85258

Hazards

Updated: —

Medium
Road: 10Risky road: 6Bike: 1+1 more

Primary concerns: Road crossings (6 risky), Bike conflict (1)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 10
Risky: 6
Water crossings
1
Cliff / steep edge
0
Bike conflict
1
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Foot Path/Horse Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Foot Path/Horse Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Foot Path/Horse Trail?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on the Foot Path/Horse Trail, as per Phoenix city park policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Foot Path/Horse Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Foot Path/Horse Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Foot Path/Horse Trail has low shade, with 0% shade proxy.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Foot Path/Horse Trail?

The trail surface is primarily natural, with 82.3% natural surface, consisting of ground and dirt.

How muddy does Foot Path/Horse Trail get after rain?

The Foot Path/Horse Trail has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

How crowded does Foot Path/Horse Trail get, and when is the best time to visit?

The trail is considered medium crowd class, with large parking nearby contributing to this. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Foot Path/Horse Trail?

There are 4 parking points with an estimated capacity of 296 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

What amenities are available at Foot Path/Horse Trail (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

Unknown based on available data.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Foot Path/Horse Trail (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

Safety concerns include a medium heat risk, 10 mapped road crossings with 6 being risky, and 1 water crossing. The terrain is mostly natural surfaces.