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Hawes Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 6.7 mi · Point to point

A flat 6.7-mile point to point. 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:Gate #3

Hawes Trail is a 6.7-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · low shade. Elevation gain is about 922 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.

Hawes Trail is a 6.7-mile trail on mostly unpaved tread, moderately hilly. The route passes a creek near the start. It runs mostly in the open, so time it for cooler hours and pack water. Dogs must stay leashed on this trail.

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
51%
Caution
May need extra breaks
Natural & paw-friendly
Mostly exposed
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
50%
Caution
Gentle slope
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
77%
Good fit
Soft natural surface
Mostly exposed
Quiet — less stressful
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
52%
Caution
Too long for early fitness training
Gentle grade — good challenge
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
33%
Tough
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

Exposed, waterside trail — good fit with minor considerations

Best for

Senior dogsReactive dogsWater-loving dogsHigh-energy dogs

Most comfortable when

Morning or late afternoon

— Limited shade — more comfortable outside peak midday hours

Avoid after heavy rain

— Surfaces can get muddy after wet weather

Why this trail works

  • River or lake alongside much of the route
  • Natural, soft surface
  • 922 ft of elevation gain — good cardio workout

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATExposedHeat risk present
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded
NEAREST VET4.2 km awayComet Veterinary 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
WaterModerate

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 6.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:922 ftGain/mi:138 ft/miSteep sections:Medium
Rated from 922 ft gain + 138 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
2,037 ft1,414 ft0 mi6.7 mi123456
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: Unpaved

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Unpaved
85%
Not mapped
15%
Ground
0.3%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Unpaved. A notable share is not mapped (15%). 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

LOW

Low shade coverage

0.0%
Shade along the trail
0 mi6.7 mi123456SunPartialShadeDense

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 (63%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 63%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby63%
Water along the trail
0 mi6.7 mi246Lake / PondStream

Water types nearby

CanalStreamLake/Pond

Canal • Stream • Lake/Pond

Quick read

You’ll likely pass some water. Carry water for longer stretches. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots0
Capacity—
FeeFree

This section covers 1 trailhead listed, 0 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Gate #3
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~30 m)
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: 1.0 km
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 1.0 kmClosest near Midpoint: —Closest near End: 418 m
🚪 Exits0 mi6.7 mi3.3 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 1.0 km 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 · 1.0 km from start

EntranceDead End
1.0 kmGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

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

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 2.6 mi

Comet Veterinary Hospital

2.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 2824 North Power Road, Mesa, 85215

Lovet Pet Health Care - Las Sendas

2.7 mi from trail · Veterinary · 6747 East McDowell Road, Mesa, 85215

Banfield Pet Hospital

3.5 mi from trail · Veterinary · 6632 East McKellips Road, Mesa, 85205

Red Mountain Animal Hospital

4.0 mi from trail · Veterinary · 6025 East McKellips Road, Mesa, 85215

Curem Veterinary Care

4.2 mi from trail · Veterinary

Hazards

Updated: —

Low

No major hazard concentrations reported.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Hawes Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Hawes Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Hawes Trail?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on Hawes Trail, in accordance with the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Hawes Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Hawes Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

Hawes Trail has low shade coverage, with 0% shade proxy percentage.

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

The Hawes Trail surface is primarily unpaved, with approximately 82.8% being natural surface.

How muddy does Hawes Trail get after rain?

Hawes Trail has a medium mud risk, primarily due to its mostly gravel/compacted surfaces.

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

Hawes Trail has low crowd levels, attributed to low access infrastructure nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Hawes Trail?

There are 0 parking spots available at Hawes Trail, and whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

Unknown based on available data.

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

Hawes Trail has a low heat risk and low hazards score. There are no water crossings or cliff/steep edge hazards noted.