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Holbert Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 5.2 mi · Point to point

A rolling 5.2-mile point to point. Partial shade (89% coverage); water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

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

Holbert Trail is a 5.2-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · medium shade. Elevation gain is about 1270 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
38%
Tough
May need extra breaks
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
10%
Not ideal
Steep — hard on aging joints
Long for senior dogs
Smooth surface — easy going
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
76%
Good fit
Moderately busy — stay alert
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
81%
Great fit
Soft natural surface
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Moderate traffic
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
62%
Fair fit
Moderate — build up to this
Moderate hills — start easy
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
82%
Great 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

Well-shaded, with swim access trail — some factors to plan around

Best for

Heat-sensitive dogsWater-loving dogsHigh-energy dogs

Use caution if

Reactive dogs

Trail conditions may be challenging for reactive dogs

Senior dogs

Steep sections present — hard on aging joints and cardiovascular system

Most comfortable when

Weekday visits

— Moderate traffic — calmer on weekdays

Avoid after heavy rain

— Surfaces can get muddy after wet weather

Why this trail works

  • ~89% shade coverage along the route
  • Swim access confirmed — water features along the route
  • Natural, soft surface

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSMedium
SHADE / HEATSome shadeHeat risk present
CROWDMediumModerate use, mix of busy and quiet times
NEAREST VET4.6 km awayBanfield Pet Hospital

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortRolling
SurfaceMixed
ShadeModerate
WaterGood

Elevation & Width

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

Trail Effort

Moderate

Gentle hills. Most healthy adult dogs will enjoy this.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:1,270 ftGain/mi:245 ft/miSteep sections:High
Rated from 1,270 ft gain + 245 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
2,395 ft1,309 ft0 mi5.2 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: Compacted

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly
Surface along the trail
CompactedUnknownCompacted0 mi5.2 mi12345Gravel/CompactedUnknown

Top surfaces

Compacted
71%
Not mapped
27%
Concrete
1.4%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Compacted. A notable share is not mapped (27%). Surface data is incomplete for some sections—expect variety. 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

MEDIUM

Moderate shade coverage

88.7%
Shade along the trail
0 mi5.2 mi12345SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
11%
Partial
0%
Shade
83%
Dense
5%

Quick read

Roughly half the trail has meaningful tree or canopy coverage. Expect mixed sun and shade.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (99%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 99%
Swim: Likely
Water nearby99%
Water along the trail
Lake / PondStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamLake / Pond0 mi5.2 mi12345Lake / PondStream

Water types nearby

RiverStreamLake/Pond

River • Stream • Lake/Pond

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 Lots3
Capacity48spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 3 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📍 Near trail (~60 m)

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~65 m)
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~150 m from trail

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🚻 Restrooms (1)Restrooms at 2.0 mi🛖 Shelters (1)Shelters at 1.9 mi🪑 Benches (2)22 benches near 1.9-1.9 mi🗑️ Waste bins (1)Waste bins at 1.9 mi0 mi5.2 mi12345

Near the start

Restrooms nearby

🚻Restrooms
2
closest: 128 m • very close
🛖Shelter
2
closest: 170 m • short walk
🪑Seating
7
closest: 122 m • very close
Show 2 more
🗑️Trash bins
1
closest: 134 m • very close
🅿️Parking
1
closest: 189 m • short walk
Point details
  • Seating area
    122 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    126 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    128 m • very close
    ↗
Show 10 more
  • Restrooms area
    129 m • very close
    ↗
  • Trash bins area
    134 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    139 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    144 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    147 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    157 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    170 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    172 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Seating area
    184 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    189 m • short walk
    ↗

Near the middle

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the end

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
2
closest: 243 m • short walk
Point details
  • Parking area
    243 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    243 m • short walk
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Moderate parking
~48 spacesEstimated capacity
3 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

2 highlights on or near the trail

👁️ ViewpointViewpoint · 1.9 mi⛰️ PeakDobbins Lookout · 1.9 mi0 mi5.2 mi12345

Highlights

2 total
Closest: Dobbins Lookout · 120 m

Dobbins Lookout

Peak · Peak

Nearby
120 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Viewpoint

Viewpoint · Viewpoint

Nearby
123 mfrom trail
Open OSM
Bailout & exit options

Exit options (Bailouts)

Bailout: mediumScore: 0.35

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 2Dead ends: 0Closest Start: 858 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 858 mClosest near Midpoint: —Closest near End: 989 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 858 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi5.2 mi2.6 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 858 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 · 858 m from start

EntranceDead End
858 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: 2.8 mi

Banfield Pet Hospital

2.8 mi from trail · Veterinary

Phoenix Veterinary Center

3.7 mi from trail · Veterinary

South Mountain Vet Clinic

3.9 mi from trail · Veterinary · Phoenix, 85044

Family VetCare of Phoenix

4.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3908 East Chandler Boulevard, Phoenix, 85048

Dobbins Village Veterinary Hospital

4.7 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3536 West Baseline Road, Phoenix, 85339

Hazards

Updated: —

Medium
Road: 2Water: 5Cliff: 4

Primary concerns: Water crossings (5), Cliff/steep edge (4)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 2
Water crossings
5
Cliff / steep edge
4
Bike conflict
0
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Holbert Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Holbert Trail.

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

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

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Holbert Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Holbert Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Holbert Trail has medium shade, with a shade proxy percentage of 88.72%.

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

The Holbert Trail is primarily compacted surface, with 75.36% of the trail being compacted and 70.2% being natural surface.

How muddy does Holbert Trail get after rain?

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

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

The Holbert Trail is considered medium crowd class, with reasons including low access infrastructure nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Holbert Trail?

There are 3 parking areas with an estimated capacity of 48 vehicles. It is unknown if there is a parking fee.

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

Amenities available include 7 benches, 2 shelters, 2 toilets, and 1 waste basket.

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

The Holbert Trail has a low heat risk. Safety concerns include 5 water crossings and 4 cliff or steep edge proxies. The terrain is mostly compacted and natural surface, with a low roughness risk.