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Lizard Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 1.8 mi · Network

A flat 1.8-mile network. 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:Parking #1

Lizard Trail is a 1.8-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 151 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
88%
Great fit
Short & easy to complete
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
100%
Great fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Short, relaxed walk
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
81%
Great fit
Soft natural surface
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Moderate traffic
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
100%
Great fit
Ideal starter length (1–2.5 mi)
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
38%
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

Well-shaded, waterside trail — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsSmall dogsEasy walksHeat-sensitive dogsWater-loving dogsFirst-time trail dogs

Use caution if

Reactive dogs

Trail conditions may be challenging for reactive dogs

Most comfortable when

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

  • ~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

HAZARDSMedium
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDMediumModerate use, mix of busy and quiet times
NEAREST VET3.4 km awayBanfield Pet Hospital

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 1.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:151 ftGain/mi:84 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 151 ft gain + 84 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,224 ft1,161 ft0 mi1.8 mi1
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: Dirt

Softer footing that can feel easier on paws and joints.

Soft footingSmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Dirt
89%
Ground
11%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Dirt. A notable share is ground (11%). Softer footing—can get muddy after rain. Generally comfortable for most dogs.

Best forrelaxed walksexpect mud after rain

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 mi1.8 mi1SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

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

Quick read

Most of the trail benefits from consistent tree cover.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (83%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 83%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby83%
Water along the trail
Lake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / Pond0 mi1.8 mi1Lake / Pond

Water types nearby

Lake/PondCanalBeachStream

Lake/Pond • Canal • Beach

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 Lots28
Capacity1398spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 28 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📍 ~150 m from trail

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~150 m from trail
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~200 m from trail

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🛖 Shelters (2)Shelters at 0.5 miShelters at 1.0 mi🪑 Benches (1)Benches at 0.5 mi0 mi1.8 mi1

Near the start

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
2
closest: 213 m • short walk
🪑Seating
1
closest: 213 m • short walk
🅿️Parking
14
closest: 216 m • short walk
Point details
  • Shelter area
    213 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Seating area
    213 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    214 m • short walk
    ↗
Show 14 more
  • Parking area
    216 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    216 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    279 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    281 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    347 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    349 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    388 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    393 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    398 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    404 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    458 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    470 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    488 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    488 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the middle

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
8
closest: 422 m • nearby
Point details
  • Parking area
    422 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    427 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    461 m • nearby
    ↗
Show 5 more
  • Parking area
    473 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    474 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    475 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    483 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    485 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the end

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
6
closest: 167 m • short walk
🅿️Parking
6
closest: 193 m • short walk
Point details
  • Shelter area
    167 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    167 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    193 m • short walk
    ↗
Show 9 more
  • Parking area
    193 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    207 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    207 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    219 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    219 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    329 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    330 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    468 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    468 m • nearby
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~1398 spacesEstimated capacity
28 parking locations
No known parking fee

Parking generally sufficient for peak times. Multiple access points reduce congestion near trailheads.

Map & Route

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

Map

Explore More

Highlights, viewpoints, and bailout options

Highlights

6 highlights on or near the trail

🏛️ HistoricHistoric · 0.2 mi0 mi1.8 mi1

Highlights

6 total
Closest: Ruins · 71 m

Ruins

Historic · Ruins

Close
71 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Ruins

Historic · Ruins

Close
71 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Ruins

Historic · Ruins

Nearby
78 mfrom trail
Open OSM
Bailout & exit options

Exit options (Bailouts)

Bailout: highScore: 0.75

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 6Dead ends: 0Closest Start: 0 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 6Actionable exits: 6Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 0 mClosest near Midpoint: 107 mClosest near End: 1 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · 15 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi1.8 mi0.9 mi
6 actionable exits· closest 0 m from start
  • High access density (3.34/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 · 15 m from start

EntranceDead End
15 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: 2.1 mi

Banfield Pet Hospital

2.1 mi from trail · Veterinary · 1900 East Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, 85281

VCA University Animal Hospital

2.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 2500 South Hardy Drive, Tempe, 85282

Aztec Animal Hospital

2.7 mi from trail · Veterinary · 8140 East McDowell Road, Scottsdale, 85257

VCA Tri City Animal Hospital

2.7 mi from trail · Veterinary

Tempe Veterinary Hospital

3.2 mi from trail · Veterinary · 329 West Southern Avenue, Tempe, 85282

Hazards

Updated: —

Medium
Bike: 3Water: 2Cliff: 1

Primary concerns: Bike conflict (3), Water crossings (2)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 0
Water crossings
2
Cliff / steep edge
1
Bike conflict
3
Off-leash conflict proxy
2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Lizard Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Lizard Trail.

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

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

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Lizard Trail?

No, there are no drinking water amenities available along Lizard Trail.

Is Lizard Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

Lizard Trail has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percent of 100%.

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

The Lizard Trail is 100% natural surface, with the primary surface being dirt.

How muddy does Lizard Trail get after rain?

Lizard Trail has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

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

Lizard Trail has medium crowd levels, with large parking nearby contributing to this. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Lizard Trail?

There are 28 parking spots available at Lizard Trail with an estimated capacity of 1398. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

There is 1 bench available on Lizard Trail. There are no restrooms or waste bins.

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

Lizard Trail has a low heat risk. Safety concerns include 2 water crossings, 1 cliff or steep edge, and potential conflicts with cyclists and off-leash dogs.