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Lousley Hill Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 2.3 mi · Out & back

A rolling 2.3-mile out & back. Good shade throughout; best in the morning or evening during summer.

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

Lousley Hill Trail is a 2.3-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 509 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
55%
Fair fit
Manageable length
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
60%
Fair fit
Some challenging climbs
Comfortable distance
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
89%
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)
Gentle grade — good challenge
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
4%
Not ideal
No water access found
Mostly dry route
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Well-shaded trail — good fit with minor considerations

Best for

Heat-sensitive 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

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

Why this trail works

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • Natural, soft surface
  • 509 ft of elevation gain — good cardio workout

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDMediumModerate use, mix of busy and quiet times

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortRolling
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterNone

Elevation & Width

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

Trail Effort

Moderate

Gentle hills. Most healthy adult dogs will enjoy this.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:509 ftGain/mi:222 ft/miSteep sections:High
Rated from 509 ft gain + 222 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,998 ft1,762 ft0 mi2.3 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

Top surfaces

Ground
98%
Not mapped
1.6%

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 mi2.3 mi12SunPartialShadeDense

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 (0%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 0%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby0%

Water types nearby

Unknown

Unknown

Quick read

Water is limited near the trail—bring enough for you and your dog. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots20
Capacity98spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 20 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Lousley Hill Trailhead
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~60 m)

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~80 m)
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~80 m)

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🚻 Restrooms (1)Restrooms at 1.2 mi0 mi2.3 mi12

Near the start

Restrooms nearby

🚻Restrooms
1
closest: 186 m • short walk
🅿️Parking
20
closest: 79 m • very close
Point details
  • Parking area
    79 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    80 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    122 m • very close
    ↗
Show 18 more
  • Parking area
    122 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    186 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    201 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    201 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    227 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    227 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    259 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    259 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    267 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    267 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    268 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    269 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    286 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    286 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    319 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    321 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    338 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    339 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the middle

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the end

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~98 spacesEstimated capacity
20 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

2 highlights on or near the trail

👁️ ViewpointViewpoint · 0.9 mi⛰️ PeakLousley Hill · 0.7 mi0 mi2.3 mi12

Highlights

2 total
Closest: Lousley Hill · 8 m

Lousley Hill

Peak · Peak

Very close
8 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Viewpoint

Viewpoint · Viewpoint

Very close
14 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: 61 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 61 mClosest near Midpoint: 75 mClosest near End: —
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 61 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi2.3 mi1.1 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 61 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 · 61 m from start

EntranceDead End
61 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Current hazard level is marked as low. Nearby emergency veterinary coverage appears when mapped in source data.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

No nearby vets found

No nearby veterinary clinics were found within search radius.

Hazards

Updated: —

Low
Cliff: 1

Primary concerns: Cliff/steep edge (1)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Lousley Hill Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Lousley Hill Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Lousley Hill Trail?

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

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Lousley Hill Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Lousley Hill Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

Lousley Hill Trail has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percentage of 100%.

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

The trail surface is primarily natural ground, making up approximately 98.4% of the trail.

How muddy does Lousley Hill Trail get after rain?

Lousley Hill Trail has a high risk of getting muddy due to its mostly natural surfaces.

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

Lousley Hill Trail is considered medium crowded, with reasons including large parking nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Lousley Hill Trail?

There are 20 parking spots available, with an estimated capacity of 98 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

Restrooms are available on Lousley Hill Trail. There are no benches, waste baskets, or picnic tables.

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

The heat risk for Lousley Hill Trail is low. There is one hazard related to cliffs or steep edges, and no water crossings.