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Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 1.7 mi · Point to point

A flat 1.7-mile point to point. Good shade throughout; 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:Gate #1

Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail is a 1.7-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 52 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
100%
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
100%
Great fit
Usually quiet — fewer encounters
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
97%
Great fit
Soft natural surface
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Quiet — less stressful
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
12%
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, flat trail — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsSmall dogsEasy walksHeat-sensitive dogsReactive dogsFirst-time trail dogs

Most comfortable when

Avoid after heavy rain

— Surfaces can get muddy after wet weather

Why this trail works

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • Natural, soft surface
  • Essentially flat — average slope under 3%

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded
NEAREST VET5.6 km awayPet Clinic

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterNone

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:52 ftGain/mi:32 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 52 ft gain + 32 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,690 ft1,637 ft0 mi1.7 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: Unpaved

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Unpaved
94%
Dirt
3.3%
Not mapped
2.7%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Unpaved. 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 mi1.7 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 (0%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 0%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby0%

Water types nearby

RiverStream

River • Stream

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 Lots0
Capacity—
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 0 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Info Point #2
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 On trail

Other access points

Info Point #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 On trail
Gate #1
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~110 m from trail

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
ℹ️ Info boards (7)33 info boards near 0.0-0.0 miInfo boards at 0.4 miInfo boards at 0.5 miInfo boards at 0.7 miInfo boards at 0.8 mi0 mi1.7 mi1

Near the start

A few amenities nearby

✳️Other
3
closest: 4 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Other area
    4 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Other area
    21 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Other area
    204 m • short walk
    ↗

Near the middle

A few amenities nearby

✳️Other
2
closest: 11 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Other area
    11 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Other area
    91 m • very close
    ↗

Near the end

A few amenities nearby

✳️Other
3
closest: 2 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Other area
    2 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Other area
    238 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Other area
    246 m • short walk
    ↗
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: 0 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 0 mClosest near Midpoint: —Closest near End: 0 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi1.7 mi0.8 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 0 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 · 0 m from start

EntranceDead End
0 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Current hazard level is marked as low. 3 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 3.5 mi

Pet Clinic

3.5 mi from trail · Veterinary · 34406 North 27th Drive, Phoenix, 85085

Lovet Pet Health Care - Anthem

3.5 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3655 W Anthem Way, Anthem, 85086

The Pet Wellness Center

3.9 mi from trail · Veterinary · 2750 W Dove Valley Rd., Phoenix, 85085

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 Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on the Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail, in accordance with Phoenix city park policies.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail is considered to have high shade coverage.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail?

The Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail is primarily an unpaved surface, with approximately 97.2% being natural surface.

How muddy does Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail get after rain?

The Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail has a medium mud risk, primarily due to its mostly gravel/compacted surfaces.

How crowded does Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail get, and when is the best time to visit?

The Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail is considered low crowd, with low access infrastructure nearby being a contributing factor.

What is the parking situation at Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

What amenities are available at Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

There are no amenities such as benches, shelters, toilets, picnic tables, or waste baskets available on the Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail. However, there are 8 information points.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The Maricopa Trail;Black Canyon Trail has a low heat risk and low terrain hazards. There are no water crossings or road crossings noted.