+ Add trail

Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail)

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 3.1 mi · Point to point

A flat 3.1-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:Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead

Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) is a 3.1-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 154 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
93%
Great fit
Manageable length
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
98%
Great fit
Flat & joint-friendly
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
Good training length
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
14%
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 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
  • 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
CROWDMediumModerate use, mix of busy and quiet times

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 3.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:154 ftGain/mi:50 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 154 ft gain + 50 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
2,651 ft2,536 ft0 mi3.1 mi123
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: Not mapped

Surface data is limited, so expect changing conditions.

Soft footingSmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Not mapped
51%
Dirt
48%
Ground
0.6%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is dirt (48%). 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

HIGH

High shade coverage

100.0%
Shade along the trail
0 mi3.1 mi123SunPartialShadeDense

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 (7%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 7%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby7%
Water along the trail
Dry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 m0 mi3.1 mi123Lake / Pond

Water types nearby

CanalLake/Pond

Canal • Lake/Pond

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 Lots4
Capacity299spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 4 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Maricopa Trail Trailhead at Fraesfield;Monument Trail Trailhead;Whiskey Bottle Trailhead
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~50 m)

Other access points

Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead
🔓 Yes access💵 Fee not posted📍 ~120 m from trail
Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead
🔓 Yes access💵 Fee not posted📍 ~120 m from trail

Amenities along the route

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

Near the start

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
4
closest: 120 m • very close
Point details
  • Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead
    120 m • very close
    ↗
  • Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead
    121 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    392 m • nearby
    ↗
Show 1 more
  • Parking area
    393 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
~299 spacesEstimated capacity
4 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

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 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 1 mClosest near Midpoint: —Closest near End: 0 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · 1 m from start0 mi3.1 mi1.5 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 1 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 · 1 m from start

EntranceDead End
1 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

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 Hill Trail)?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail).

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail)?

Yes, dogs must be on a leash at all times on the Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) as per the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail)?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percentage of 1.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail)?

The Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) is primarily a natural surface, with 94.9% being natural surface and 93.14% being dirt.

How muddy does Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) get after rain?

Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

How crowded does Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) get, and when is the best time to visit?

The Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) is considered medium crowd class, with reasons including large parking nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail)?

There are 4 parking areas at the Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) with an estimated capacity of 299 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

Unknown based on available data.

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

The Maricopa Trail (Black Hill Trail) has a low heat risk and low roughness risk. There are no known water crossings or cliff/steep edge hazards.