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Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road)

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 6.6 mi · Point to point

A flat 6.6-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:Parking #1

Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) is a 6.6-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 410 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
76%
Good fit
May need extra breaks
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
65%
Good fit
Flat & joint-friendly
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
89%
Great fit
Soft natural surface
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Moderate traffic
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
72%
Good fit
Too long for early fitness training
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 dogsHeat-sensitive dogsHigh-energy 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
NEAREST VET9.8 km awayAnimal Hospital At Terravita

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 6.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:410 ftGain/mi:62 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 410 ft gain + 62 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
3,235 ft2,877 ft0 mi6.6 mi123456
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
92%
Not mapped
7.5%
Ground
0.5%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Dirt. 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 mi6.6 mi123456SunPartialShadeDense

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 (9%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 9%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby9%
Water along the trail
Dry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 m0 mi6.6 mi246Lake / Pond

Water types nearby

Lake/PondStream

Lake/Pond • 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 Lots2
Capacity64spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 2 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📍 ~290 m from trail🅿 Medium lot

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~290 m from trail🅿 Medium lot
Maricopa Trail Trailhead at Tonto Cave Creek Visitor Station
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~330 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 (1)Info boards at 0.0 mi0 mi6.6 mi246

Near the start

A few amenities nearby

✳️Other
1
closest: 18 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Tonto National Forest information
    18 m • at the spot
    ↗

Near the middle

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the end

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
2
closest: 230 m • short walk
Point details
  • Parking area
    230 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    233 m • short walk
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~64 spacesEstimated capacity
2 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 mi6.6 mi3.3 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. 1 nearby emergency veterinary option mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 6.1 mi

Animal Hospital At Terravita

6.1 mi from trail · Veterinary

Hazards

Updated: —

Low
Road: 1

No major hazard concentrations reported.

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 1
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 (BR to Bartlett Lake Road)?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road).

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road)?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on the Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road). This is due to the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road)?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percent of 1.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road)?

The Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) is primarily a dirt surface, with 91.8% being natural surface.

How muddy does Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) get after rain?

The Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

How crowded does Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) get, and when is the best time to visit?

The Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) 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 (BR to Bartlett Lake Road)?

There are 2 parking areas with an estimated capacity of 64 vehicles. It is unknown if there is a parking fee.

What amenities are available at Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

There is 1 information amenity available. Restrooms, waste bins, and benches are not available.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The heat risk for the Maricopa Trail (BR to Bartlett Lake Road) is low. Terrain is also considered low risk. There are no water crossings on this trail.