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Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail)

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 9.6 mi · Point to point

A flat 9.6-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:Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead

Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail) is a 9.6-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 417 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
58%
Fair fit
Long for small breeds
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
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
67%
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
23%
Not ideal
Water nearby — no swim confirmed
Water near parts of the trail
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 dogsReactive dogsHigh-energy dogs

Most comfortable when

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
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterSome

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 9.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:417 ftGain/mi:44 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 417 ft gain + 44 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
2,638 ft2,474 ft0 mi9.6 mi2468
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.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Not mapped
51%
Ground
48%
Dirt
0.9%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is ground (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 mi9.6 mi2468SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
0%
Partial
0%
Shade
98%
Dense
2%

Quick read

Most of the trail benefits from consistent tree cover.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (23%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 23%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby23%
Water along the trail
Dry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 m0 mi9.6 mi2468Lake / 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 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

Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead
Primary🔓 Yes access💵 Fee not posted📍 ~130 m from trail

Other access points

Fraesfield Mountain Trailhead
🔓 Yes access💵 Fee not posted📍 ~130 m from trail
Maricopa Trail Trailhead at Fraesfield;Monument Trail Trailhead;Whiskey Bottle Trailhead
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~200 m from trail
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: 352 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 352 mClosest near Midpoint: —Closest near End: 1.0 km
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 352 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi9.6 mi4.8 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 352 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 · 352 m from start

EntranceDead End
352 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 (Gooseneck Trail)?

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

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

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

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

Unknown based on available data.

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

The Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail) has high shade coverage.

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

The Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail) is primarily a natural surface, with approximately 97.5% being natural surface.

How muddy does Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail) get after rain?

The Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail) has a high risk of being muddy due to its mostly natural surfaces.

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

The Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail) is generally not crowded, with low crowd levels attributed to low access infrastructure nearby. The best time to visit is not specified.

What is the parking situation at Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail)?

Unknown based on available data.

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

Unknown based on available data.

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

The Maricopa Trail (Gooseneck Trail) has a low heat risk and low roughness risk. There are no reported water crossings.