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Maricopa Trail (Scottsdale)

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 19.5 mi · Point to point

A flat 19.5-mile point to point. Mostly sun-exposed; water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortFlat
ShadeExposed
Certified dog policySource: Trail Rules | Phoenix Parks and RecreationBest in spring and fall; avoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Visitor Parking Garage

Maricopa Trail (Scottsdale) is a 19.5-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · low shade. Elevation gain is about 778 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
53%
Caution
Long for small breeds
Natural & paw-friendly
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
31%
Tough
Often busy — high encounter risk
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
51%
Caution
Soft natural surface
Busy — may cause anxiety
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
76%
Good fit
Swim spots confirmed on this trail
Water along most of the route
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Exposed, with swim access trail — good fit with minor considerations

Best for

Senior dogsWater-loving dogsHigh-energy dogs

Use caution if

Reactive dogs

Heavy foot traffic — frequent dog and person encounters

Most comfortable when

Morning or late afternoon

— Limited shade — more comfortable outside peak midday hours

Weekday mornings

— Busy trail — foot traffic drops significantly on weekday mornings

Avoid after heavy rain

— Surfaces can get muddy after wet weather

Why this trail works

  • Swim access confirmed — water features along the route
  • Smooth surface — easy on paws
  • Essentially flat — average slope under 3%

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSMedium
SHADE / HEATExposedHeat risk present
CROWDHighBusy trail — expect company on weekends
NEAREST VET< 1 km awaySalt River Veterinary Specialists

Heat exposure

Low shade coverage — bring extra water and avoid midday in summer.

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeLow
WaterModerate

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 19.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:778 ftGain/mi:40 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 778 ft gain + 40 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,562 ft1,283 ft0 mi19.5 mi481216
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.

Smooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Not mapped
61%
Unpaved
31%
Concrete
3.2%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is unpaved (31%). 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

LOW

Low shade coverage

24.5%
Shade along the trail
0 mi19.5 mi481216SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
72%
Partial
6%
Shade
22%
Dense
0%

Quick read

Limited natural shade. Expect prolonged sun exposure.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (74%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 74%
Swim: Likely
Water nearby74%
Water along the trail
CanalDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondStreamLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamCanalLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondCanalStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondStreamLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mCanal0 mi19.5 mi481216Lake / PondStreamCanal

Water types nearby

CanalLake/PondStream

Canal • Lake/Pond • Stream

Quick read

You’ll likely pass some water. Carry water for longer stretches. Swimming spots may be available. Check current/flow after rain.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots30
Capacity3668spaces est.
FeePaid

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 30 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Physician Parking
Primary🔓 Permit access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~65 m)

Other access points

Physician Parking
🔓 Permit access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~70 m)
Visitor Parking Garage
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~70 m)

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🚻 Restrooms (1)Restrooms at 0.0 mi💧 Water (1)Water at 0.0 mi0 mi19.5 mi481216

Near the start

Water nearby • Restrooms nearby

💧Water
2
closest: 187 m • short walk
🚻Restrooms
1
closest: 176 m • short walk
Point details
  • Restrooms area
    176 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Water area
    187 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Water area
    239 m • short walk
    ↗

Near the middle

A few amenities nearby

🅿️Parking
30
closest: 215 m • short walk
✳️Other
6
closest: 332 m • nearby
Point details
  • Parking area
    215 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    219 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    241 m • short walk
    ↗
Show 33 more
  • Parking area
    241 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    305 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    307 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Other area
    332 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    333 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    333 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Other area
    343 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Other area
    357 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Medical Plaza Parking Garage
    364 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Medical Plaza Parking Garage
    364 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Med Plaza III Visitor Parking
    372 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Med Plaza III Visitor Parking
    372 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Cancer Center Parking
    387 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Cancer Center Parking
    387 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Other area
    390 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Other area
    416 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Med Plaza IV Visitor Parking
    423 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Med Plaza IV Visitor Parking
    423 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Visitor Parking Garage
    430 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Visitor Parking Garage
    433 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    437 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    441 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Medical Plaza II Visitor Parking
    455 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Medical Plaza II Visitor Parking
    455 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    466 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    467 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    471 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Physician Parking
    474 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    477 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Physician Parking
    479 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    486 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    486 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Other area
    494 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the end

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~3668 spacesEstimated capacity
30 parking locations
Parking fee may apply

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

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: 3.2 km
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi19.5 mi9.7 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 medium. 5 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 0.1 mi

Salt River Veterinary Specialists

0.1 mi from trail · Veterinary · 9953 North 95th Street, Scottsdale, 85258

Scottsdale Ranch Animal Hospital

0.1 mi from trail · Veterinary · 9993 North 95th Way, Scottsdale, 85258

Banfield Pet Hospital

0.7 mi from trail · Veterinary · 10030 North 90th Street, Scottsdale, 85258

Horizon Animal Hospital

2.5 mi from trail · Veterinary · 14150 North 100th Street, Scottsdale, 85260

Raintree Pet Resort & Medical Center

3.2 mi from trail · Veterinary · 8215 East Raintree Drive, Scottsdale, 85260

Hazards

Updated: —

Medium
Road: 104Risky road: 97

Primary concerns: Road crossings (97 risky)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 104
Risky: 97
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 (Scottsdale)?

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

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

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

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

Yes, there are 2 drinking water amenities available along the Maricopa Trail (Scottsdale).

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

The Maricopa Trail (Scottsdale) has low shade, with approximately 24.47% shade coverage.

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

The trail surface is primarily unpaved (50.95%), with some dirt (3.45%), asphalt (3.8%), and concrete (5.22%). A significant portion is also of unknown surface type (36.6%).

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

The Maricopa Trail (Scottsdale) has a medium mud risk, described as mostly gravel/compacted surfaces.

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

The Maricopa Trail (Scottsdale) is considered high crowd class due to large parking, many access points, and proximity to residential/commercial areas. The best time to visit is not specified.

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

There are 30 parking locations with an estimated capacity of 3668, and parking fees are known to exist.

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

There is 1 restroom available. Waste bins and benches are not listed as available amenities.

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

The trail has a low heat risk. Safety concerns include 104 mapped road crossings, with 97 being risky. There are no water crossings listed as hazards, but swimming is likely with several ford access points.