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North Mountain Shaw Butte

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 1.6 mi · Out & back

A rolling 1.6-mile out & back. Good shade throughout; water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortRolling
ShadeHigh shade
Certified dog policySource: Trail Rules | Phoenix Parks and RecreationBest in spring and fall; avoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Parking #1

North Mountain Shaw Butte is a 1.6-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 259 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
75%
Good fit
Short & easy to complete
Natural & paw-friendly
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
70%
Good fit
Some challenging climbs
Short, relaxed walk
Smooth surface — easy going
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
46%
Caution
Often busy — high encounter risk
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
71%
Good fit
Soft natural surface
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Busy — may cause anxiety
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
100%
Great fit
Ideal starter length (1–2.5 mi)
Gentle grade — good challenge
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
57%
Fair fit
2 water access points
Water along most of the route
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Well-shaded, with swim access trail — good fit with minor considerations

Best for

Heat-sensitive dogsWater-loving dogs

Use caution if

Reactive dogs

Heavy foot traffic — frequent dog and person encounters

Most comfortable when

Weekday mornings

— Busy trail — foot traffic drops significantly on weekday mornings

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
  • Swim access confirmed — water features along the route
  • Natural, soft surface

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDHighBusy trail — expect company on weekends
NEAREST VET3.5 km awayPalo Verde Animal Hospital

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortRolling
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterModerate

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 1.

Trail Effort

Moderate

Gentle hills. Most healthy adult dogs will enjoy this.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:259 ftGain/mi:158 ft/miSteep sections:High
Rated from 259 ft gain + 158 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,467 ft1,362 ft0 mi1.6 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: Not mapped

Surface data is limited, so expect changing conditions.

Smooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Not mapped
50%
Dirt
36%
Unpaved
12%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is dirt (36%). You will also encounter unpaved (12%). 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 mi1.6 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 (79%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 79%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby79%
Water along the trail
Dry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 m0 mi1.6 mi1Lake / Pond

Water types nearby

CanalLake/PondStream

Canal • Lake/Pond • Stream

Quick read

You’ll likely pass some water. Carry water for longer stretches. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots12
Capacity439spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 12 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📍 On trail🅿 Small lot

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 On trail🅿 Small lot
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~20 m)🅿 Medium lot

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🚻 Restrooms (3)Restrooms at 0.3 miRestrooms at 0.3 miRestrooms at 0.7 mi💧 Water (1)Water at 0.3 mi🛖 Shelters (6)Shelters at 0.3 miShelters at 0.3 mi33 shelters near 0.7-0.7 miShelters at 0.8 mi🪑 Benches (1)Benches at 0.4 mi🍽️ Picnic tables (10)44 picnic tables near 0.0-0.1 miPicnic tables at 0.2 mi22 picnic tables near 0.3-0.3 mi33 picnic tables near 0.7-0.7 mi0 mi1.6 mi1

Near the start

A few amenities nearby

🪑Seating
10
closest: 41 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Seating area
    41 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    44 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    52 m • at the spot
    ↗
Show 7 more
  • Seating area
    77 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    83 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    86 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    98 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    103 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    107 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    120 m • very close
    ↗

Near the middle

Water nearby • Restrooms nearby

💧Water
1
closest: 91 m • very close
🚻Restrooms
5
closest: 89 m • very close
🛖Shelter
26
closest: 10 m • at the spot
Show 2 more
🪑Seating
14
closest: 63 m • at the spot
🅿️Parking
4
closest: 25 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Shelter area
    10 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    14 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    22 m • at the spot
    ↗
Show 47 more
  • Shelter area
    22 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    24 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    25 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Parking area
    25 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Parking area
    29 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    62 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    63 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    63 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    63 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    63 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    64 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    64 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    65 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    65 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    65 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    65 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    67 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    70 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    70 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    71 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Seating area
    71 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    72 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    82 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    83 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    83 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    89 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    91 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    91 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    91 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    91 m • very close
    ↗
  • Water area
    91 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    95 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    95 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    98 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    101 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    101 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    101 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    102 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    109 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    109 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    109 m • very close
    ↗
  • Pima Area 4
    110 m • very close
    ↗
  • Pima Area 4
    112 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    123 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    124 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    124 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    147 m • very close
    ↗

Near the end

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~439 spacesEstimated capacity
12 parking locations
No known parking fee

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: 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 mi1.6 mi0.8 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. 5 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 2.2 mi

Palo Verde Animal Hospital

2.2 mi from trail · Veterinary · 1215 East Northern Avenue, Phoenix, 85020-4216

Lovet Pet Health Care - Madison

3.1 mi from trail · Veterinary · 531 East Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, 85020

Larkspur Cat Clinic

3.3 mi from trail · Veterinary · 2915 West Cactus Road, Phoenix

Harmony Veterinary Hospital

3.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 1745 West Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, 85021

Catalina Animal Hospital

4.0 mi from trail · Veterinary · 9023 North 35th Avenue, Phoenix, 85051

Hazards

Updated: —

Low
Road: 1Bike: 1

Primary concerns: Bike conflict (1)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 1
Water crossings
0
Cliff / steep edge
0
Bike conflict
1
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on North Mountain Shaw Butte?

Yes, dogs are allowed on North Mountain Shaw Butte.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on North Mountain Shaw Butte?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on North Mountain Shaw Butte, as per Phoenix city park policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along North Mountain Shaw Butte?

Yes, there is drinking water available near the trail. Two drinking water access points are noted, with one being approximately 30.6 meters from the trail.

Is North Mountain Shaw Butte mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

North Mountain Shaw Butte has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percentage of 1.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on North Mountain Shaw Butte?

The trail surface is primarily natural, with approximately 95.3% being natural surface (dirt/unpaved) and 4.7% asphalt.

How muddy does North Mountain Shaw Butte get after rain?

North Mountain Shaw Butte has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

How crowded does North Mountain Shaw Butte get, and when is the best time to visit?

North Mountain Shaw Butte gets high crowds, likely due to large parking availability and many trailhead amenities. The best time to visit is not specified.

What is the parking situation at North Mountain Shaw Butte?

There is parking available at North Mountain Shaw Butte with an estimated capacity of 439 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

What amenities are available at North Mountain Shaw Butte (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

Amenities available include 1 bench, 5 toilets, and 1 drinking water source. Waste baskets are not listed as available.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on North Mountain Shaw Butte (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The heat risk is low. There is one road crossing with no risky crossings noted, and no water crossings. The terrain has a low roughness risk.