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North Terrace Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 5.4 mi · Network

A flat 5.4-mile network. Good shade throughout; water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

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

North Terrace Trail is a 5.4-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 354 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
May need extra breaks
Smooth, easy on paws
Hot in summer — go early
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
45%
Caution
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
39%
Tough
Paw-friendly surface
Hot pavement can burn paws
Moderate traffic
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
70%
Good fit
Moderate — build up to this
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
42%
Caution
Water nearby — no swim confirmed
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, waterside trail — good fit with minor considerations

Best for

Senior dogsWater-loving dogsHigh-energy dogs

Use caution if

Heat-sensitive dogs

High heat index — go early or on cooler days

Reactive dogs

Trail conditions may be challenging for reactive dogs

Most comfortable when

Before 10 AM or after 6 PM

— Heat exposure is significant — trail is considerably cooler in morning and evening

Weekday visits

— Moderate traffic — calmer on weekdays

Avoid after heavy rain

— Surfaces can get muddy after wet weather

Why this trail works

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • River or lake alongside much of the route
  • Smooth surface — easy on paws

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSMedium
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDMediumModerate use, mix of busy and quiet times
NEAREST VET5.5 km awayNorth Kenilworth Veterinary Care

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterGood

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 5.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:354 ftGain/mi:65 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 354 ft gain + 65 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,073 ft1,017 ft0 mi5.4 mi12345
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: Gravel

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly
Surface along the trail
GravelConcreteGravelConcreteGravelConcreteGravelConcreteGravelAsphaltGravel0 mi5.4 mi12345Gravel/CompactedHard

Top surfaces

Gravel
87%
Concrete
6.7%
Asphalt
4.0%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Gravel. Generally paw-friendly with decent grip. 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 mi5.4 mi12345SunPartialShadeDense

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 (100%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 100%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby100%
Water along the trail
RiverCanalRiverCanalRiverLake / PondRiverLake / PondRiverLake / PondRiverLake / PondRiverLake / PondRiver0 mi5.4 mi12345RiverLake / PondCanal

Water types nearby

Lake/PondStreamRiverBeach+1 more

Lake/Pond • Stream • River

Quick read

Water is frequently near the route—great for cooling breaks. Bring a bowl anyway. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots3
Capacity32spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 2 trailheads listed, 3 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📍 ~200 m from trail🅿 Medium lot

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~200 m from trail🅿 Medium lot

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🪑 Benches (2)22 benches near 6.5-6.5 mi0 mi5.4 mi12345

Near the start

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
1
closest: 405 m • nearby
Point details
  • Parking area
    405 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the middle

A few amenities nearby

🪑Seating
2
closest: 188 m • short walk
🅿️Parking
2
closest: 269 m • short walk
Point details
  • Seating area
    188 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Seating area
    232 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    269 m • short walk
    ↗
Show 1 more
  • Parking area
    269 m • short walk
    ↗

Near the end

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Parking details

🅿 Parking

Moderate parking
~32 spacesEstimated capacity
3 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: highScore: 0.75

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 10Dead ends: 0Closest Start: 0 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 10Actionable exits: 10Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 0 mClosest near Midpoint: 792 mClosest near End: 135 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · 263 m from startTrail entrance / exit · 324 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi5.4 mi2.7 mi
10 actionable exits· closest 0 m from start
  • High access density (1.84/mi).
  • Route structure (network) supports alternate exits.
  • Entrance count is estimated from graph topology (proxy).

Top exits near Start

Trail entrance / exit

Near Start · 0 m from start

EntranceDead End
0 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Trail entrance / exit

Near Start · 263 m from start

EntranceDead End
263 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: 3.4 mi

North Kenilworth Veterinary Care

3.4 mi from trail · Veterinary · 342 West McDowell Road, Phoenix, 85003

Banfield Pet Hospital

3.7 mi from trail · Veterinary

Phoenix Veterinary Center

4.3 mi from trail · Veterinary

Dobbins Village Veterinary Hospital

4.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3536 West Baseline Road, Phoenix, 85339

Phoenix Dog/Cat/Bird Hospital

5.0 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3418 North 7th Avenue

Hazards

Updated: —

Medium
Bike: 18Water: 7

Primary concerns: Bike conflict (18), Water crossings (7)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 0
Water crossings
7
Cliff / steep edge
0
Bike conflict
18
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on North Terrace Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on North Terrace Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on North Terrace Trail?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on North Terrace Trail, as per the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along North Terrace Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is North Terrace Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

North Terrace Trail has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percent of 1.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on North Terrace Trail?

The trail surface is primarily gravel, making up about 95.25% of the trail. There is also a small percentage of asphalt and concrete.

How muddy does North Terrace Trail get after rain?

North Terrace Trail has a medium mud risk, with the reason given as mostly gravel/compacted surfaces.

How crowded does North Terrace Trail get, and when is the best time to visit?

North Terrace Trail is considered medium crowd class, with reasons including low access infrastructure nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at North Terrace Trail?

There are an estimated 32 parking spaces available across 3 parking areas. It is unknown if there is a parking fee.

What amenities are available at North Terrace Trail (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

There are 2 benches available on North Terrace Trail. Restrooms and waste bins are not available.

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

North Terrace Trail has a high heat risk. There are 7 water crossings and 18 bike conflict proxies, contributing to a medium hazard class.