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Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 2.0 mi · Point to point

A flat 2.0-mile point to point. 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

Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas is a 2.0-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 69 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
80%
Great fit
Short & easy to complete
Smooth, easy on paws
Hot in summer — go early
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
88%
Great fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Short, relaxed walk
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
29%
Tough
Paw-friendly surface
Hot pavement can burn paws
Busy — may cause anxiety
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
95%
Great fit
Ideal starter length (1–2.5 mi)
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
74%
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

Well-shaded, with swim access trail — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsSmall dogsEasy walksWater-loving dogsFirst-time trail dogs

Use caution if

Heat-sensitive dogs

High heat index — go early or on cooler days

Reactive dogs

Heavy foot traffic — frequent dog and person encounters

Most comfortable when

Before 10 AM or after 6 PM

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

Weekday mornings

— Busy trail — foot traffic drops significantly on weekday mornings

Why this trail works

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • Swim access confirmed — water features along the route
  • Paved surface — easy on paws

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 VET< 1 km awayIngleside Animal Hospital

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 2.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:69 ftGain/mi:35 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 69 ft gain + 35 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,220 ft1,198 ft0 mi2.0 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.

Hard surface riskSmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Not mapped
54%
Concrete
40%
Asphalt
5.2%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is concrete (40%). 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 mi2.0 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 (100%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 100%
Swim: Likely
Water nearby100%
Water along the trail
CanalStreamCanalStreamCanalStreamCanalStreamCanal0 mi2.0 mi1StreamCanal

Water types nearby

Canal

Canal

Quick read

Water is frequently near the route—great for cooling breaks. Bring a bowl anyway. Swimming spots may be available.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots22
Capacity716spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 22 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Parking #1
Primary🔓 Customers access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~50 m)

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Customers access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~50 m)
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~60 m)

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🛖 Shelters (3)22 shelters near 0.0-0.1 miShelters at 1.0 mi🪑 Benches (1)Benches at 1.0 mi🗑️ Waste bins (6)Waste bins at 0.3 miWaste bins at 0.3 miWaste bins at 0.4 miWaste bins at 0.5 miWaste bins at 0.6 miWaste bins at 1.0 miℹ️ Info boards (3)Info boards at 0.5 miInfo boards at 0.8 miInfo boards at 1.0 mi0 mi2.0 mi1

Near the start

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
4
closest: 56 m • at the spot
🅿️Parking
6
closest: 74 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Shelter area
    56 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    57 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Parking area
    74 m • at the spot
    ↗
Show 7 more
  • Parking area
    74 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Parking area
    98 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    98 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    168 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    168 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    486 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    486 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the middle

A few amenities nearby

🗑️Trash bins
5
closest: 44 m • at the spot
🅿️Parking
10
closest: 215 m • short walk
✳️Other
1
closest: 121 m • very close
Point details
  • Trash bins area
    44 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Trash bins area
    83 m • very close
    ↗
  • Old Cross Cut Canal Park
    121 m • very close
    ↗
Show 13 more
  • Trash bins area
    167 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Trash bins area
    191 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    215 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    215 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Trash bins area
    249 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    325 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    326 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    436 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    436 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    448 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    453 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    457 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    462 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the end

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
4
closest: 88 m • very close
🪑Seating
2
closest: 88 m • very close
🗑️Trash bins
2
closest: 85 m • very close
Show 2 more
🅿️Parking
6
closest: 444 m • nearby
✳️Other
2
closest: 4 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Old Cross Cut Canal Park
    4 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Trash bins area
    85 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    88 m • very close
    ↗
Show 13 more
  • Shelter area
    88 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    89 m • very close
    ↗
  • Trash bins area
    114 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    116 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    116 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    117 m • very close
    ↗
  • Other area
    239 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    444 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    444 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    460 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    462 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    471 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    473 m • nearby
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~716 spacesEstimated capacity
22 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

8 highlights on or near the trail

🏛️ HistoricMausoleum · 0.6 miHistoric · 0.6 miHistoric · 0.7 miHistoric · 0.7 miHistoric · 0.8 miHistoric · 0.9 mi0 mi2.0 mi1

Highlights

8 total
Closest: Memorial · 4 m

Memorial

Historic · Memorial

On-trail
4 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Memorial

Historic · Memorial

Very close
13 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Memorial

Historic · Memorial

Very close
14 mfrom trail
Open OSM
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: 0 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from start0 mi2.0 mi1.0 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 low. 5 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 0.5 mi

Ingleside Animal Hospital

0.5 mi from trail · Veterinary · 4855 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, 85018

Animal Care Hospital of Phoenix

2.1 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3131 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, 85016

BluePearl

2.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · East Indian School Road, Phoenix, 85016

Scottsdale Cat Clinic

3.8 mi from trail · Veterinary

Adobe Animal Hospital

4.0 mi from trail · Veterinary · 7712 East Indian School Road, Scottsdale, 85251

Hazards

Updated: —

Low
Road: 41

No major hazard concentrations reported.

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 41
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 Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas?

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

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas?

There are no drinking water amenities directly on the trail. However, there is a drinking water amenity located approximately 3.2 meters from the trail.

Is Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas trail has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percentage of 100%.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas?

The trail surface is predominantly paved, with approximately 74.12% concrete and 9.5% asphalt. The remaining surface is unknown.

How muddy does Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas get after rain?

The Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas trail has a low mud risk, as it is mostly paved.

How crowded does Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas get, and when is the best time to visit?

This trail is considered high crowd density due to large parking availability and many access points. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas?

There are 22 parking locations with an estimated capacity of 716 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

What amenities are available at Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

Amenities available include 2 benches, 8 shelters, and 7 waste baskets. There are no restrooms available.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Old Cross Cut Canal - Mcdowell to Thomas (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The trail has a high heat risk. There are 41 mapped road crossings, but none are considered risky. There are no water crossings on the trail itself.