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Old Trail 23 - West Express

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 6.2 mi · Point to point

A flat 6.2-mile point to point. Partial shade (98% coverage); best in the morning or evening during summer.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortFlat
ShadeSome shade
Certified dog policySource: Trail Rules | Phoenix Parks and RecreationAvoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Gate #1

Old Trail 23 - West Express is a 6.2-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · medium shade. Elevation gain is about 305 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
76%
Good fit
May need extra breaks
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
72%
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
15%
Not ideal
No water access found
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

  • ~98% 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 / HEATSome shadeHeat risk present
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded
NEAREST VET7.6 km awayAnimal Hospital At Terravita

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeModerate
WaterNone

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 6.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:305 ftGain/mi:49 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 305 ft gain + 49 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
2,877 ft2,572 ft0 mi6.2 mi123456
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: Ground

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Ground
96%
Dirt
2.4%
Sand
1.0%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Ground. 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

MEDIUM

Moderate shade coverage

98.5%
Shade along the trail
0 mi6.2 mi123456SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
1%
Partial
1%
Shade
98%
Dense
0%

Quick read

Roughly half the trail has meaningful tree or canopy coverage. Expect mixed sun and shade.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (11%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 11%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby11%
Water along the trail
Dry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 m0 mi6.2 mi246Stream

Water types nearby

Lake/PondStream

Lake/Pond • Stream

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 2 trailheads listed, 0 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Gate #1
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 On trail

Other access points

Tonto National Forest information
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~20 m)

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
ℹ️ Info boards (1)Info boards at 0.0 mi0 mi6.2 mi246

Near the start

A few amenities nearby

✳️Other
1
closest: 22 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Tonto National Forest information
    22 m • at the spot
    ↗

Near the middle

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the end

No mapped amenities near this part of the 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: 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: 1 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi6.2 mi3.1 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. 2 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 4.7 mi

Animal Hospital At Terravita

4.7 mi from trail · Veterinary

Arizona Animal Hospital

4.8 mi from trail · Veterinary

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 Old Trail 23 - West Express?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Old Trail 23 - West Express.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Old Trail 23 - West Express?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on Old Trail 23 - West Express, in accordance with the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Old Trail 23 - West Express?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Old Trail 23 - West Express mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

Old Trail 23 - West Express has medium shade, with a shade proxy percentage of 98.48%.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Old Trail 23 - West Express?

The trail surface is primarily natural, with 99.1% being natural surface, including ground, dirt, and sand.

How muddy does Old Trail 23 - West Express get after rain?

Old Trail 23 - West Express has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

How crowded does Old Trail 23 - West Express get, and when is the best time to visit?

Old Trail 23 - West Express has low crowds, likely due to low access infrastructure nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Old Trail 23 - West Express?

Unknown based on available data.

What amenities are available at Old Trail 23 - West Express (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

There is one information amenity available at Old Trail 23 - West Express. Other amenities like restrooms, waste bins, and benches are not available.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Old Trail 23 - West Express (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The heat risk for Old Trail 23 - West Express is low. There are no water crossings or steep edges noted. The terrain is mostly natural surfaces, which contributes to a high mud risk.