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South Terrace Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 1.4 mi · Point to point

A flat 1.4-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

South Terrace Trail is a 1.4-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 98 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
Smooth, easy on paws
Warm; bring extra water
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
100%
Great fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Short, relaxed walk
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
57%
Fair fit
Paw-friendly surface
Warm — check ground temp
Moderate traffic
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
100%
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
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 — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsSmall dogsEasy walksHeat-sensitive dogsWater-loving dogsFirst-time trail dogs

Use caution if

Reactive dogs

Trail conditions may be challenging for reactive dogs

Most comfortable when

Morning or late afternoon

— Limited shade — more comfortable outside peak midday hours

Weekday visits

— Moderate traffic — calmer on weekdays

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 VET5.2 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 1.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:98 ftGain/mi:69 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 98 ft gain + 69 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,063 ft1,033 ft0 mi1.4 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: Gravel

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Gravel
71%
Not mapped
20%
Asphalt
9.4%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Gravel. A notable share is not mapped (20%). 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 mi1.4 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: Unlikely
Water nearby100%
Water along the trail
RiverLake / PondRiverLake / PondRiverLake / PondRiverLake / PondRiver0 mi1.4 mi1RiverLake / Pond

Water types nearby

Lake/PondStreamBeachRiver

Lake/Pond • Stream • Beach

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 Lots10
Capacity2083spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 10 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📍 Near trail (~95 m)🅿 Medium lot

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~95 m)🅿 Medium lot
Parking #3
🔓 Yes access💵 Fee not posted📍 ~160 m from trail🅿 Medium lot

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🛖 Shelters (2)Shelters at 0.4 miShelters at 0.6 mi0 mi1.4 mi1

Near the start

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
2
closest: 98 m • very close
🅿️Parking
8
closest: 232 m • short walk
Point details
  • Shelter area
    98 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    98 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    232 m • short walk
    ↗
Show 7 more
  • Parking area
    233 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    298 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    299 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    355 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    357 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    446 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    458 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the middle

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
2
closest: 35 m • at the spot
🅿️Parking
2
closest: 476 m • nearby
Point details
  • Shelter area
    35 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    35 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Parking area
    476 m • nearby
    ↗
Show 1 more
  • Parking area
    477 m • nearby
    ↗

Near the end

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~2083 spacesEstimated capacity
10 parking locations
No known parking fee

Parking generally sufficient for peak times.

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: 171 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 171 mClosest near Midpoint: 705 mClosest near End: —
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 171 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi1.4 mi0.7 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 171 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 · 171 m from start

EntranceDead End
171 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: 3.2 mi

North Kenilworth Veterinary Care

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

Banfield Pet Hospital

4.1 mi from trail · Veterinary

Dobbins Village Veterinary Hospital

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

Phoenix Veterinary Center

4.7 mi from trail · Veterinary

Phoenix Dog/Cat/Bird Hospital

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

Hazards

Updated: —

Medium
Bike: 4Water: 2

Primary concerns: Bike conflict (4), Water crossings (2)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 0
Water crossings
2
Cliff / steep edge
0
Bike conflict
4
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on South Terrace Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the South Terrace Trail.

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

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

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

Unknown based on available data.

Is South Terrace Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The South Terrace Trail has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percentage of 100%.

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

The South Terrace Trail is primarily surfaced with gravel, with some asphalt and unknown sections.

How muddy does South Terrace Trail get after rain?

The South Terrace Trail has a low mud risk, as it is mostly gravel and compacted surfaces.

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

The South Terrace Trail is considered medium crowded, with reasons including large parking nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at South Terrace Trail?

There are 10 parking points with an estimated capacity of 2083 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

There are 4 shelters available. Restrooms, waste bins, and benches are not indicated as available.

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

The trail has a medium heat risk and low roughness risk. There are 2 water crossings and 4 cycleway conflict proxies.