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Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur)

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 2.5 mi · Point to point

A flat 2.5-mile point to point. Mostly sun-exposed; water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

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

Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) is a 2.5-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · low shade. Elevation gain is about 112 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
70%
Good fit
Manageable length
Smooth, easy on paws
Hot in summer — go early
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
78%
Good fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Comfortable distance
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
21%
Not ideal
Paw-friendly surface
Hot pavement can burn paws
Busy — may cause anxiety
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
90%
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

Exposed, waterside trail — challenging for many dogs

Best for

Senior dogsSmall dogsEasy walksWater-loving dogsFirst-time trail dogs

Use caution if

Heat-sensitive dogs

High heat exposure with minimal shade — dangerous during warm months

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

  • River or lake alongside much of the route
  • Paved surface — easy on paws
  • Essentially flat — average slope under 3%

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSMedium
SHADE / HEATExposedHeat risk present
CROWDHighBusy trail — expect company on weekends
NEAREST VET1.9 km awayGood Doctor Veterinary Care

Heat exposure

Low shade coverage — bring extra water and avoid midday in summer.

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeLow
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:112 ftGain/mi:45 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 112 ft gain + 45 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,194 ft1,171 ft0 mi2.5 mi12
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
56%
Asphalt
23%
Concrete
20%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is asphalt (23%). You will also encounter concrete (20%). 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

LOW

Low shade coverage

14.8%
Shade along the trail
0 mi2.5 mi12SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
51%
Partial
35%
Shade
14%
Dense
0%

Quick read

Limited natural shade. Expect prolonged sun exposure.

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
CanalLake / PondCanalLake / PondCanalLake / PondCanalLake / PondCanal0 mi2.5 mi12Lake / PondCanal

Water types nearby

CanalLake/PondRiver

Canal • Lake/Pond • 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 Lots12
Capacity875spaces 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📍 Near trail (~65 m)

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~65 m)
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~130 m from trail

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 mi2.5 mi12

Near the start

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the middle

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
2
closest: 197 m • short walk
Point details
  • Shelter area
    197 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    197 m • short walk
    ↗

Near the end

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
2
closest: 174 m • short walk
🅿️Parking
12
closest: 73 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Parking area
    73 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Parking area
    74 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Parking area
    134 m • very close
    ↗
Show 11 more
  • Parking area
    137 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    141 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    149 m • very close
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    174 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    176 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    214 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    218 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    251 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    253 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    441 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    442 m • nearby
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~875 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: 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 mi2.5 mi1.2 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 medium. 5 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 1.2 mi

Good Doctor Veterinary Care

1.2 mi from trail · Veterinary · 220 East Baseline Road, Tempe, 85283

Banfield Pet Hospital

1.4 mi from trail · Veterinary

VCA Elliot Park Animal Hospital

1.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 1700 East Elliot Road, Tempe, 85284

Tempe Veterinary Hospital

2.2 mi from trail · Veterinary · 329 West Southern Avenue, Tempe, 85282

Neighborhood Veterinary Clinic

2.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 2860 South Carriage Lane, Mesa, 85202

Hazards

Updated: —

Medium
Road: 9Bike: 12

Primary concerns: Bike conflict (12)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 9
Water crossings
0
Cliff / steep edge
0
Bike conflict
12
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur)?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur).

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur)?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on the Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur). This is part of the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur)?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) has low shade, with only about 14.81% shade coverage.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur)?

The Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) has a surface that is approximately 41% asphalt and 36% concrete, with the remainder being unknown.

How muddy does Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) get after rain?

The Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) has a low mud risk, as it is mostly paved.

How crowded does Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) get, and when is the best time to visit?

The Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) gets crowded, with reasons including large parking nearby and proximity to residential/commercial areas. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur)?

There are 12 parking spots available at the Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) with an estimated capacity of 875. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

What amenities are available at Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

There are 4 shelters available on the Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur). Restrooms, waste bins, and benches are not available.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The Sun Circle Trail (Kiwanis Spur) has a high heat risk. There are 9 mapped road crossings, and 12 cycleway conflict proxies, but no water crossings.