+ Add trail

Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 3.2 mi · Network

A flat 3.2-mile network. 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 / Maricopa Trail is a 3.2-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · low shade. Elevation gain is about 210 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
14%
Not ideal
Paw-friendly surface
Hot pavement can burn paws
Busy — may cause anxiety
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
80%
Great fit
Good training length
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

Dogs off trail

Elevated hazard rating — road crossings, terrain, or other risk factors present

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

HAZARDSHigh
SHADE / HEATExposedHeat risk present
CROWDHighBusy trail — expect company on weekends
NEAREST VET1.4 km awayGood Doctor Veterinary Care

High hazards

7 risky road crossings; 23 bike conflict zones

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 3.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:210 ftGain/mi:66 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 210 ft gain + 66 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,198 ft1,165 ft0 mi3.2 mi123
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: Concrete

Firm, consistent footing with less natural cushioning.

Hard surface riskSmooth / Paw-friendly
Surface along the trail
AsphaltDirtConcreteAsphaltConcreteAsphalt0 mi3.2 mi123HardNatural/Soft

Top surfaces

Concrete
53%
Asphalt
27%
Not mapped
19%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Concrete. A notable share is asphalt (27%). You will also encounter not mapped (19%). Generally comfortable for most dogs.

Best forstrollersroad bikesquick walks

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

8.9%
Shade along the trail
0 mi3.2 mi123SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
82%
Partial
9%
Shade
9%
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 / PondCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalLake / PondCanalLake / PondCanal0 mi3.2 mi123Lake / PondCanal

Water types nearby

CanalLake/PondRiverStream

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
Capacity551spaces 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 (~30 m)

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~30 m)
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~65 m)

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🛖 Shelters (1)Shelters at 2.1 mi🪑 Benches (1)Benches at 2.1 mi🗑️ Waste bins (2)22 waste bins near 2.1-2.1 mi0 mi3.2 mi123

Near the start

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
4
closest: 127 m • very close
Point details
  • Parking area
    127 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    127 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    153 m • short walk
    ↗
Show 1 more
  • Parking area
    157 m • short walk
    ↗

Near the middle

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the end

A few amenities nearby

🛖Shelter
2
closest: 189 m • short walk
🪑Seating
1
closest: 119 m • very close
🗑️Trash bins
2
closest: 122 m • very close
Show 1 more
🅿️Parking
8
closest: 78 m • very close
Point details
  • Parking area
    78 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    78 m • very close
    ↗
  • Seating area
    119 m • very close
    ↗
Show 10 more
  • Trash bins area
    122 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    163 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    163 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    189 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Shelter area
    190 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Trash bins area
    192 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    445 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    448 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    456 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    456 m • nearby
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~551 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: highScore: 0.75

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 6Dead ends: 0Closest Start: —
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 6Actionable exits: 6Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: —Closest near Midpoint: 184 mClosest near End: 827 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail 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 mi3.2 mi1.6 mi
6 actionable exits
  • High access density (1.88/mi).
  • Route structure (network) supports alternate exits.
  • Entrance count is estimated from graph topology (proxy).

Top exits near Start

No mapped exits near Start. Try switching to a different anchor.

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Current hazard level is marked as high. 5 nearby emergency veterinary options mapped where available.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

Nearest vet: 0.9 mi

Good Doctor Veterinary Care

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

VCA Elliot Park Animal Hospital

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

Banfield Pet Hospital

1.8 mi from trail · Veterinary

Tempe Veterinary Hospital

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

Neighborhood Veterinary Clinic

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

Hazards

Updated: —

High
Road: 8Risky road: 7Bike: 23+1 more

Primary concerns: Road crossings (7 risky), Bike conflict (23)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 8
Risky: 7
Water crossings
12
Cliff / steep edge
0
Bike conflict
23
Off-leash conflict proxy
0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on the Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail, as per the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail has low shade, with only about 8.91% of the trail offering shade.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail?

The Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail is primarily a concrete surface, making up about 95.93% of the trail.

How muddy does Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail get after rain?

The Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail has a low mud risk, as it is mostly paved.

How crowded does Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail get, and when is the best time to visit?

The Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail is considered high crowd class due to large parking nearby and proximity to residential/commercial areas. The best time to visit is not specified.

What is the parking situation at Sun Circle Trail / Maricopa Trail?

There are 12 parking areas with an estimated capacity of 551 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

Amenities available include 2 waste baskets and 1 bench. There are no restrooms or picnic tables.

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

The trail has a high heat risk. Safety concerns also include 8 mapped road crossings with 7 being risky, and 12 water crossing points.