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Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef)

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 56.0 mi · Point to point

A flat 56.0-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 RecreationAvoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Gate #1

Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) is a 56.0-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · low shade. Elevation gain is about 1785 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
45%
Caution
Long for small breeds
Natural & paw-friendly
Warm; bring extra water
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
57%
Fair 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
73%
Good fit
Soft natural surface
Warm — check ground temp
Quiet — less stressful
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
57%
Fair fit
Too long for early fitness training
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
82%
Great 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

Exposed, with swim access trail — good fit with minor considerations

Best for

Senior dogsReactive dogsWater-loving dogsHigh-energy dogs

Use caution if

Heat-sensitive dogs

Mostly exposed trail — midday temperatures can be intense

Most comfortable when

Before 10 AM or after 6 PM

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

Avoid after heavy rain

— Trail gets significantly muddy — surfaces become slippery and paws stay wet

Why this trail works

  • Swim access confirmed — water features 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 / HEATExposedHeat risk present
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded
NEAREST VET7.8 km awayBanfield Pet Hospital

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 56.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:1,785 ftGain/mi:32 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 1,785 ft gain + 32 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,316 ft1,263 ft0 mi56.0 mi1020304050
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.

Smooth / Paw-friendly

Top surfaces

Not mapped
55%
Dirt
34%
Concrete
11%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is dirt (34%). You will also encounter concrete (11%). 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

18.8%
Shade along the trail
0 mi56.0 mi1020304050SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
77%
Partial
5%
Shade
18%
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: Likely
Water nearby100%
Water along the trail
CanalDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondCanalLake / PondCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalLake / PondCanalStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamCanalStreamLake / PondCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalRiverCanalRiverCanalRiverCanalRiverCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalLake / PondStreamCanalStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamCanalLake / PondCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalLake / PondCanalLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondCanalLake / PondCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalLake / PondCanalStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamCanalStreamLake / PondCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalRiverCanalRiverCanalRiverCanalRiverCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalLake / PondStreamCanalStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamCanalLake / PondCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalLake / PondCanalLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mCanalStreamCanalDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mCanal0 mi56.0 mi12243648RiverLake / PondStreamCanal

Water types nearby

CanalLake/PondStreamRiver

Canal • Lake/Pond • Stream

Quick read

Water is frequently near the route—great for cooling breaks. Bring a bowl anyway. Swimming spots may be available. Check current/flow after rain.

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📍 ~130 m from trail

Other access points

Gate #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~160 m from trail

Amenities along the route

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

Amenities along the trail
🚻 Restrooms (1)Restrooms at 0.0 mi💧 Water (2)22 water near 0.2-0.3 mi0 mi56.0 mi12243648

Near the start

Water nearby • Restrooms nearby

💧Water
2
closest: 28 m • at the spot
🚻Restrooms
1
closest: 27 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Restrooms area
    27 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Water area
    28 m • at the spot
    ↗
  • Water area
    66 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: 173 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 2Actionable exits: 2Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 173 mClosest near Midpoint: 13.3 kmClosest near End: —
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 173 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exit0 mi56.0 mi28.0 mi
2 actionable exits· closest 173 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 · 173 m from start

EntranceDead End
173 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: 4.8 mi

Banfield Pet Hospital

4.8 mi from trail · Veterinary · 1863 North Stapley Drive, Mesa, 85203

Bark Avenue Animal Hospital

5.2 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3109 East McKellips Road, Mesa

VCA Animal Hospital

5.6 mi from trail · Veterinary · 1648 North Country Club Drive, Mesa, 85201

Homestead Animal Clinic

5.7 mi from trail · Veterinary · 2020 East Brown Road, Mesa, 85213

Scottsdale Ranch Animal Hospital

5.8 mi from trail · Veterinary · 9993 North 95th Way, Scottsdale, 85258

Hazards

Updated: —

Low
Water: 13

Primary concerns: Water crossings (13)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 0
Water crossings
13
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 Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef)?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef).

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef)?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on the Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) as per the blanket Phoenix city park leash policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef)?

Yes, there are two drinking water amenities available along the Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef).

Is Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

The Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) has low shade coverage, with only about 18.8% of the trail being shaded.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef)?

The trail surface is primarily dirt (62.6%), with some concrete (20.6%) and an unknown surface type (16.8%).

How muddy does Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) get after rain?

The Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

How crowded does Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) get, and when is the best time to visit?

The Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) is generally not crowded, with low crowd levels attributed to low access infrastructure nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef)?

There are no parking spaces indicated for the Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef), and whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

What amenities are available at Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

There is one toilet available on the Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef). There are no benches or waste bins indicated.

Are there any safety concerns for dogs on Sun Circle Trail (Scottsdale - Granite Reef) (heat, terrain, water crossings)?

The trail has a medium heat risk. There are 13 water crossings, and the terrain is mostly natural surfaces which can become muddy.