Verde Trail

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 6.3 mi · Network

A flat 6.3-mile network. Good shade throughout; best in the morning or evening during summer.

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

Verde Trail is a 6.3-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 348 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
55%
Fair fit
Swim spots confirmed on this trail
Water near parts of the trail
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Well-shaded, with swim access trail — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsHeat-sensitive dogsReactive dogsWater-loving 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

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • Swim access confirmed — water features along the route
  • Natural, soft surface

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATHigh shadeHeat risk present
CROWDLowTypically uncrowded

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterSome

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:348 ftGain/mi:55 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 348 ft gain + 55 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,936 ft1,657 ft0 mi6.3 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
99%
Not mapped
1.2%

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

HIGH

High shade coverage

100.0%
Shade along the trail
0 mi6.3 mi123456SunPartialShadeDense

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 (22%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 22%
Swim: Likely
Water nearby22%
Water along the trail
Dry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 m0 mi6.3 mi246Stream

Water types nearby

CanalStream

Canal • Stream

Quick read

Water is limited near the trail—bring enough for you and your dog. Swimming spots may be available. Check current/flow after rain.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots8
Capacity44spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 2 trailheads listed, 8 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📍 ~200 m from trail

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~200 m from trail

Amenities along the route

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

Near the start

Mostly parking nearby

🅿️Parking
8
closest: 315 m • nearby
Point details
  • Parking area
    315 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    315 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    340 m • nearby
Show 5 more
  • Parking area
    340 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    400 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    404 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    458 m • nearby
  • Parking area
    459 m • nearby

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

Moderate parking
~44 spacesEstimated capacity
8 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: 0.4

Fast exits if you need to shorten the route.

Actionable: 4Dead ends: 0Closest Start: 0 m
Method + full metrics

Based on trail graph connectivity and nearby exits.

Total spots: 4Actionable exits: 4Dead ends: 0Closest near Start: 0 mClosest near Midpoint: Closest near End: 1 m
🚪 ExitsTrail entrance / exit · 0 m from startTrail entrance / exit · Trail entrance / exitTrail entrance / exit · 371 m from startTrail entrance / exit · 1.6 km from start0 mi6.3 mi3.1 mi
4 actionable exits· closest 0 m from start
  • Route structure (network) supports alternate exits.
  • 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

Trail entrance / exit

Near Start · 371 m from start

EntranceDead End
371 mGoogle Maps OSM unavailable

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Current hazard level is marked as low. Nearby emergency veterinary coverage appears when mapped in source data.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

No nearby vets found

No nearby veterinary clinics were found within search radius.

Hazards

Updated:

Low
Water: 1

Primary concerns: Water crossings (1)

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 0
Water crossings
1
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 Verde Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on Verde Trail.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on Verde Trail?

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

Is there drinking water available for dogs along Verde Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is Verde Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

Verde Trail has high shade coverage, with a shade proxy percentage of 1.

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

The Verde Trail surface is primarily natural ground, with approximately 98.8% being natural surface.

How muddy does Verde Trail get after rain?

Verde Trail has a high mud risk due to its mostly natural surfaces.

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

Verde Trail is considered low crowd class, with low access infrastructure nearby potentially contributing to this. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at Verde Trail?

There are 8 parking access points with an estimated capacity of 44 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

Unknown based on available data.

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

The heat risk for Verde Trail is low. There is one water crossing and the terrain is mostly natural ground, which carries a high mud risk. There are no reported cliff or steep edge hazards.