WalkPHX Wednesdays

Phoenix, AZ · Maricopa County · 7.0 mi · Out & back

A flat 7.0-mile out & back. Partial shade (40% coverage); water access along most of the route; best in the morning or evening during summer.

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

WalkPHX Wednesdays is a 7.0-mile dog-friendly trail in Phoenix, AZ. Includes leash-required policy details · medium shade. Elevation gain is about 571 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
20%
Not ideal
Long for small breeds
Natural & paw-friendly
Hot in summer — go early
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
45%
Caution
Flat & joint-friendly
Long for senior dogs
Smooth surface — easy going
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
31%
Tough
Often busy — high encounter risk
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
21%
Not ideal
Soft natural surface
Hot pavement can burn paws
Busy — may cause anxiety
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
45%
Caution
Too long for early fitness training
Flat — great for conditioning
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
58%
Fair fit
7 water access points
Water along most of the route
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

With swim access, flat trail — plan around heat exposure

Best for

Senior dogsWater-loving dogsHigh-energy dogs

Use caution if

Heat-sensitive dogs

High heat index — go early or on cooler days

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

  • Swim access confirmed — water features along 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 / HEATSome shadeHeat risk present
CROWDHighBusy trail — expect company on weekends
NEAREST VET1.4 km awayNorth Kenilworth Veterinary Care

Terrain & Comfort

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

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeModerate
WaterGood

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 7.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:571 ftGain/mi:81 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 571 ft gain + 81 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
1,171 ft1,060 ft0 mi7.0 mi246
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
60%
Concrete
29%
Asphalt
5.3%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Not mapped. A notable share is concrete (29%). 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

MEDIUM

Moderate shade coverage

39.9%
Shade along the trail
0 mi7.0 mi246SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
30%
Partial
32%
Shade
38%
Dense
0%

Quick read

Roughly half the trail has meaningful tree or canopy coverage. Expect mixed sun and shade.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (86%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 86%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby86%
Water along the trail
Lake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / PondDry — no water within 200 mLake / Pond0 mi7.0 mi246Lake / Pond

Water types nearby

Lake/Pond

Lake/Pond

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 Lots159
Capacity4333spaces est.
FeePaid

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, 159 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Parking #1
Primary🔓 Customers access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~40 m)🅿 Large lot

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Customers access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~40 m)🅿 Large lot
Heritage Park Garage
🔓 Yes access💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~50 m)

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)Water at 0.0 miWater at 3.3 mi🛖 Shelters (3)22 shelters near 0.0-0.0 miShelters at 3.5 mi🪑 Benches (10)33 benches near 0.0-0.0 mi33 benches near 3.3-3.3 mi44 benches near 3.4-3.5 mi🍽️ Picnic tables (2)Picnic tables at 0.0 miPicnic tables at 3.5 mi0 mi7.0 mi246

Near the start

Water nearby • Restrooms nearby

💧Water
3
closest: 15 m • at the spot
🚻Restrooms
2
closest: 14 m • at the spot
🛖Shelter
6
closest: 10 m • at the spot
Show 2 more
🪑Seating
32
closest: 5 m • at the spot
🅿️Parking
4
closest: 56 m • at the spot
Point details
  • Seating area
    5 m • at the spot
  • Shelter area
    10 m • at the spot
  • Shelter area
    10 m • at the spot
Show 44 more
  • Seating area
    11 m • at the spot
  • Restrooms area
    14 m • at the spot
  • Water area
    15 m • at the spot
  • Restrooms area
    15 m • at the spot
  • Water area
    16 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    21 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    30 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    31 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    31 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    34 m • at the spot
  • Shelter area
    34 m • at the spot
  • Shelter area
    34 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    36 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    37 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    45 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    45 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    53 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    56 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    57 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    57 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    58 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    62 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    62 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    64 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    64 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    65 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    66 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    67 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    68 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    68 m • at the spot
  • Shelter area
    68 m • at the spot
  • Shelter area
    69 m • at the spot
  • Water area
    69 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    70 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    71 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    72 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    73 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    74 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    75 m • at the spot
  • Seating area
    78 m • very close
  • Seating area
    80 m • very close
  • Seating area
    81 m • very close
  • Seating area
    82 m • very close
  • Seating area
    86 m • very close

Near the middle

A few amenities nearby

🅿️Parking
12
closest: 17 m • at the spot
✳️Other
1
closest: 78 m • very close
Point details
  • Parking area
    17 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    21 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    37 m • at the spot
Show 10 more
  • Parking area
    37 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    43 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    43 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    48 m • at the spot
  • Parking area
    48 m • at the spot
  • Other area
    78 m • very close
  • Parking area
    88 m • very close
  • Parking area
    92 m • very close
  • Parking area
    92 m • very close
  • Parking area
    93 m • very close

Near the end

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~4333 spacesEstimated capacity
159 parking locations
Parking fee may apply

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

16 highlights on or near the trail

💦 WaterfallWaterfall · 3.3 mi AttractionTea House · 3.3 mi🏛️ HistoricHistoric · 0.3 miRoosevelt Community Church · 0.6 miHistoric St Mary's School Entrance Portal · 1.3 miSt. Pope John Paul II · 1.3 miHistoric · 2.0 miMayors’ Tree · 3.3 miAn Gorta Mór, the Great Hunger Memorial · 3.4 mi0 mi7.0 mi246

Highlights

16 total
Closest: Yes · 15 m

Yes

Historic · Yes

Very close
15 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Yes

Historic · Yes

Very close
19 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Roosevelt Community Church

Historic · Yes

Very close
22 mfrom trail
Open OSM
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 mi7.0 mi3.5 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: 0.9 mi

North Kenilworth Veterinary Care

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

Phoenix Dog/Cat/Bird Hospital

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

Animal Care Hospital of Phoenix

3.8 mi from trail · Veterinary · 3131 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, 85016

Christown Animal Hospital and Boarding

4.2 mi from trail · Veterinary · 5103 North 19th Avenue, Phoenix

BluePearl

4.3 mi from trail · Veterinary · East Indian School Road, Phoenix, 85016

Hazards

Updated:

Medium
Water: 2

Primary concerns: Water crossings (2), Off-leash proxy (2)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about dogs on this trail

Are dogs allowed on WalkPHX Wednesdays?

Yes, dogs are allowed on WalkPHX Wednesdays.

Do dogs need to be on a leash on WalkPHX Wednesdays?

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash at all times on WalkPHX Wednesdays, as per Phoenix city park policy.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along WalkPHX Wednesdays?

Yes, there are 3 drinking water amenities available along WalkPHX Wednesdays.

Is WalkPHX Wednesdays mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

WalkPHX Wednesdays has medium shade, with approximately 39.92% of the trail covered by shade.

What is the trail surface like for dog paws on WalkPHX Wednesdays?

The trail surface is primarily concrete (47.47%), with asphalt (8.73%) and paved sections (2.89%). A significant portion (34.32%) is of unknown surface type.

How muddy does WalkPHX Wednesdays get after rain?

WalkPHX Wednesdays has a low mud risk, as it is mostly paved.

How crowded does WalkPHX Wednesdays get, and when is the best time to visit?

WalkPHX Wednesdays is considered high crowd class, with reasons including large parking, many amenities, and proximity to residential areas. The best time to visit is not specified.

What is the parking situation at WalkPHX Wednesdays?

There are 159 parking spots available, with an estimated capacity of 4333. A parking fee is known to apply.

What amenities are available at WalkPHX Wednesdays (restrooms, waste bins, benches)?

Amenities include 16 benches, 6 shelters, 2 restrooms, and 16 picnic tables. There are no waste bins listed.

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

WalkPHX Wednesdays has a high heat risk. There are 2 water crossings and 2 potential off-leash encounter points.