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North Trail

Los Angeles, CA · Los Angeles County · 2.4 mi · Network

A strenuous 2.4-mile network. Mostly sun-exposed; best in the morning or evening during summer.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortStrenuous
ShadeExposed
Certified dog policySource: Park Rules | City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and ParksAvoid midday in summer.
Best entry:Parking #2

North Trail is a 2.4-mile dog-friendly trail in Los Angeles, CA. Includes leash-required policy details · low shade. Elevation gain is about 78301 ft. Looking for more options in Los Angeles dog-friendly trails or across dog-friendly trails across California? Use the sections below for dog policy, access points, shade/heat, water, terrain, and safety.

North Trail is a 2.4-mile trail with a mix of dirt, natural, and unpaved tread, a steady climb. Notable stops include Mount Bell (3.1 mi in) and Taco Peak (3.2 mi in). The route passes a creek near the start. Tree cover is strongest through the final third and thins out across the first third — the open stretch can get hot midday. Dogs must stay leashed on this trail, and you'll find restrooms along the way.

Dog Fit

Dogs allowed status, leash expectations, and suitability by dog type

Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet in all Los Angeles city and county parks. LAMC §53.06.2.
Suitability by dog type

By Dog Type

How this trail suits different kinds of dogs

Small Dog
Toy & small breeds
45%
Caution
Manageable length
Natural & paw-friendly
Mostly exposed
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
60%
Fair fit
Some challenging climbs
Comfortable distance
Smooth surface — easy going
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
76%
Good fit
Moderately busy — stay alert
All dogs leashed — controlled
Can cut short if needed
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
69%
Good fit
Soft natural surface
Mostly exposed
Moderate traffic
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
100%
Great fit
Ideal starter length (1–2.5 mi)
Gentle grade — good challenge
Can shorten route if needed
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
41%
Tough
1 water access point
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

Water-loving dogs

Use caution if

Reactive dogs

Trail conditions may be challenging for reactive dogs

Senior dogs

Steep sections present — hard on aging joints and cardiovascular system

Most comfortable when

Morning or late afternoon

— Limited shade — more comfortable outside peak midday hours

Weekday visits

— Moderate traffic — calmer on weekdays

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
  • 78301 ft of elevation gain — good cardio workout

Safety & Conditions

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

HAZARDSLow
SHADE / HEATExposedHeat risk present
CROWDMediumModerate use, mix of busy and quiet times

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

EffortSteep
SurfaceMixed
ShadeLow
WaterNone

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 2.

Trail Effort

Strenuous

Steep sections throughout. Best for athletic dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:78,301 ftGain/mi:33171 ft/miSteep sections:High
Rated from 78,301 ft gain + 33171 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
6,732 ft1,467 ft0 mi2.4 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: Dirt

Good grip and generally paw-friendly on most stretches.

Paw-friendlySmooth / Paw-friendly
Surface along the trail
0 mi2.4 mi12UnknownNatural/SoftGravel/CompactedHard

Top surfaces

Ground
49%
Dirt
47%
Not mapped
3.4%

Quick read

Roughness: Low

This trail is mostly Ground. A notable share is dirt (47%). 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

LOW

Low shade coverage

19.8%
Shade along the trail
0 mi2.4 mi12SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
80%
Partial
0%
Shade
20%
Dense
0%

Quick read

Limited natural shade. Expect prolonged sun exposure.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (18%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 18%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby18%
Water along the trail
0 mi2.4 mi12RiverLake / PondStream

Water types nearby

SpringLake/PondRiverStream+1 more

Spring • Lake/Pond • River

Quick read

Water is limited near the trail—bring enough for you and your dog. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking Lots12
Capacity62spaces est.
FeeFree

This section covers 2 trailheads listed, 12 parking lots, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Parking #1
North Trail McDowell Mountain Regional Park

Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 Near trail (~50 m)★ 4.8 (30)

Other access points

Parking #2
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 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)0 mi2.4 mi12

Near the start

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the middle

No mapped amenities near this part of the trail.

Near the end

Restrooms nearby

🚻Restrooms
2
closest: 201 m • short walk
🅿️Parking
12
closest: 139 m • very close
Point details
  • Parking area
    139 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    142 m • very close
    ↗
  • Parking area
    144 m • very close
    ↗
Show 11 more
  • Parking area
    146 m • very close
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    201 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Restrooms area
    201 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    212 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    212 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    244 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    244 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    284 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    288 m • short walk
    ↗
  • Parking area
    391 m • nearby
    ↗
  • Parking area
    396 m • nearby
    ↗
Parking details

🅿 Parking

Large parking area
~62 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

4 highlights on or near the trail

👁️ Viewpoint⛰️ Peak🏛️ Historic0 mi2.4 mi12

Highlights

4 total
Closest: Taco Peak · 57 m

Taco Peak

Peak · Peak

Close
57 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Mount Bell

Peak · Peak

Nearby
100 mfrom trail
Open OSM

Memorial

Historic · Memorial

Nearby
127 mfrom trail
Open OSM
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: 15 m
🚪 Exits0 mi2.4 mi1.2 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 · 7 m from start

EntranceDead End
7 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

No major hazard concentrations reported.

Show hazard breakdown
Road crossings
Total: 0
Water crossings
0
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 North Trail?

Yes, dogs are allowed on North Trail.

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

Yes, dogs are required to be on a leash on North Trail. Las Cruces Municipal Code §26-35 requires leash at all times in city parks and trails.

Is there drinking water available for dogs along North Trail?

Unknown based on available data.

Is North Trail mostly shaded or sun-exposed?

North Trail has low shade, with a shade proxy percent of 0%.

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

The trail surface is primarily natural (dirt/earth/grass) at 96.9%, with some asphalt sections.

How muddy does North Trail get after rain?

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

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

North Trail is considered medium crowd class, with reasons including large parking nearby. The best time to visit is unknown based on available data.

What is the parking situation at North Trail?

There are 12 parking spots with an estimated capacity of 62 vehicles. Whether there is a parking fee is unknown.

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

North Trail has 2 restrooms available. There are no benches, waste baskets, picnic tables, or drinking water facilities.

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

North Trail has a low heat risk and low hazards. There are no water crossings or steep edges noted.