Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails in Phoenix: Where Dogs Can Go and the Rules

Most City of Phoenix trails welcome dogs on a leash. The exceptions are every trail on Camelback Mountain and the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail, where dogs are never allowed. And when it's 100 degrees or hotter, dogs can't be on any Phoenix trail.

A trail is also a real test of your dog's training. Rocks, bikes, other dogs and a rabbit in the brush all ask for the same things Mark trains at home: walk nicely on the leash, stay calm and listen the first time.

The rules for dogs on Phoenix trails

The City of Phoenix lists its dog rules on its hiking and trails page. Here's the short version:

• Use a leash six feet or shorter. That's the rule on every city trail.

• Skip Camelback and the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail. Dogs are banned all year on every Camelback trail and on Piestewa's Summit Trail.

• Stay off the trails at 100 degrees and up. No dogs on any city trail when it's that hot.

• Stay on the trail. It keeps your dog away from cactus and wildlife.

• Pick up after your dog. Bag it and carry it out.

The leash rule is where training shows. A dog that pulls on a steep, rocky trail can pull you off your feet. A dog that walks at your side makes the same trail easy.

Where to hike with your dog in Phoenix

Phoenix has more than 200 miles of city trails. Here's where to go, and what each place will ask of your dog.

South Mountain Park/Preserve

At more than 16,000 acres, South Mountain is one of the biggest city parks in the country. Its 100-plus miles of trails are shared with mountain bikers and horseback riders. Your dog needs to stay at your side while a bike rolls past or a horse walks by.

Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw

The Summit Trail is off-limits, but the Phoenix Mountains Preserve around it has dozens of miles of trails that welcome leashed dogs. Weekend mornings are busy. Expect to pass a lot of people and dogs up close.

North Mountain and Shaw Butte

These two peaks in north Phoenix rise above 2,100 feet, with steep, rocky climbs. A dog that pulls is hard to hold on loose rock going downhill. Leash manners matter here more than anywhere.

Lookout and Shadow Mountain

The city calls these two a way to reach a peak without the crowds or steep climbs of Piestewa Peak and North Mountain. That makes them a good first summit for a young dog, or a dog that gets worked up around other dogs.

Papago Park

Papago Park is minutes from downtown, with red rock buttes and short, easy trails. It's busy with families and photographers. That makes it good practice for a dog learning to stay calm around people.

Phoenix Sonoran Preserve

The Sonoran Preserve covers more than 9,600 acres in north Phoenix, with 36 miles of trails from three trailheads. It's farther out, which usually means fewer people and more room to pass. If passing other dogs is the hard part, that's reactivity, and it's one of the problems Mark fixes.

What a good trail dog can do

A dog that's ready for Phoenix trails can:

• Walk beside you without pulling, uphill and down.

• Stay calm when bikes, runners, horses and other dogs pass close.

• Leave things alone: snakes, cactus, trash and other people's snacks.

• Wait at your side while you step off the trail to let others by.

• Come back right away if the leash slips out of your hand.

That's the same list Mark works on at home, then takes out into the world. The Go-Everywhere Program includes a real hike on a Valley trail, with Mark there to coach you and your dog through it. After that, lifetime group classes and text access to Mark seven days a week keep it going.

Hiking season here runs from fall through spring. Start training now, and your dog will be ready for the best months on the trail. Call (602) 960-0011 or book a free call to see if it's a fit.

Heat, snakes and cactus

• Hot ground. The city's test: lay your hand flat on the ground for 10 seconds. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog. Heavy panting, drooling, exhaustion or vomiting mean get to shade and cool your dog down right away.

• Water. Bring enough for your dog, not just for you.

• The right trail. The city says to think about your dog's age, health and fitness. Dogs with short snouts may need easier trails and more breaks.

• Rattlesnakes. They come out as it warms up. Keep your dog close and on the trail, since dogs often get bitten when they go to sniff a snake. If your dog is bitten, get to a vet right away.

• Cactus. Cholla pieces stick to fur and paws. Carry tweezers, and keep your dog out of the brush.

A dog that stays beside you and leaves things alone is a safer dog in the desert. That's training, and it's what Mark builds.

Questions about dogs on Phoenix trails

Can I take my dog hiking on Camelback Mountain?

No. Dogs are banned on every Camelback Mountain trail, all year.

Can dogs hike Piestewa Peak?

Not on the Summit Trail. The other trails in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve around it welcome leashed dogs.

Are dogs allowed at South Mountain?

Yes, on a leash six feet or shorter, unless it's 100 degrees or hotter.

What temperature closes Phoenix trails to dogs?

100 degrees. At that point, dogs aren't allowed on any city trail.

How long can my dog's leash be on Phoenix trails?

Six feet or shorter.

Can Mark help my dog behave on the trail?

Yes. Mark trains in your home first, then out on real Valley trails as part of the Go-Everywhere Program. Call (602) 960-0011 or book a free call.

Mark is a dog trainer, not a lawyer. Trail rules change, so check the City of Phoenix trail pages before you go.