Top 5 Dog Friendly Hikes in Phoenix – Arizona Hikers Guide

What does a dog owner do with nearly 300+ days of sunshine in Phoenix?  They go hiking!  With beautiful mountain ranges surrounding the valley of the sun there really is no excuse to get outdoors with man’s best friend.  In the Phoenix area there are hundreds of trails that are easily accessible but not all are dog friendly.  I have put together five of my favorite hiking areas especially for my four-legged friends and their owners!

*Hiking with dogs is a great outdoor activity but there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding to take your furry friend with you.  The city of Phoenix has created a guideline for hiking with dogs which you can access here.  Now go out and do something fun!

When you here people talk about “hiking Camelback” Echo Canyon Summit Trail is typically the trail they are referring to. However, the slightly less popular Cholla Trail is the dog friendly trail on this mountain.  According to the City of Phoenix This jewel in the heart of the Arizona urban sprawl is a fantastic anaerobic workout for anyone who is looking for a new way to get their heart rate up and keep their pup in shape. This mountain is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Valley of the Sun so make sure Fido is hiker friendly.

Things to know
  • Admission is FREE
  • Dogs must remain on a leash
  • Parking is located in a residential area so be aware of marked signs about parking
  • This is a strenuous hike
  • Trail is in the desert.  Watch out for cactus, snakes, and other dangers
  • Bring water for your dog.  There is no water on the trail

Although technically not a single hike, the Mcdowell mountains offer more than 40 miles of dog friendly trails! The trails range from easy to difficult and lengths from .5 miles to over 15 miles. For a complete list of hikes and park hours of operation click here.

Things to know
  • There is a $6.00 parking fee to enter the park (as of 9/2015)
  • Dogs must remain on a leash
  • There are two adjoining parks
    • Mcdowell Regional Park: Main park and typically easier, more scenic hiking
    • Mcdowell Sonoran Preserve: More hikes with elevation gains
  • Although open 365 days a year, there are opening and closing hours

The Hieroglyphic Trail #101 is a short (3 mile), fun little hike and a great introduction into the Superstition Mountain range. On this hike you can expect to see great views of the East Valley as well as some well preserved hieroglyphics. I recommended this hike to anyone looking for a short, fun, introductory desert hike.  Your four-legged friends will thank you for taking them on this beautiful hike.

The trailhead lies in a neighborhood and is very easy to get to. From the get go, the trail climbs toward Hieroglyphic Canyon. Along the way you will see great views of the East Valley and is a great trail for pictures. As you approach the canyon, the trail will become more rocky and you may have to climb just a little bit (nothing grandma, grandpa and Rover can’t handle).

Things to Know
  • No fee for parking
  • This is the Sonoran Desert so there will be cactus, snakes, and other dangerous and prickly things
  • This is located in the Superstition Mountain range but outside of the Lost Dutchman State Park so there are no restrooms or amenities at the trailhead.
  • Dogs must remain on a leash
  • Pick up after your pup

Shaw Butte is located directly north of North Mountain in the Phoenix Mountain Preserves.  There are several hikes to choose from in both the North Mountain area as well as Shaw Butte.  Remember, this area is home to prominent Phoenix peaks and some trails may be very steep and difficult.

Things to Know
  • No fee to enter the park
  • This is the Sonoran Desert so there will be cactus, snakes, and other dangerous and prickly things
  • There are several different trailheads so use these descriptions to help navigate which hike you want to do
  • Dogs must remain on a leash
  • Pick up after your pup

South Mountain Park is the massive mountain range south of Phoenix.  It is home to over 16,000 acres of Sonoran desert and 51 maintained trails.  This park is suitable for people of all ages and all hikes are dog friendly.  South Mountain is, in my opinion, one of the more beautiful and interesting ranges in the valley.

Although there are over 50 hikes to choose from, here are some of the more popular ones.

  1. Mormon Loop Trail: This trail is about 5 miles long and gives access to Fat Man’s Pass and Hidden Valley
  2. Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail: This hike is about 4.2 miles long and starts at the Mormon Trailhead.
  3. Telegraph Pass: This is a short 1.5 mile hike which is partly paved.  This trail is very popular for joggers and dog walkers
Things to Know
  • No fee to enter the park
  • This is the Sonoran Desert so there will be cactus, snakes, and other dangerous and prickly things
  • There are several different trailheads so use these descriptions to help navigate which hike you want to do
  • Dogs must remain on a leash
  • Pick up after your pup

Let me know in the comments below and I will do my best to do a personal write up about it! Your comments and feedback are appreciated and taken seriously.