Best Parks and Trailheads in Scottsdale for Dog Walks
Scottsdale, Arizona — updated August 22, 2026
Scottsdale's open space runs to desert trailheads and city parks rather than fenced turf, so we ranked the places worth the drive by how settled their ratings are, plus the hours and closures to check first.
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Most of the walkable open space in and around Scottsdale is desert preserve, not lawn: the McDowell Sonoran Preserve alone anchors a string of trailheads on the city's north and east edges, and nearly all of them run sunrise to sunset. That schedule matters more here than anywhere else, because the usable window in warm months is early morning. Leash rules, seasonal trail closures and dog access differ from site to site and are set by the managing agency, so confirm the current policy with the city or preserve before you load the car.
1. Gateway Trailhead - McDowell Sonoran Preserve
The main southern access point to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, at 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., and the best starting place if you want distance rather than a single summit push. It holds a 4.8 across 2,381 reviews, which is a settled number rather than an early one, and visitors consistently describe wide open desert, rocky tread and long views of the McDowell Mountains. The general rule for the Preserve is sunrise to sunset, though the City of Scottsdale posts the official hours, so check those before an evening start. Parking fills earliest on cool-season weekend mornings.
2. Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
At the north end of 124th Street, 12601 N. 124th St., this Preserve trailhead has restrooms and no entry fee, and its trail network is described as suiting a range of ages and abilities, which is the practical case for bringing a slower walker along. Hours are sunrise to sunset. The caveat is evidence: the 4.8 rating rests on 133 reviews, a promising figure rather than a proven one, so treat the score as less settled than the bigger trailheads on this list. Bring more water than you think you need.
3. Pinnacle Peak Park
A city-run park at 26802 N. 102nd Way in north Scottsdale, rated 4.8 from 1,709 reviews. The draw for early risers is the opening time: listings show a 6:30 a.m. open, with the gate closing in the evening around 6:45 p.m. Hours shift through the year and Scottsdale publishes them as a PDF on the park page, so check the current sheet rather than assuming. The park office can be reached at 480-312-0990. The trail here is an out-and-back with steady elevation, so it is a workout, not a stroll.
4. Echo Canyon Trailhead
The highest-rated entry on this list, 4.9 from 2,711 reviews, and the count is large enough that the score is proven rather than provisional. It sits in Phoenix off E. McDonald Dr., a short drive from central Scottsdale, with restrooms, water and parking at the trailhead. Two things to weigh: the route up Camelback Mountain is a challenging scramble rather than a walk, and the city has posted a parking and traffic alert for this trailhead along with seasonal trail closures, including a late-August window. Hours are sunrise to sunset. Check the Phoenix parks page the morning you go.
5. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
The most-reviewed place here, 4.8 from 7,007 reviews, and the flattest: it is a Scottsdale Parks and Recreation property at 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd. with no elevation to negotiate. It also has the most reliable calendar of anything on this list, open 363 days a year and closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hours are seasonal, with a 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule listed for March. Weekend mornings draw families, so a weekday visit is quieter if crowds are a problem for your dog.