Lost Dog Wash Trailhead

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Beautiful Trail with Great Wildlife and Volunteers The Lost Dog Wash Trail is a fantastic hike with stunning desert scenery, diverse cacti, and plenty of wildlife. The volunteers are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the area, making the experience even better. The trail is well-marked, but be sure to wear good hiking shoes – the dirt on the rocks can get slippery. Also, bring at least a gallon of water, as it gets hot quickly. Highly recommend for nature lovers!

Best location to hike from in Scottsdale. Usually not too busy compared to other spots. Lots of hiking options. In and out, loops and long connections deeper into the McDowell mountains. Easy and moderate options at a variety of lengths.

A great easy/moderate hike. The dogs loved it. We did a loop starting on lost dog, going up ringtail, and then back down lost dog. Got some great advice from the volunteers at the trailhead about going up ringtail instead of down due to the loose rock. Make sure to stop and turn around for the views!

Super rocky for the vast majority, proper footwear required. Came across a couple of cyclists on the narrow parts of the trail. Nice views throughout.

This is a first class trailhead. Lots of paved parking, restrooms, and trail maps. The trails are well maintained for easy walking. You are surrounded by lush desert vegetation. The scenery isn't as striking as around the Superstition Mountains but at least you feel like you're getting away from the city.

My family decided to do the moderate trail that takes you to Lost Dog Wash Overlook. It is 2.3 miles in total to do the loop. We started a little late, so the heat was getting to be a little much. Would highly recommend this trail for people that are able to maneuver easily through rocks and can handle the loose terrain. Take at least a couple bottles of water per person and a snack if needed. It was great that we only passed a couple people on the trail. This allowed us to enjoy the scenario and take it all in. Memories were made by all.

Great parking lots with plenty of parking, and another trailhead/parking lot as well. Google shows the trailhead as not by the restrooms area, which was confusing when trying to figure out where to start. The trail junctions have great signs, as long as you know where you want to go and there are great online maps available. There are lots of trails that branch off from the area. The rocks are plentiful, so I would only walk/hike here if you are okay with walking on loose rocks. There's a nicely groomed short dirt trail that meanders near the restrooms/parking lot with signs describing the area that some would definitely enjoy.

One of my favorite places to hike and watch the sunset! Lots of trails so you can sort of choose your adventure. Bathrooms at the trailhead and lots of parking. I have often seen wildlife. Remember to be respectful and responsible. Pack out your trash and leave no trace.

Just finished a workout and thought I could use some time outside. Alternating Trail running and walking for me today. Plus an EPIC sunset as my reward!! Really great quick hike before sunset. I like this trail a lot. To the look out spot it's one mile out. Not busy at all on Thursday afternoon. Big fluffy clouds in the sky and perfect temperature out. Weather app says it's 65° right now. Lots of parking, there's a restroom at the trailhead. What's not to like. There are other longer trails to take here, but going to the look out spot is all I wanted for today! Came back to the trailhead l/ parking lot with a lit up sky.

The trail markers could be more frequent, I'm new to hiking and I'm still not sure which trail I took. I just know it took a few hours. The trails are very scenic and not extremely challenging so it was doable and I had a good workout.

340 ft elevation and decent trail after a more strenuous hike the day before. This trail was pretty wide with small ascents and descents that were easy for us enough to walk and run on. There are loose pepples however it rained earlier in day so it was less dusty . The guides at the front were friendly and helpful to help decrease chance of getting lost. Many dog owners walk their furr babies here since not too strenuous elevations. However quite a few dog owners forgot to pick up their dogs poo even though free baggies are available at entrance to trails and signs throughout. Still a great place to spend a few hours for the amazing views. Highly suggest screenshotting the map so don't have to hold one if have phone. Definitely a hike can do in regular tennis shoes or hiking boots if feel might roll an ankle. Return : definitely for a cooldown hike or easy workout day

Beautiful trail! 4 miles total, but it is an out and back so you can make it what you want. Nice parking lot with bathrooms. Beautiful views of the valley if you go to the top. A good workout!! Love this trail and very well maintained

We drove here from downtown phoenix with our 4 year old daughter. What an absolutely beautiful place! It started near the parking lot when we saw a road runner sneaking off to the bushes. Parking was plentiful and we were able to park close to the trailhead. A helpful volunteer at the entrance gave us advice on a good trail to hike with our daughter. Beautiful cacti, nice vistas, and clearly marked trails made everything enjoyable. We didn't go far but it was enough to have a great time. We went back to the trailhead where they had nice clean restrooms. Definitely a great place to visit and worth the drive!

Pretty good views from the hilltop. It was pretty hot out. I would not suggest hiking even when it is a high of 70 degrees. In the sun, it is still incredibly hot. Make sure to drink lots of water and bring lots of water. There are prickly cacti and a lot of really pretty white rocks that glint in the sun light. There is not a lot of shade. Make sure to wear sun block. If you can stand it, you should make sure to wear long sleeves or something to cover your skin to prevent sun burns. You will want to wear a hat and sun glasses and hiking shoes. There are a lot of rocks to step on or over. You will want to be careful of loose rocks. There were a lot of rocks around beyond the pretty white rocks. One of the people on the trail found a piece of an antler, which was pretty neat. There was also some kind of plant that was a little pretty. It looked like grass to me, but had a little flower of top.

Great hike! Go early and bring lots of water. 4 miles RT. 340 ft elevation - lots of up and down. Enjoyed the view of the city.

One of our favorites in the summer- entrance to several trails (easy to moderate) depending on which way you go. Especially love they open crazy early so you can get hiking before sun rises and heat sets in. It gets to over 110 degrees F so being able to go at 4:50am is awesome! They have great restrooms as the trailhead too.

Great trail for those that want to get outside without a strenuous hike. Trail is good for those that want to mountain bike, leisure walk or families with small kids.

It is a beautiful trail Definitely messy.m I would highly suggest it It is very nice Scenic Meera Chakkera

We selected this trail to take our 2 small doxies with us. It was a good experience for all. Terrain was good for their little legs and a doable distance. 4 miles for us

1100th Review!! The Lost Dog Trail has become my Saturday morning go to for hike. There are lots of trails that intersect with it and you can tailor your hike to what ever your needs are, short hikes, long hikes, easy hikes, moderate hikes. I normally start off with Lost Dog Trail then follow Old Jeep Trail down to Ringtail. The views are amazing and its just peaceful being out on the trail. There is plenty of parking, just go north on 124th St from Shea to the dead end. The facilities are well taken care off and most mornings you could see volunteers there to help with any questions.

Recently I was invited by a friend to hike with him at the Lost Dog Wash Trail. Though I've lived in Arizona for 16 years this would be the first time I ventured out on a hiking trail in Scottsdale or anywhere. At 74, I agreed to go hiking somewhat reluctantly but I had high confidence in my companion and so hike we did. To be honest I was expecting more of a gravel surface on the trail but what I found was a trail that was mostly covered with rocks. It certainly added to the challenge but I persevered and made the two hour hike with only a couple of stops along the way to catch my breath because the increase in elevation started to affect my breathing a bit. Nothing serious and after a couple of breaks along the way I was able to resume to hike. The views were wonderful. It was great seeing so many people on the trail. The parking was ample and convenient. And the signage was terrific. My partner told me he had an extra pair of hiking poles for me to use. I wondered why on earth I would need the poles but it didn't take long from the trailhead to understand just how useful the poles would be. After I got home I ordered my own set of hiking poles because hiking is something I look forward to doing more of. At 74, it's never too late to start something new. But I'll be looking for my next hiking trail to have a little friendlier surface.

One of my new favorite hikes! I went on a recommendation of a friend, and it didnt disappoint. Parking is super easy, it wasnt super packed, there were clear directions to trailheads, and a restroom before the trails. I went up Lost Dog Trail, to the overlook. It was about 2 miles to get to the overlook, so 4 miles total. It was a nice and relatively easy hike! You are in the wash sometimes while hiking, so there are lots of loose rocks that could make it wobbly for someone, but overall I'd say this is a good hike for anyone. And I noticed its dog friendly. They even offer doggy waste bags before the trailhead to help. It is on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, so you are asked to stay on the trail and not to remove any vegetation or rocks. Just be respectful! It's a beautiful hike with some really fun scenery, and I look forward to hiking it again soon.

Very busy but great local place to take an easy hike with numerous trails to choose from. Expect lots of people and bring water as there is no shade. You'll have to share the path with mountain bikers too at times. Great way to start the new year!

Nice easy trail to get started on . Nice signage and explanation. Was short so we got the walk in before the heat

Simply exceptional fun easy and great exercise. Totally a huge Gibbs up. Loved this trail not crowned but try to go early.

Great easy trail for quick morning hike.

I hiked the Lost Dog Wash Trail for the first time yesterday, and it was a really nice trail. Whoever maintains this trail does a great job. The signage was great, and it was easy to create unique routes through all the connecting trails. There were nice views with varying terrain. I would qualify this trail has easy to moderate, good for any level of experience.

Somewhat crowded trail system in the McDowells but the sheer beauty of the desert landscape really makes up for all the foot traffic. Different levels of difficulty from beginner to advanced can be found from this trailhead. Just be sure to look for the spring-time bloom.

Awesome hike for little kids, dogs and people looking for an easier hike. My 5 year old son and I went on about an hour hike on this trail. The trails are very well labeled with directional arrows and distance to each point. The trails have a bit of loose rocks so be careful. My son lost his footing a couple times but that was because he was going pretty fast. Nice bathrooms at the beginning. Plenty of parking. Everyone on the trail was very friendly. We saw people with dogs, bikes and children. Great trail for getting out and enjoying the weather.

Great trail with water at the trailhead! Trail is relatively easy, well marketed, and secluded from the city and noise. Hiking here is a lovely chance to explore nature, while still being close to home!

Beautiful, calm, and usually not crowded trails. Parking: The most easy parking at any hiking spot! There are tons of spots to park. It's paved and clean. The bathrooms at the main entrance are clean. There are sometimes volunteers there to help with reviewing the map or give advice. A person could choose to hike for many hours, or just 20-30 minutes if she wanted. I typically choose a hike that lasts 60-100 minutes. The trails are well kept and beautiful. There are sometimes a few people, but it seems very quiet. I have not seen much of a crowd here.

This hike is very close to home and I love it. Gorgeous views and scenery. The trail to Taliesin is worth the hike-amazing mountain overlook at the end.

This is the perfect trail for anyone who wants a casual and easy hike without sacrificing scenery. The trail is flat and not too rocky, so I saw lots of kids and dogs. The hike from the trailhead to Taliesin Overlook is about 4.5 miles round trip. You get to enjoy an amazing view without having to do much uphill hiking, which is lucky. Another thing I like about Lost Dog Wash is that it only takes a few minutes of walking before you feel secluded from the cars and the city. On my trip I ran into a trail steward dressed in blue. He was really friendly and happy to answer questions, and it was nice to know that someone was looking out for the hikers and the trail. The trailhead is well appointed, with bathrooms, signs, and benches. There's a water fountain as well, but I would bring your own water. Overall I would definitely recommend Lost Dog Wash--just watch out for the cholla!

Beautiful, scenic hike! Just right, with some up hill and down hill. Right amount of distance - we added the side trail which ended up being 5.5 mile total loop. Glad I had my trekking poles for the loose rocky areas of the trail. Would love to hike this again when we come back - we are from Seattle so hiking in the sun in December was a real treat!!!!!. Lucky Arizonians!!

Good basic stretch of the legs for about a 45 minute hike. Great scenery and lookout spots along the way. Start at Lost Dog at 124th street and do the Ringtail trail. It brings to right back to where you started.

Trail is fairly steep and very rocky. Also crowded. A bit hard to hike. Need hiking boots and sticks. View at the top was fabulous. Bring lots of water.

This was a great hiking trail and is quite a bit different than most of the trails you find in the area. There are a few up hills and subsequently down hills and there is a lot of loose rock on the trail which can make it a little tricky at times. By loose rock, I mean the trail is completely covered in small loose rocks during some parts. It's a dog friendly trail, and I didn't notice any issues with people not cleaning up after their pups. Everyone we passed by on the hike was friendly too. There is enough room on most parts of this trail that you can pass people if you're moving at a faster pace. I liked the views from this trail too. You get to enjoy very different views on the way up and back, and I imagine it would be beautiful at sunrise or set.

The Lost Dog Wash Trail and I (as well as Bry and our two labradors) had the pleasure of meeting each other at the end of April. Even at a little after 8am, there was a freak storm hovering nearby so we had some concerns with "surviving" the trail and getting back in time before getting fully rained on. To our relief, the hike was easy as pie and had little elevation gain, but we did encounter one small problem. We were talking and missed a turn and ended up adding another trail and a half or so to our loop as well. We followed along the Lost Dog Wash Trail and then ended up on the Ringtail Trail and then to the Old Jeep Trail. So with our little mishap, instead of taking a short little sub 3 mile hike for one of our elderly pups, we ended up on the 4.1 mile one. Oh well, we took it nice and slow for our older labrador. We did get rained on a bit close to the end, but like I said, it seldom rains, so it's rarely a problem. Pros: -Awesome views -Great for pups (except during the summer of course when it's way too hot unless you go super early) -If you're a mountain biker, the terrain can be rocky, but you can be "remote" without being so far way from the city in no time -Beginner hikers can enjoy an easy conversational stroll -Good training for trail running Cons: -Seasoned hikers may not feel challenged enough unless doing the really long trail -With lots of flowering plants and shrubbery during the spring, there were quite a few bees during our hike (They didn't bother us, but you can hear them passing every flowering bush)

Lost Dog Wash has several unpaved, dirt trails for you to hike, and dogs are allowed. However, there are a lot of loose rocks on the trail and cholla and other cacti spikes are everywhere, so be very cautious about where you step. One person in our party got cholla'd and my dog stepped on a cactus spike, so be sure to bring tweezers and a comb to pick out spikes, and to comb any cholla pads off you. On a warm day, the trail can be rough for dogs not so used to hiking so bring lots of water and take frequent breaks as needed. The actual hike itself isn't too bad, and you get a great view of the city once you reach higher elevations.

Absolutely beautiful! Went around 6am on a Saturday, and it wasn't crowded. On the way up, I was shaded for the most part; on my way back to the trailhead, the sun was out, so there was less shade. Just remember to stay hydrated and go apply sunscreen! I took this trail to sunrise peak. Gorgeous views! I would like to do this trail again, but take it all the way to the sunrise trailhead.

What a wonderful trailhead!! Huge parking lot, lovely real bathrooms, maps, and (on the Sunday morning we came here), there was even a kind guide to answer our questions. Grab a paper map in the little bin under the big display map at the trail head and choose your own adventure. There are many trail lengths, so you can do longer or shorter hikes and change your mind on the way. The hiking is long, flat, rocky and really lovely!! With multiple length options and no elevation changes, it's the perfect place for a less experienced hiker, a mountain bike ride, or a trail run. We did the 4.4 mile loop, which included the Old Jeep trail. We plan to come back soon! The views were breathtaking (the weather was cloudy with moments of rain, which makes the mountains extra majestic, here in AZ).

Since the weather has been so awesome lately, we decided to give this trail a try. After browsing the map of the various trails, we decided to do the "Lollipop Loop", which is a little over 5 miles and includes this route: Lost Dog Wash Trail to Taliesin Overlook (backtrack) to Old Jeep Trail to Ringtail Trail to Lost Dog Wash Trail The trail is very easy and good for beginners. There was a lot of trail bike and jogger action on the trail. One group of hikers had strollers with 2 babies....seriously?! That was a complete fail...I don't know what they were thinking. Until you get to higher ground with decent views....Taliesin Overlook and a couple of spots on the Old Jeep Trail and Ringtail Trail....there's not much to look at. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lost-dog-wash-trail-scottsdale?select=2fDEe35-hrvJmn5Zsp-YnQ#2fDEe35-hrvJmn5Zsp-YnQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lost-dog-wash-trail-scottsdale?select=D9Tp167HbQYd9AYLlscDYA#D9Tp167HbQYd9AYLlscDYA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lost-dog-wash-trail-scottsdale?select=piv7Jl4vqvzzqpZSEX-gdw#piv7Jl4vqvzzqpZSEX-gdw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lost-dog-wash-trail-scottsdale?select=fwIsLFwlv9NREVlK0G3uHQ#fwIsLFwlv9NREVlK0G3uHQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lost-dog-wash-trail-scottsdale?select=2SXvipCe9Uc537UwYfX9Mw#2SXvipCe9Uc537UwYfX9Mw Other than those views, there's not much to look at besides the Sonoran Desert.....Cholla, Saguaro, weeds, brush, random green stuff. I read Lisa E's review on this trail and was hoping to see a lot of wildlife, but besides an occasional bird or two squawking, we didn't see or hear anything....no Javelina, Coyotes, Hawks, Bobcats, or Mountain Lions.....we struck out. There are restrooms at the trail head and the parking lot is nice and adequate. I'm not sure I'll hike this trail again....I might go up to 128th St next time and do the Sunrise Trail, which is on the backside of the Lollipop Loop. Return Factor - 50%

Very scenic trail that is a fairly easy climb. We didn't go to the top but very much appreciated the beauty.

I enjoyed this hike, and it was fine. I recommend it for younger children, or those with lower levels of mobility, or fitness. The trail was pretty crowded though, loud, with lots of dogs. Because of that, there was very little wild life of any sort. There were also assorted bags of dog crap lying about here and there on the trail. Personally I enjoyed the hike to Sunrise Peak much more, it was less crowded and I saw more wildlife.

Wonderful trailer bring your dog on Also remember to be respectful for other people because dogs and people should share the trail together

Nice easy trails! Not as scenic as other spots but if you want to chat with your companion while getting some exercise, these trails are for you! Just watch out for the horse droppings!!!! Dog people are good about picking up tho.

Great easy hiking right in our neighborhood! Easy access, good parking with trail maps, good signage, rest rooms, etc. There are a lot of stones/rocks along the path so wear good shoes, but it is totally doable. Beautiful views and natural cactus abound! We really enjoyed it.

Great hike for dogs and kids. Wide path. Moderate hill climb if you take the old jeep trail, but beautiful spot. Awesome parking. Good facilities at bottom of trailhead. Nice vistas of the valley. Huge parking lot.

Last December we checked out the trailhead and did the nature walk. Today we hiked 4 miles to the Taliesen overlook and had a great time. Not a difficult hike, but there is enough interesting ground for me as a new hiker. Ample parking and very nice bathrooms. Can't wait to come back to hike some of the other trails.

Hiked here with some good friends about a month ago. Weather was perfect and just hitting 70 degrees. Trailhead was easy to find and about half of the parking spots were filled. Nice 5 mile hike round trip with a nice overlook at the end. Should have packed an extra water bottle and will probably wear hiking shoes if I do this hike again as it's fairly rocky.

One of my new favorites! Mostly because when I get somewhere I always have to pee, I'm always sketched out by public restrooms... Let me tell ya, these are the best kept restrooms in the state of Arizona! OK, onto the trail, very nice hike, my boxer boy enjoyed the stroll, not too hard some areas were a lil rocky but great place!!!

This is an amazing trail for many reasons! First and probably most importantly, as the name says, this trail is a wash, which means there is tons of wildlife along the trail (animals love to hangout in washes). Also, this trail connects with many other trails, if you want to extend your hike. Another great thing about this trail and many of the others is that they loop, so you get to explore new ground the whole hike. At the trail head there are restrooms and sometimes volunteers with information and maps. They also have guided educational hikes on the Lost Dog trail (generally on the weekend). I usually mountain bike this trail; it has some switchbacks and a bit rocky in some areas so I wouldn't necissarily recommend that for everyone. The Ringtrail loop is a bit easier for mountain bikers. Lost Dog does get busy during the tourist season and most weekends. If you are mountain biking, to avoid a crowded trail, I would recommend doing it early in the morning, on the weekends, or during the week.

Hiked a few miles of this trail this morning. Enjoyed the hike and scenery. Not a strenuous hike, there's very little elevation change. The trailhead is easy to find, but the address on Yelp is misleading its actually at East Via Linda and N 124th St. Take 124th st north till it ends.

Wow this is one of the nicest trails I've ever been on, and when I say "nicer" I mean fancier, not nature beauty. The trail itself was a typical never ending desert flat trail. The bathrooms? Unforgettable. I'm used to those crummy bathrooms with no TP and wet floors that homeless people probably use as bedrooms hiking bathrooms. These had a code on the door and an attendant watching the entrance. Seriously. But yes the trail was nice enough and confusing enough for my Mom and I to get lost. Awesome.

What?! How did I forget to review this place? I absolutely love this place. I've been working in Phoenix for just over two years, and I came out here for the first time about a year in. Yes...it is far from downtown Phoenix. But being far away does have certain advantages in that it is less crowded than other, more easily accessible trails. I do run this trail. As another reviewer stated, I typically run from the parking lot to the Taliesin Overlook. The trail from the Taliesin Overlook to the end of Lost Dog Wash Trail is pretty rocky. You can still run it, but it is definitely more precarious. I do wish some (not all) of the people here with dogs would remember to pick up after their dogs. And leaving the blue bag on the side of the trail doesn't count. This is a shared trail. Please pick up after yourselves and your pets. You won't see me dropping packs of goo, water bottles, wrappers, etc. Please be respectful. If you don't treat this well, why should anyone else? Before you know it, it'll become a Superfund site, and you will only have yourself to blame. But I digress... I love coming out here because 1) it is physically far from where I work; 2) there's an almost 0% chance I will bump into a co-worker who needs something from me; 3) it's not too crowded during the work week when I come out here; and 4) it's a decent trail run.

This is my go-to hike when my dog needs to burn off some energy. Lots of trails and directions to go with different mileage, but my concern is not remembering which way I came from or how they all connect, so I usually hike in for about a half hour then turn around and go back. I have hiked up to the part that overlooks Taliesin West and it's a decent view, but for the most part, it's just a wash, not much up and down and kinda dusty (the pup always gets a bath after this one!) but it's a nice reminder how close I live to the beautiful, undisturbed desert! I also get a little nervous about wildlife. I've yet to see a coyote, cat or javelina in the wash, but it's never very crowded with hikers and you never know, so I keep my eyes and ears open. I also generally leave my music off because it's multi-use so most often mountain bikers come up behind me and I like to know they're coming so I can move off. Friendly hikers and bikers as always though!

Love this trail... Many options to veer off to different ones during hike. It's fairly flat and easy. Saw a lot of seniors , but also many not so senior as well . A beautiful hike, will be a regular as it's near my house!