Scottsdale

The Scott is the dog hotel in Scottsdale, and it is not particularly close. Located in Old Town on the banks of the Arizona Canal, this mid-century modern property runs a genuine dog program — not a marketing afterthought. Dogs get a welcome kit at check-in with treats, waste bags, and a bandana. The canal path running directly behind the property is the single best morning walk in the city: flat, shaded by old cottonwoods, and stretching miles in both directions with almost no street crossings. The pool area is lively, the rooms are stylish without trying too hard, and the staff treats dogs with the same easy warmth they give every guest. The $50 flat fee covers the entire stay regardless of length. No weight limit. No breed restrictions. If you are bringing a dog to Scottsdale for the first time, start here.

The Valley Ho is Scottsdale’s most photographed hotel for a reason — the 1956 mid-century architecture has been restored to the point of reverence, and the pool scene is the best in Old Town. Dogs under 50 pounds are welcomed with a bed, bowls, and treats. The $100 fee is steeper than The Scott, and the weight limit is a real constraint if you have a larger breed. But the location is unbeatable: you are steps from the Scottsdale Waterfront shopping district, a five-minute walk from dozens of dog-friendly patios on Stetson Drive, and the rooms have the kind of desert-modern aesthetic that makes you want to extend your stay. The ZuZu restaurant on-site has an excellent patio where dogs are welcome for breakfast and lunch.

The Andaz occupies a strange and wonderful position in Scottsdale’s resort landscape — it is a Hyatt property that feels nothing like a Hyatt. The bungalow-style rooms are scattered across a desert garden, and the overall vibe is more design retreat than corporate resort. Dogs under 50 pounds are welcome with a $100 fee. The real draw here is proximity to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve trailheads, which are ten minutes north and offer some of the best desert hiking in the Phoenix metro. The on-site Weft & Warp restaurant has a gorgeous patio surrounded by native plantings, and the bar program is surprisingly strong. Not the most dog-centric property, but the setting and the hiking access make it a serious contender.

The Boulders is for the trip where you want to disappear into the desert. Set against 12-million-year-old granite formations in Carefree, twenty minutes north of central Scottsdale, this Hilton property feels genuinely remote despite being minutes from civilization. Dogs under 75 pounds are welcome with a $150 fee that includes a dog bed, bowls, and treats. The casita-style rooms open onto private patios with desert views, which is ideal for dogs who need decompression space after travel. The on-site trails are short but scenic, and the property connects to the town of Carefree’s surprisingly good network of walking paths. The fee is high, but if you want a luxury desert escape where your dog can watch jackrabbits from your private patio at sunset, this is the play.

Camelback is the postcard hike — the iconic humped ridgeline visible from almost anywhere in the Valley. Dogs are allowed on both the Echo Canyon and Cholla trails, but a word of honest caution: this is a serious scramble. Echo Canyon involves hand-over-hand climbing on guardrail sections that are genuinely challenging with a leashed dog. Cholla is the better option for dog owners — still steep, but more of a maintained trail than a scramble. Start before 7 am in season (the parking lot at Echo Canyon fills by 6:30 on weekends). Bring at least a liter of water per person plus a collapsible bowl. The views from the summit are the best in the metro area, full stop. But if your dog is not trail-conditioned, skip this and head to Pinnacle Peak instead.

Pinnacle Peak is the hike we recommend to every dog owner visiting Scottsdale for the first time. The 3.5-mile out-and-back trail is well-maintained, moderately challenging, and offers panoramic desert views without the dangerous scrambling of Camelback. The trail surface is mostly packed dirt and decomposed granite, which is easier on paws than the rocky scrambles elsewhere. Water stations are positioned along the first half of the trail. Dogs must be leashed, but the trail is wide enough that passing other hikers and dogs is easy. The parking lot at the trailhead is large and rarely fills to capacity except on perfect-weather Saturday mornings. This is the balanced option: real hiking, real views, real desert, and genuinely appropriate for dogs of all fitness levels.

Tom’s Thumb is the trail locals recommend when they want to impress visitors. The 4.2-mile out-and-back climbs steadily through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve to a massive granite spire formation that looks like it belongs in Joshua Tree. The trail is well-marked but rockier than Pinnacle Peak, with some exposed sections that require careful footing for both you and your dog. The payoff is the view from the thumb — a 360-degree panorama that stretches from Four Peaks to the Superstitions to downtown Phoenix. Dogs handle this trail well if they are used to hiking; the main challenge is heat exposure on the upper sections. Bring extra water and start early. The trailhead on 128th Street has a paved lot and a restroom.

The Greenbelt is not a hike — it is a lifestyle. This 11-mile paved path runs the entire length of Scottsdale from Shea Boulevard south to Tempe Town Lake, passing through parks, lakes, and residential neighborhoods. It is the daily walk infrastructure that makes Scottsdale genuinely livable for dog owners. The path is wide, flat, and well-maintained, with water fountains and waste stations at regular intervals. Chaparral Park, roughly at the midpoint, has a large dedicated dog park with separate areas for large and small dogs. The section between Camelback Road and Indian School Road is the most scenic, winding along a series of connected lakes where dogs can watch ducks and the occasional great blue heron. This is where Scottsdale’s dog community actually gathers — on any evening between October and April, the Greenbelt feels like a dog parade.

A great outdoor option for you and your dog.

A great outdoor option for you and your dog.

A great outdoor option for you and your dog.

A great outdoor option for you and your dog.

A great outdoor option for you and your dog.

A great outdoor option for you and your dog.

Check into Hotel Valley Ho and let Ashton decompress — new smells, new room, give them 30 minutes to sniff everything. Then take an easy walk to McDowell Sonoran Preserve to stretch legs after the drive. Nothing ambitious — just let Ashton set the pace. For dinner, head to The Capital Grille. Request outdoor seating when you book and mention you are bringing a dog. Bring a portable water bowl and a chew toy to keep Ashton occupied while you order.

Start early. Grab coffee and head to Candle Chemistry before the crowds — go before 9 am if it is a beach. This is Ashton's highlight of the trip, so let them lead. Brunch at O.H.S.O. Brewery & Distillery after. In the afternoon, explore Antique Trove at a relaxed pace. Ashton will be tired from the morning — keep it mellow. Back to the hotel for a rest. Dinner at Morning Squeeze — sunset seating if they have it. Ashton gets the best seat: under the table with a view.

Sleep in. Ashton earned it. Take a morning walk to Scottsdale Fashion Square — somewhere familiar feels right on the last day. Breakfast at Randy's Restaurant. Request late checkout (most dog-friendly hotels are flexible about this). If you have time before heading out, Eldorado Park is worth a quick visit. Take a final photo of Ashton in front of the hotel. You will want it.

Check into Hotel Valley Ho and let Ashton decompress — new smells, new room, give them 30 minutes to sniff everything. Then take an easy walk to McDowell Sonoran Preserve to stretch legs after the drive. Nothing ambitious — just let Ashton set the pace. For dinner, head to The Capital Grille. Request outdoor seating when you book and mention you are bringing a dog. Bring a portable water bowl and a chew toy to keep Ashton occupied while you order.

Start early. Grab coffee and head to Candle Chemistry before the crowds — go before 9 am if it is a beach. This is Ashton's highlight of the trip, so let them lead. Brunch at O.H.S.O. Brewery & Distillery after. In the afternoon, explore Antique Trove at a relaxed pace. Ashton will be tired from the morning — keep it mellow. Back to the hotel for a rest. Dinner at Morning Squeeze — sunset seating if they have it. Ashton gets the best seat: under the table with a view.

Sleep in. Ashton earned it. Take a morning walk to Scottsdale Fashion Square — somewhere familiar feels right on the last day. Breakfast at Randy's Restaurant. Request late checkout (most dog-friendly hotels are flexible about this). If you have time before heading out, Eldorado Park is worth a quick visit. Take a final photo of Ashton in front of the hotel. You will want it.

Check into Hotel Valley Ho and let Ashton decompress — new smells, new room, give them 30 minutes to sniff everything. Then take an easy walk to McDowell Sonoran Preserve to stretch legs after the drive. Nothing ambitious — just let Ashton set the pace. For dinner, head to The Capital Grille. Request outdoor seating when you book and mention you are bringing a dog. Bring a portable water bowl and a chew toy to keep Ashton occupied while you order.

Start early. Grab coffee and head to Candle Chemistry before the crowds — go before 9 am if it is a beach. This is Ashton's highlight of the trip, so let them lead. Brunch at O.H.S.O. Brewery & Distillery after. In the afternoon, explore Antique Trove at a relaxed pace. Ashton will be tired from the morning — keep it mellow. Back to the hotel for a rest. Dinner at Morning Squeeze — sunset seating if they have it. Ashton gets the best seat: under the table with a view.

Sleep in. Ashton earned it. Take a morning walk to Scottsdale Fashion Square — somewhere familiar feels right on the last day. Breakfast at Randy's Restaurant. Request late checkout (most dog-friendly hotels are flexible about this). If you have time before heading out, Eldorado Park is worth a quick visit. Take a final photo of Ashton in front of the hotel. You will want it.