DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ

The Sonoran Desert's McDowell Mountains form Scottsdale's northeastern boundary, with the city of 241,000 extending across 184 square miles of desert terrain. Elevations range from roughly 1,150 feet in the south to over 3,000 feet in the northern reaches against the mountains. Desert climate dominates: scorching summers routinely exceed 105°F, while mild winters average in the mid-60s with minimal rainfall. The Arizona Canal flows east-west through central Scottsdale, a remnant of agricultural irrigation now surrounded by urban development. The city stretches from Tempe's border north into pristine desert preserve areas.