DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS IN TEMPE, AZ

The Salt River historically flowed through central Tempe before damming created the Town Lake reservoir, with this city of 180,000 occupying the valley floor at roughly 1,150 feet elevation. The Papago Buttes rise sharply from the otherwise flat desert terrain, creating distinctive landmarks. Arizona State University's 75,000 students comprise nearly half the city's population, fundamentally shaping local character. Desert climate brings scorching summers routinely exceeding 110°F and mild winters averaging in the mid-60s. Tempe sits directly east of Phoenix, part of the continuous metropolitan sprawl across the Valley of the Sun.