Dog Friendly Hiking Vacations – Warmer weather is coming and you know what that means…road trips! If you’re like us, you love taking your dog for a spin. Last September we took one of our most amazing trips to beautiful Utah with our two pups, Newton and Maya. I thought I’d write a little blog series about our adventures (this is part one of two) and hopefully give some tips if you’re traveling with a dog.
There are two main factors to consider in Utah: (1) weather + (2) population. As a major tourist destination, it gets busy during the warmer months, so keep this in mind. Plus, Utah gets HAWT in the summer. It may not be suitable for you and your puppy. We went there in the middle of September and it was great. There are still a lot of people, but not as bad as say in June, July or August. Although it is still very hot at times, it is not scorching hot in the middle of summer. Can we finish October? in case. But we don’t want it to be too cold, so doing this trip in late September or early October can be a good deal.
Dog Friendly Hiking Vacations
So are you ready to take your dog on the road? Maybe you’ve done this before (thank goodness!) but maybe this is your first long trip and you’re a little nervous. Here is some information to help you prepare. First, make a list of the things your dog needs each day…
Hikes Near Sun Valley: 10 Dog Friendly Trails To Try
And anything else they can use every day or help them feel comfortable when they leave the house.
Then divide the food and give it to your puppy every day, multiply by the number of days you go and put it all in a container or plastic bag for easy transport. Calculate the number of pills/supplements you need per day, multiply by the number of days and put them in a bag/container for easy transport. Then simply pack the water bowl, toys, dog bed or blanket, and anything else your dog needs and pack the car!
Now for the good stuff…where should you go in Utah? But it is very difficult for us to choose only one area. If you’ve ever explored Utah, you know that the state has amazing parks and destinations. You want to see the arches and canyonlands in East Moab, but you also want to visit Zion National Park and see all the amazing slot canyons in the Utah desert in the southwest/southcentral region. Utah has a lot to offer, and if you’re traveling from either side of the country, you’ve come a long way, so hit the road and see it all today! [PS: We didn’t even get into Arizona’s amazing Monument Valley, which isn’t far at all and could have easily lasted a day or two, but alas…next time!
We decided to do a week long trip (6 days and 5 nights to be exact) to see as much as possible. Planning such an extensive trip can be overwhelming, but with a little (actually a lot) of research, planning, excitement and motivation, you can do it! I hope this blog helps you plan. Here’s how we break it down.
Dog Friendly Trails In Squamish
Our home in Denver, Colorado is where we started. Even though Moab and Zion are more than 4 hours apart and on opposite sides of the state, we decided to include them in our itinerary. Since going to Zion first is quite a long way (9.5+ hours from DEN) and there are some incredible slot canyons on the way back from Zion to Moab and that’s the plan we want to see. 35 minutes outside of Zion, Utah we started our week long trip. Then we stayed there for two nights before starting our journey to Moab. On the way to Moab, we stopped in the Kanab, Utah desert and visited some amazing dog-friendly canyons. This trip also took us through parts of Arizona, including Lake Powell (which looks amazing and is definitely on our list for our next adventure). We finally arrived in Moab where we spent the rest of the trip a total of 3 nights. The journey home at the end of the holiday was an easy +5 hour scenic drive. Overall, I think the way we plan makes more sense for what we do. Depending on where you’re from, how much time you have, and what you need most, you may need to edit, add, delete, and plan. (If you’re short on time, I highly recommend visiting Moab during your stay.) Here’s some information on the first two legs of our trip: Zion Canyon and Slot Canyon in the Utah desert. [We will have a separate blog on Moab soon! ]
After a grueling 9.5 hour drive from Denver to Hurricane (with plenty of snacks and bathroom breaks), we arrived at the most unique A-frame cabin in Hurricane, Utah, about an hour outside of Zion National Park. Just look at the scenery of this place! The first day was beautiful as we were tired and wanted to relax and enjoy the amazing views from the Airbnb. Hurricane is a small town, but if you want some tasty food, check out Main Street Cafe.
The storm was completely unexpected and (for us) unplanned and we were only 50 minutes away from a natural wonder… Coral Pink Dunes State Park! We didn’t know about this park until we were there during the storm and ended up driving there because it was so close. OMG it’s worth it…I’ve never seen pink sand and this place is incredible! As it is a state park, it is dog friendly, which was the best thing for us! Also, it’s not that famous so you don’t have to fight all the mobs. The Coral Pink Sand Dunes are located between Carmel Junction and Kanab, south and west of US Highway 89 in Kane County.
The next day we drove about 35 minutes to Zion National Park. Zion, like all national parks, has restrictions on dogs entering the park. But unlike many other national parks, this park has a dog-friendly park trail. Pa’Rus is a nearly flat, 3.4 mile (in and out) paved trail surrounded by beautiful scenery and dog-friendly trails. This is the only pet friendly trail in the park. In addition to the Pa-Rus Trail, take your pup to Zion-Mati Carmel Park and stop at various attractions to enjoy the spectacular view. Unfortunately, during peak tourist season, private vehicles are not allowed on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and the line is for shuttle service only. You can go to Bryce Canyon on the same day, which is about an hour away from Zion. We stopped for lunch in Springdale, a small town just outside of Zion, where many tourists stop after visiting Zion before catching the shuttle to the park. We ate at Cafe Soleil, which has dog-friendly outdoor seating and delicious sandwiches. In retrospect, Springdale was probably a good choice for us when traveling with dogs because you can bring your pups with you at hotels/Airbnbs. , when he descends as the famous angel! Springdale is minutes from the park and has many great restaurants.
Pet Friendly Hotel
On the third day we said goodbye to the storm and headed to Kanab, Utah and finally Moab. The special slot canyon hike we chose (after much research) was the Buckeye Canyon Wire Pass Trail. This hike was perfect for us because (1) it’s dog-friendly and (2) it’s much less crowded than other, more popular slot canyons, like Arizona’s famous Storm Canyon (which is a chance to enter the lottery while on a hike). Fair warning, Wire Pass isn’t going to get off to an easy start. It is located in a remote location on a rugged terrain and requires four-wheel drive. You also want to make sure there is no rain in the forecast. This is not a joke – the area is prone to dangerous flooding, and one does not want to be trapped in the area when it happens. So be sure to plan a dry day. But the reward is worth it! The way to the first place
