Ericka Liam
Pet Friendly Lodging Zion National Park – With red and white walls of Navajo sandstone rising 2,000 feet above you, hiking with pets in Zion National Park is an experience you’ll never forget!
Zion is Utah’s first national park. And as you walk along the Virgin River, looking at the giant boulders rising into the brilliant blue sky, it’s easy to see why! But how much of Zen National Park can you see with your pet? We did some real-world research to answer that question.
Pet Friendly Lodging Zion National Park
Located in southern Utah near Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest, Zion is simply breathtaking. Ranging in elevation from 3,600 feet to 8,700 feet, the park protects an incredible variety of wildlife, plants, and scenery.
Dog Friendly Travel
The best time to visit Zion National Park with your pet is anytime except summer! The park welcomed five million visitors in 2021, making it the second most visited national park in the United States. And beyond the crowds, the summer heat in Sion can be dangerous. During our visit in late August, the highest temperature in the canyon reached 104 degrees!
For a quieter visit, visit Zion in the winter. Although more than 550,000 tourists visit the park during its July peak, December and January historically see only one-fifth as many visitors each year. And even though it’s the middle of winter, daytime temperatures often reach 54 degrees — the perfect time to get to know your dog!
To our RV friends: Plan to go to Zion’s South Gate. Going to the east side of the park means passing through a historic tunnel. Almost all RVs, buses, trailers, flatbeds, two-wheel drive trucks, campers and boats require traffic control, which means rangers must stop oncoming traffic for you.
In Zion National Park, leashed pets can join you on all paved surfaces. This applies to public roads and parking lots, developed campgrounds, all 22 exits on Hwy 9 (Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy) and Pa’ Trail rus. Additionally, pets are welcome in the picnic areas and Zen Lodge grounds.
Everything To Know About Zion National Park
Pets are not allowed on other trails, which means that companion hiking in Zion will be limited. But read on – we’ve got pet-friendly hiking solutions you’re sure to love!
Finally, pets are not allowed in wilderness areas, on shuttle buses, or in any park building, including the Zen Lodge.
Zion National Park has two gates, East Gate and South Gate. If you set foot on the eastern gate, you will almost immediately be immersed in the magnificent scenery. If so, go to the visitor center. But stop at every turn to admire the huge boulders in cream, pink and red.
When visiting Zion National Park with your pet, be sure to check out the visitor center. Pets are not allowed inside, so alternate between watching the 22-minute introductory film and the exhibit. Grab your pet’s Bark Ranger tag and it’s time to go!
Trip Report: Zion National Park In February
From the visitor center, walk across the road and over the river to take the pet-friendly Paris Trail. Following the Virgin River through the canyon, the trail heads 1.8 miles to Canyon Junction.
Plan to spend a few hours hiking the trail. Or pack a picnic and spend more time. And for a longer hike, read the Zion Canyon section.
If you’re visiting Zion with your pet in the summer, plan to walk the Paris Trail early in the morning or around sunset.
Be warm! And there is not much shade. And opening in the river is not an option. Monitors the presence of harmful blue-green algae and cyanotoxins in Zion Park’s Virgin River. These toxins can appear at any time, so keep your dog on a leash and out of the water.
The Best Pet Friendly Hotels In Zion National Park Utah
You should also pack shoes for your dog! There are many bridges on Paris trails and the composite decking material gets very hot on sunny days. Before your pet walks on the bridge, scratch the surface to make sure it doesn’t burn their paws.
If you arrive at Zion’s South Gate, after visiting the visitor center and hiking the Paris Trail, head to the East Gate and enjoy the gathering along the way.
Zion National Park’s main attraction is Zion Canyon. It is home to hanging gardens, waterfalls and the world famous Zion Lodge. Most years, entrance to Zion Canyon is shuttle bus only. And pets are not allowed on the shuttle bus.
Of course, you can alternatively see Zion Canyon by shuttle. Or you can find a local pet care or boarding facility for your furry travel buddy. But if you want to watch Zion Canyon with your pet, you have two options.
Zion National Park (u.s. National Park Service)
The first is walking or cycling. Pets are welcome on every paved road in Zen. And for most of the year, the only transportation on the Zin Canyon Cisk Drive is shuttle buses. Follow the Parris Trail 1.8 miles from the Visitor Center to Canyon Junction where the road begins to turn off. It is 9.9 miles from this point to Sinava Temple, the end of the road.
Another option is to visit Zion when the shuttle bus is not running. (That’s why we actually recommend planning our trip in December or January!)
Zion Shuttle Service is closed from late November until just before Christmas. And during this time, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is open to private vehicles. This is your chance to drive through the famous canal with your best friend. Just remember to keep pets on the road or on paved surfaces.
The town of Springdale is conveniently located outside Zion’s southern gate. With pet-friendly hotels, campsites, restaurants and dog parks, this is a welcoming place for travelers with pets.
What To Do In Zion National Park With Kids — Big Brave Nomad
Visit the Visitor Center for some tips and then grab lunch or dinner! We found the pet-friendly patio at Oscar Cafe to be a great place to enjoy a meal.
To explore the less popular area of Zion National Park with your pet, head west on Hwy 9 to Kolob Terrace Road, then north. The 25-mile ride climbs from 3,550 feet to 8,118 feet and weaves in and out of the national park. But it was the view that made the trip so amazing!
On the way, you will pass through many trails. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on all of these trails. But there is a picnic area and a view of Lava Point that is worth a visit!
At the end of the road is Kolob Reservoir. Despite being a magnificent body of water, the temperature here was about 20 degrees cooler than Springdale on the day we visited!
A Dog Friendly Guide To U.s. National Parks — Hellorubydoodle
The reservoir is surrounded by a privately run campground, but most sites were open the day we visited. There is also a boat launch and rentals of kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. It would be a great place to spend the day!
Note: We do not have sail coverage on the reservoir, so I recommend calling ahead to rent a kayak, canoe, or paddle board!
If living in Zion inspires you to take more nature trips with your pet – we can help! As we mentioned, there is only one pet-friendly trail in Zion. But there is a bigger solution on the horizon.
Two areas of Dixie National Forest are an easy drive from Zion! The Pine Valley Ranger District is located just north of St. Peters. George, Utah. and the Cedar City Ranger District located east of Cedar City, Utah. Both of these areas offer great hiking. Or head to our Dixie favorite, Red Canyon. The good news is that all Dixie trails are pet friendly!
Ultimate Guide To Zion National Park — Best Things To Do & See!
Stop at any visitor center for trail conditions and maps. So get out there and move along!
We hope a visit to Zion National Park inspires you to plan a trip with your pet! Although pets are only allowed on one trail, Dixie National Forest has great hiking. And Southern Utah is a great place for a pet-friendly trip.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: LLC participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that allows website owners to advertise and link to amazon.com, Audible.com and other websites for advertising. Allowed to receive fees that may be associated with Amazon. Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, the site owner earns a commission on qualified purchases.
Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and hear about our latest news and pet-friendly activities.
Zion National Park Trip Itinerary
Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. Once you are logged in, you can close it and return to this page.
Sorry, we could not find any pet friendly listings in our database. Make sure your search query is spelled correctly or try entering fewer characters. Zion National Park actively monitors the presence of blue-green algae and harmful cyanotoxins
Zion pet friendly lodging, zion national park lodging pet friendly, pet friendly hotels zion national park, pet friendly hotels near zion national park, yosemite national park lodging pet friendly, pet friendly lodging near zion national park, olympic national park lodging pet friendly, zion national park lodging, winter park pet friendly lodging, pet friendly lodging estes park, pet friendly hotels zion, rocky mountain national park pet friendly lodging
