Hiking in Utah with a Furry Friend

[Keith McManimen]

Hello Everyone!

I am brand new to the forum and would love to get some guidance on the best hikes to go on with my dog in Utah. We are planning on visiting the following places on our trip:

Zion National Park - We heard about Pa'rus. Anything else?
Bryce
Grand Staircase - Escalante
Capital Reef
Moab - We are definitely checking out Goblin Valley. Any others?

Any maps or GPS would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

 

[Bill]

National Parks are not known for being dog friendly. Zion, Bryce, and Capitol reef require you to keep your dog in the car or parking lot. Im sure one of the dog gurus can correct me if Im wrong.

You may be interested in this thread of the "best" day hikes in Utah. http://backcountrypost.com/forum/index.php?threads/best-day-hikes-in-utah.214/#post-1954

 

[uintahiker]

Yeah. Check out the link Bill posted. Also, there's plenty of non classy dog owners here who let their dogs anywhere and don't clean up after them. Please pick up your dog's when he answers nature's call!

 

[Nick]

Hi Keith. Welcome to backcountrypost!

Like Bill said, the national parks are pretty much off limits to dogs. For a long time I avoided them altogether because of that, but with my oldest dog Nikita in retirement, and my youngest dogs liking the couch, I've been doing a lot of trips without them.

In the Escalante area, here are some good options:

Escalante River Gorge
If you're just looking for something to occupy a few hours, you can hike down the river from the town trailhead or the bridge. The first few miles from town has the most dramatic scenery with towering walls and frequent river crossings. Plan on getting your feet wet but under usual conditions it's only a few inches deep. A good turnaround point is a deep alcove with some pictographs in it. From the point on the canyon doesn't get any more narrow or grand.

From the Highway 12 bridge, you can hike upstream for a few miles. The scenery isn't as dramatic but you can go see the Escalante Natural Bridge and another arch just upstream. There is also a nice cliff dwelling near the base of the second arch. A diversion up Sand Creek may also yield some interesting things to see.

Near Bryce Canyon:
Willis Creek is am awesome short hike that is totally dog-friendly. You take the Skutumpah Road out of Canonville and park right at the head of the slot. You could spend anywhere from a an hour or two to a half day or more in there, depending on how far down you want to hike.

On the Cottonwood Road south of Cannonville:
The Cottonwood Narrows is a fun little hike. About 3 miles one way through a pretty set of narrows with a short slot section. The road often has issues being passable on the south end so make sure you check current road conditions with the visitor center.

Hole in the Rock Road:
Pretty much everything except Coyote Gulch and the Peekaboo and Spooky slots are open to dogs along Hole-in-the-Rock. The only problem is that it's a fair drive to get to anything so if you're just cruising through, it may not be ideal. If heading down that way works with your plan, I'd be happy to offer specific ideas.

Northeast of Capitol Reef is an area called the San Rafael Swell that is mostly dog-friendly. If that's along your route, there are plenty of places to go there.

And if you haven't already, take a look at this thread: Best Dog Friendly Hikes in Utah
http://backcountrypost.com/forum/index.php?threads/best-dog-friendly-hikes-in-utah.239/