April 22, 2023

Zion National Park With Dogs

With endless hiking opportunities, dramatic landscapes, and breathtaking views, Zion National Park should be high up on your list to visit. If you’re traveling with dogs, there are some great options for visiting Zion National Park.

Scenic Drive

As discussed in our national parks blog post, scenic drives are often the highlight of our trips through a park with our dogs. Zion National Park does not disappoint as it has some amazing driving opportunities. The main option for a scenic drive is the 25 mile long Zion-Mt. Carmel highway. This runs from the main entrance in Springdale, UT over to the east entrance.

The Zion-Mt. Carmel highway winds through rugged red-rock landscapes, the historic Zion-Mt. Camel tunnel, and the breathtaking Zion Valley.
- The Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel was built in the 1920s. At the time was the longest of its kind in the US. Traffic control is in place to help larger vehicles and RVs pass through. You may be stuck waiting for a bit for your turn through the tunnel.
There are many pull-offs along this route to pull over and take in the views. Dogs can get out of the car at these areas as long as they stay on the developed areas.
If you’re experiencing Zion for the first time we’d recommend taking this highway starting from the east entrance. The views only get better as you go. Seeing the Zion Valley for the first time as you exit the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel truly takes your breath away!

Hiking

There is only one option in Zion National Park for hiking with dogs – this is the Pa’rus Trail. This 3.5 mile (one-way) trail is a paved path that starts at the visitor center. It ends at the Grand Junction area of the park and follows the Virgin River.

The Pa’rus Trail is nice and flat and there are signs from the visitor center to follow for finding it. It’s not a hiking trail but it’s still a nice option to stretch your legs with your dogs and offers some great views of the Zion Valley along the way.

Other Activities

Dogs are allowed to explore the developed grounds surrounding the visitor center. We took turns going in to the visitor center while our dogs enjoyed checking out the outdoor exhibits.
Right next to the visitor center there’s a small bridge that takes you out of the park. This area offers many shops and food options. Our favorite stop was the dog-friendly Zion Brewery. The brewery has both a restaurant side and a beerhall side. The beerhall side did offer an expansive dog-friendly patio with plenty of shade and great views.
- You couldn’t order food on the beerhall side, but it sounded like they were working on updating some policies. Keep up to date on the policies of the brewery at their website.
There are many dog boarding options in nearby towns. This is a great option to venture out on a hike where dogs aren’t allowed. Never leave your dogs unattended in your cars – Zion can get hot fast year round! We wanted to hike Angels Landing and found a local dog boarding option by Kanab, UT where our pups hung out while we were gone.