Pet Friendly Lodging Zion – With red and white Navajo sandstone walls at 2,000 feet, hiking with a pet in Zion National Park is an experience you’ll never forget!
Zion was Utah’s first national park. And as you drive along the Virginia River and look up at towering sandstone cliffs rising into the bright blue sky, it’s easy to see why! But how much of Zion National Park can you see with animals? We have conducted some field research to answer this question.
Pet Friendly Lodging Zion
Located in southern Utah near Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest, Zion is simply stunning. Ranging in elevation from 3,600 feet to 8,700 feet, the park protects an incredible variety of wildlife, plants, and stunning scenery.
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The best time to visit Zion National Park with pets is anytime except summer! The park is expected to record five million visitors in 2021, making it the second highest grossing national park in America. Despite the crowds, summer temperatures in Zion can be extremely dangerous. During our visit in late August, the temperature in the canyon reached 104 degrees!
For a quieter visit, consider visiting Zion in the winter. Although more than 550,000 visitors flock to the park in July, December and January, each historically sees about one-fifth the number of people. And even though it’s the middle of winter, daytime temperatures often soar to 54 degrees—the perfect time to explore with your dog!
To our RVing friends: Plan to get to Zion’s South Gate. Getting to the east side of the park means going through the historic tunnel. Almost all RVs, buses, trailers, flatbeds, two-wheel trucks, campers, and boats require traffic control, which means guards must stop traffic in front of you.
At Zion National Park, pets can join you throughout the paved terrain. This also applies to public roads and parking lots, advanced campsites, all 22 turns on Hwy 9 (Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy) and the Parus Trail. Additionally, pets are welcome in the picnic areas and Zion Lodge grounds.
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Pets cannot travel on other paths, meaning they can only walk together in Zion. But read on—we’ve got a travel-friendly solution you’ll love!
Finally, pets are not allowed in wilderness areas, on shuttle buses, or in any park, including Zion Lodge.
Zion National Park has two entrances, the East Gate and the South Gate. If you go to the East Gate, you will almost immediately be overwhelmed by the sight of the statue. If so, go to the visitor center. But stop at each exit to enjoy the giant sandstone rocks in cream, pink and red.
When visiting Zion National Park with pets, be sure to check out the visitor center. Pets are not allowed inside, so take turns watching the 22-minute film and the exhibits. Put the BARK Ranger tag on your dog and it’s time to go!
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From the visitor center, follow the trail and bridge that spans the river to the pet-friendly Parus Trail. Following the Virginia River through the canyon, the trail extends 1.8 miles to Junction Canyon.
Plan on hiking for several hours. Or have a picnic and spend more time. And read Zion Canyon for a longer hike.
If you’re visiting Zion with your pets in the summer, plan to cruise early in the morning or around sunset.
It’s getting hot! And there is not much shade. And it is impossible to cool off in the river. Zion monitors the presence of harmful blue-green algae and cyanotoxins in the Virginia River at the park. These toxins can be present at any time, so keep dogs on a leash and away from water.
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It’s also a good idea to tie the dog’s boots! There are several bridges on the Parus trail, and on sunny days the composite material from which the sides are made gets very hot. Before your dog walks on the bridges, touch the surface to make sure it doesn’t burn its paws.
If you arrive at Zion’s South Gate, after checking in at the Visitor Center and walking the Sail Trail, proceed to the East Gate and enjoy the views 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. Access to Zion Canyon is limited to shuttle buses for most of the year. And pets are not allowed on the buses.
Of course, you can alternately see Zion Canyon on the shuttle. Or you can find pet daycare or boarding for your furry travel friend. But if you want to see Zion Canyon with your pets, you have two options.
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The first is to walk or ride a bike. Pets are welcome on all paved trails in Zion. Year-round, the only traffic on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is buses. Take Parus Road 1.8 miles from the visitor center to Canyon Junction where the road closure begins. From there it is 8.9 miles to Shinawwa Temple at the end of the road.
The second option is to visit Zion when the shuttle buses are not running. (That’s why we originally suggested planning our trip in December or January!)
Zion shuttle service closes from late November until just before Christmas. And during this time, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is open to private vehicles. This is your window to ride the famous canyon with your best friend. Just remember to keep pets off sidewalks or paved areas.
The town of Springdale is located just outside the southern gate of Zion. With hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and dog parks, it’s a welcoming place for pet travelers.
Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge
Visit the Visitor Center for recommendations, then grab lunch or dinner! We noticed that the pet friendly area of Cafe Oscar is a great place to eat.
For a less popular part of Zion National Park with pets, head west on Hwy 9 to Kolob Terrace Road, then head north. The 25-mile trail climbs from 3,550 feet to 8,118 feet and crosses the national park and beyond. But it is the landscape that brings such joy to the driver!
Along the way, you will travel several roads. 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 checking out!
At the end of the road is the Kolob Reservoir. In addition to being an amazing body of water, the temperature here was about 20 degrees cooler than the day we visited Springdale!
Hotel In Zion
Private campsites are located around the reservoir, 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!
Caution: We did not have cell coverage at the reservoir, so I recommend calling ahead to arrange kayak, canoe, or paddle board rentals!
If your stay in Zion inspires you to have more fun in nature with your pets – we can help! As mentioned, there is only one band of animals in Zion. But there is a great solution below.
Two areas of Dixie National Forest are an easy drive from Zion! The Pine Valley Ranger District is located north of St. George, Utah. And the Cedar City Ranger District is located east of Cedar City, Utah. Both of these areas offer fantastic hiking. Or head to our Dixie favorite, Red Canyon. The great news is that ALL Dixie trails are pet friendly!
Dog Friendly Zion Area Elopement — Kyle Loves Tori Photography
Stop at any visitor center for trail conditions and maps. Then go out and enjoy the adventure together!
We hope our visit to Zion National Park inspires you to travel with your pets! While the little ones can only hike one trail here, there are great hikes just up the road in the Dixie National Forest. And southern Utah is a great place for pet-friendly adventures.
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Lodging In Zion National Park
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