Ron Bexel
Pet Friendly Lodging Near Zion National Park – With red and white walls of Navajo sandstone rising over 2,000 feet above you, hiking with your pet in Zion National Park is an experience you’ll never forget!
Zion is Utah’s first national park. And as you drive along the Virgin River, looking up at the towering sandstone cliffs against the clear blue sky, it’s easy to see why! But how many animals can you see in Zion National Park? We surveyed the ground to answer this question.
Pet Friendly Lodging Near Zion National Park
In southern Utah, near Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest, Zion is simply amazing. With elevations between 3,600 feet and 8,700 feet, the park protects wildlife, plants and beautiful scenery.
Ultimate Guide To Visiting Zion National Park With Kids
Any time but summer is the best time to visit Zion National Park with pets! The park is expected to have 5 million visitors in 2021, making it the second most visited national park in America. And besides the crowds, the summer temperatures in Zion can be downright dangerous. During our trip in late August, the highest floor of the canyon reached 104 degrees!
For a quieter trip, consider visiting Sion in the winter. Although 550,000+ visitors come to the park in the peak months of July, December and January, about a fifth in each story. And even though it’s the middle of winter, daytime temperatures often reach 54 degrees – perfect weather for exploring with the kids!
For our RVing friends: Plan to get to Zion’s South Gate. Entering the eastern side of the park means passing through a historic tunnel. Almost all RVs, buses, trailers, fifth wheels, two-wheelers, trucks, campers and boats require traffic control, which means the hunter must stop oncoming traffic for you .
In Zion National Park, rented pets can accompany you on all paved areas. This includes public roads and parking lots, improved campgrounds, the 22 interchanges along Hwy 9 (Zion – Mount Carmel Hwy) and Pa’rus Road. In addition, pets are welcome in the picnic area and Zion lodge grounds.
Zion Lodge, Springdale, Utah
Pets cannot travel on other routes, which means that walking together in Sion is limited. But read on—we’ve got pet-friendly hiking solutions you’ll love!
Finally, pets are not allowed in the wilderness, on shuttles, or in park buildings, including Zion Lodge.
There are two entrances to Zion National Park, the East Gate and the South Gate. If you arrive at the east gate, you will almost immediately fall into a magnificent landscape. If so, go to the visitor center. But stop at each place to see the huge sandstone cliffs 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 watch the 22-minute film and enjoy the show. Get your pet a BARK Ranger tag and then it’s time to hit the road!
A Dog Parent Guide To Visiting Zion National Park
From the visitor center, walk across the road and cross the harbor to walk the pet-friendly Parus Trail. Through the Virgin River Canyon, the trail runs 1.8 miles to the canyon junction.
Plan to spend a few hours on the trail. Or pack a picnic and have a great time. And for a longer hike, read the section on Zion Canyon.
If you are visiting Zion with your pet this summer, plan to walk the Parus Trail in the morning or at sunset.
It’s hot! And there is not much shade. And cooling in water is not an option. Sion monitors the presence of dangerous cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in Irish water parks. These toxins can be present at any time, so keep your dog out of the water.
7 Zion National Park Facts You Might Not Know
It’s also a good idea to pack shoes for the dog! Paru Road has many bridges and the mixed floor material is very hot on sunny days. While your pet is walking on the bridge, touch the surface to make sure it doesn’t burn its feet.
If you arrive at Zion’s South Gate, after checking out the Visitor’s Center and walking Parus Road, head to the East Gate and enjoy the ride.
Zion Canyon is the main attraction of Zion National Park. This is where the Hanging Gardens, waterfalls and the world famous Zion Lodge are located. During most of the year, access to Zion Canyon is open to shuttle buses only. And no pets are allowed on the shuttle.
Of course, you can change to see Zion Canyon in the shuttle. Or you can find a local zoo or lodge for your trip. But if you want to see Zion Canyon with your pet, you have two options.
How To Spend 3 Days In Zion National Park (travel Itinerary)
The first is to walk or bike. Pets are welcome on all paved trails in Zion. And for most of the year, buses are the only traffic on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Take the Pa’rus Trail for 1.8 miles from the visitor center to Junction Canyon, where the trail closure begins. From this point, it is 5.9 miles to the Sinawava Temple at the end of the road.
Your second option is to visit Sion when the shuttles are not running. (This is the first reason I recommend planning your trip in December or January!)
Zion Transportation Service will be closed from the end of November until the beginning of Christmas. And during this time, Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is open to private vehicles. This is your window to drive the famous canyon with your best friend. Just remember that pets must stay on sidewalks or paved areas.
The village of Springdale is conveniently located outside the south gate of Zion. With pet-friendly hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and dog parks, it’s a welcoming place for pets.
Top Pet Friendly Hotels In Springdale, Ut
Stop by the Visitor Center for some information and then enjoy lunch or dinner! We found the pet friendly stop at Oscar’s Cafe to be the perfect place to eat.
To see part of Zion National Park with your pet, head west on Hwy 9 to Kolob Terrace Road and then head north. The 25-kilometer drive climbs from 3,550 feet to 8,118 feet and weaves in and out of the national park. But this view makes driving fun!
You will cross many roads on the way. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed on all of these trails. But the picnic area and the view of Lava Point are worth it!
At the end of the road is the Kolobi Reservoir. In addition to the amazing rain, the temperature here during the day is almost 20 degrees cooler than in Springdale!
Visiting Zion National Park With Pets
There are private campgrounds around the reservoir, but most sites were open on the day we visited. There are also boat launches and kayak, canoe and paddle board rentals. It would be great to spend the day!
Please note: We do not have lodging on the reservoir, so we recommend calling ahead to rent your kayak, canoe, or paddle board!
If your visit to Zion inspires you to get out into nature for more walks with your pets – we can help! As mentioned, Zion only has pet friendly trails. But a surprising solution is just on the way.
Two towns in the Dixie National Forest are an easy drive from Zion! The Pine Valley Ranger District is located in George, Utah. And the Cedar City Ranger District is east of Cedar City, Utah. Both of these areas offer excellent walking. Or head to our favorite neighborhood in Dixie – Red Canyon. The good news is that all of Dixie’s trails are pet friendly!
Is Zion National Park Dog Friendly? » The Modern Female Hiker
Stop at any visitor center for road conditions and maps. Then go for a walk together!
We hope our visit to Zion National Park will inspire you to plan a trip with your pet. Although pets are only allowed one way here, there are great hikes in the Dixie National Forest. And southern Utah is a wonderful place for pet adventures.
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Zion National Park With Kids
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