Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Utah

By Megan Hanson

One of the best advantages to road trips is finding dog friendly hiking in Utah where your four-legged friends can easily join you for the adventure! Thankfully, all Escape campervan models are pet-friendly (except during July, August and September) With the recent additions of our Jeep Camper model, there’s no better time to hit the road with your pup to one of my dog’s and my favorite places to camp and hike — Utah! It’s our favorite place for a long-weekend escape and we’ve amassed quite a list of completed dog-friendly hikes. Here’s a few of our favorites!

Fisher Towers

Just outside Moab, this 4.7 mile round trip dog-friendly hike will take you past some of the most scenic rock formations in the area. Composed of Moenkopi and Cutler sandstones, you’ll see 800-foot plus spires like Cottontail Tower and The Titan as well as the interesting shapes of Ancient Art. All are popular routes for climbers so you’re sure to see at least a few making summit attempts. With stunning vistas every step along the way, this trail should be at the top of any Moab hiking list, dog or not. One note – if you have a larger dog that you can’t easily carry, you may be scared off by a ladder about a mile and a half into the trail! Don’t turn around, simply continue past the ladder, hugging the rock formation for an easy, if a bit off-trail, route around.

Professor Creek and Mary Jane Canyon

Perfect for those warm Utah days, Professor Creek and Mary Jane Canyon is a 7.6 mile out and back dog-friendly hike with plenty of water to keep your pups — and yourself — cool! You’ll spend a lot of the hike weaving in and out of the creek, so be prepared with proper footwear (Chacos or other hiking sandals recommended!) and a towel in the van to dry everyone off once you’re done. Along the way you’ll catch beautiful glimpses of nearby rock formations and mesas, but the real payoff is the slot canyon at the end complete with a gorgeous waterfall! With nowhere left to go from there, turn around and head out the same way you came.

Corona Arch

While the National Parks in Utah are notoriously not dog-friendly, you can still get your fix of arches with this 2.3 mile round-trip dog-friendly hike to the Corona Arch. A very popular hiking trail for dogs and people alike, be prepared to have plenty of friends join you along the way (or make it a sunrise hike and beat the crowds!) While there is one section of cables that may look challenging, my dog and I had no issues with the scramble and easily made it up and down. Pass by the Bowtie Arch or stop for some pictures there as well before continuing on to the Corona Arch — I guarantee you can’t miss it!

Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyon Trail

If you’re looking for a dog-friendly hike in a slot canyon, this is it! Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons combine for an 8-mile loop trail interchanging between stunning landscapes and slim slot canyons that will transport you to a completely new world. Unlike many slot canyons, you do not need canyoneering skills or ropes to access these, and both dogs and people should have no issues slipping through even the slimmest sections. But like all slot canyons, please take precautions to ensure it won’t rain the day you attempt this hike, and if it does start, get out as quickly as possible. Flash floods are dangerous for everyone involved and can happen quicker than you think!

Jeep Arch

In honor of your Jeep Camper, add this gorgeous 3.6 mile trail to your list! With wildflowers to see along the way if they’re in season, this arch is less crowded than the Corona Arch but just as dog-friendly. This trail is notoriously hard to follow because of the widely spaced cairns and light foot traffic. While it does have more elevation gain than the other hikes on this list, the payoff is certainly worth it with the arch — that looks suspiciously like the Jeep you drove in —  perfectly framing the La Sal Mountains in the background. If you’re looking for a great photo to remind you of your epic camping and hiking trip to Moab, this is the place to take it!

With so much to explore, there’s no time to waste! Book your campervan out of the Las Vegas, Denver, or Salt Lake City camper van rental sites today and hit the road. Just don’t forget to note you’ll be bringing your pet along for the ride — we’ll make sure you have everything you need to make it a memorable trip for you both!