Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Park City and Salt Lake

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Fees

A one-time USD 250 per stay at Goldener Hirsch. USD 200 per dog at Montage Deer Valley, non-refundable, and confirm with the hotel whether that is per stay or per night. USD 50 per pet per night plus a USD 100 cleaning fee at Red Cliffs Lodge Moab. At Montage, emotional support animals count as pets and pay the fee.

Leaving a dog in the room

Not allowed at Montage Deer Valley or at Red Cliffs Lodge Moab. Goldener Hirsch doesn't publish a rule, so ask. If you're skiing or heading into a national park, sort out care for the dog before you book and not after.

Zion National Park

Dogs are allowed on one trail only, the Pa'rus Trail, which is flat and paved, and in developed campgrounds. They must be on a lead and kept out of the water, where the park warns about cyanotoxins. Leaving a pet in a vehicle in conditions that risk its health is prohibited, with a minimum fine of USD 100. The park lists boarding in Hurricane, St. George, Kanab, Cedar City and Rockville. The shuttle rule for dogs is not confirmed here, so check the park's page.

Arches and Canyonlands

At Arches, dogs on a lead of six feet or less are allowed only along established roads, in parking areas and in established campgrounds and picnic areas. They aren't allowed on any hiking trail, even in a carrier, at any overlook or in the visitor centre. Canyonlands follows the same pattern, and also keeps dogs out of the backcountry, including in vehicles on backcountry roads and on river trips.

Dead Horse Point State Park

This is the one to plan a Moab day around. Dogs are allowed on all hiking and biking trails in the park and into the campground, on a lead at all times. They're allowed in the Moenkopi Yurts but not in the Wingate Yurts.

Desert heat

Arches says temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, and its pavement chart puts asphalt at 125°F when the air is only 77°F. Walk early and never leave a dog in the car.

Salt Lake canyons

Salt Lake City Public Utilities prohibits dogs in its protected watersheds, because their waste can end up in the drinking water. Which canyons that covers is not confirmed here, so check the city's watershed page before you drive up one for a hike.

Buses and trains

On UTA buses, TRAX and FrontRunner, pets may ride only if they're securely contained in a cage, kennel, carrier or container, and staff can't help you carry it. In practice that means small dogs only. Park City Transit's pet rule and Park City's off-leash areas and trail rules are not confirmed, so check the official pages before you rely on either.

Best walks

Near Moab, Dead Horse Point State Park is the answer: every hiking and biking trail is open to dogs on a lead. At Zion it's the Pa'rus Trail and nothing else, flat, paved and on a lead, with the dog kept out of the water. At Arches and Canyonlands a dog is limited to roads, parking areas, campgrounds and picnic areas, so treat those as a drive and not a walk. At Deer Valley, the outdoor areas of Montage are open to dogs on a lead, and the concierges at Montage and Goldener Hirsch can tell you which trails are open to dogs in your season. Park City's own trail and off-leash rules are not confirmed here, so check with the city before you go.

When to go

Deer Valley is a ski resort, so winter is the obvious season, but Montage doesn't let you leave a dog alone in the room and Goldener Hirsch publishes no rule, which matters if you plan to be on the slopes all day. For Moab and Zion, heat is the warning. Arches says temperatures regularly exceed 100°F and the ground gets far hotter than the air, so walk early and keep off hot pavement. Whenever you go, the national park trail rules don't change with the season.