Practical

Dogs Allowed

19 destinations along 15 roads

The West is hard on dogs in ways that aren't obvious — slickrock cooks paws, cactus and cheatgrass lurk in every wash, and most national parks bar them from the trails. These are the places that welcome a leashed dog: BLM and Forest Service land, dog-friendly towns and patios, easy trails with room to roam. Carry water for two, watch the ground temperature, and check the rules before you count on it. The upside is how much of this country is open to a dog.

Scenic Byway 122

Lower Calf Creek Falls

Escalante

A 126-foot waterfall hidden in a desert canyon

Red Canyon

Panguitch

A blazing red gateway carved by water and wind

UT-181

Snow Canyon State Park

Ivins

Red and white sandstone cliffs with ancient lava flows

UT-241

Capitol Reef National Park

Torrey

Utah's most underrated national park — a 100-mile wrinkle in the Earth

UT-251

Fishlake National Forest

Richfield

Home to Pando — the largest living organism on Earth

US-894

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Kanab

The largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the United States

Logan Canyon

Logan

A winding National Scenic Byway through limestone cliffs and alpine forest

Manti-La Sal National Forest

Manti

Alpine peaks rising above red rock desert

Wind Cave Trail

Logan

A short hike to a triple-arched limestone cave overlooking the canyon

UT-1011

Hyrum State Park

Hyrum

A family-friendly reservoir at the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon

UT-1281

Fisher Towers

Moab

Towering dark red pinnacles rising 900 feet from the desert floor

UT-2241

Park City Main Street

Park City

A historic mining town turned world-class ski and film festival destination

UT-2791

Corona Arch Trail

Moab

A massive arch you can hike to without a national park fee

500 East1

Gilgal Sculpture Garden

Salt Lake City

A surreal and eccentric sculpture garden hidden in a residential neighborhood

700 East1

Liberty Park

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake Citys beloved 80-acre urban park since 1882

Antelope Island Road1

Antelope Island State Park

Syracuse

A rugged island in the Great Salt Lake with free-roaming bison

Emigration Canyon Road1

Emigration Canyon

Salt Lake City

The final stretch of trail the Mormon pioneers took into the valley

Ensign Vista Drive1

Ensign Peak

Salt Lake City

A short hike to the spot where Brigham Young surveyed the valley

Wakara Way1

Red Butte Garden

Salt Lake City

A 100-acre botanical garden with panoramic valley views

Related tags

PhotographyFallFreeHikingSpringSummerHidden GemFamily-Friendly