Guide to a Dog Friendly Vacation in Moab
Moab is home to two amazing National Parks, but unfortunately, pets aren’t allowed on the trails in National Parks. We didn’t find this really an issue since Moab has so many amazing dog friendly activities!
Dog Friendly Hikes
Cronoa and Bowtie Arch
This is crowded hike so I would get there early. The parking lot was getting full by the time we got there around 9am. There’s also barely any shade so if you’re going during the summer, try to go in the early morning protect your pup’s paws with booties or paw balm and bring lots of water. The hike itself is a 3 mile relatively easy hike. There were two tricky (but also fun) parts of the hike that could be stressful for your pup. First part is a short ladder, which we easy to walk around. The second part is climbing up a steep area with the help of cables. It had great foot holds and Olive did great climbing up on her own. On the way back, we carried her down because she was a little hesitant.
Fisher Tower Trail
This was a fun but windy Hike. But Olive got to wear her Rex Specs Goggles.
There’s not much shade again, so don’t forget to bring lots of water.
Grandstaff Canyon Trail
This was a relatively moderate 5.5 mile in and out hike with lots of water crossings, which means we got our feet wet quit often. Olive loved running through the water and chasing lizards all over the trail. The view of the canyon/bridge at the end was well worth it. We even saw a group of people rappel down the Grandstaff Canyon as we enjoyed our snacks.
Moab Canyon Pathway/Goose Island Trail.
We went on a bike ride here the first night we got into Moab with Olive in her K9sportsack backpack. It was a almost sunset, with giant rocks on one side and the Colorado river on the other. It was a great way to see Moab for the first time. The Moab Canyon pathway actually extends to Arches National Park if you’re brave enough to bike uphill.
Wilson Arch
This isn’t much of a hike but I would 100% recommend stopping here. We actually stumbled upon it on our way back from Canyonland National Park. It’s right on highway 191 south of Moab. It was a quick but steep hike up to the arch. It felt surreal to see this giant arch in person. Best part: there was barely anyone there!
Where to Stay
If you go during the warmer months, I highly recommend camping in Moab. There are so many designated camping spots along the Colorado River. All the campsites are first come, which means getting there early to snag a spot if you’re going during peak season/weekends. We drove pretty far up along the Colorado River to the Lower Onion Creek Campground for the first few nights. We also stayed one night at Grandstaff campgrounds. Both had great amenities and great views at night.
To break up the camping nights, we stayed one night at the Red Cliffs Lodge. It was definitely a splurge, but so worth it. Our room was spacious and we even had a large patio overlooking the river. They have designated dog friendly rooms, so make sure to give them a call to book. Make sure to stop in their dining room for dinner/breakfast and the great views of the river.
Where to Eat
We didn’t explore too many eateries in Moab since we spent majority of our time camping but we did grab coffee/breakfast a few times
Moab Garage Co
Lots of breakfast options and good coffee. Can’t go wrong here.
Moab Coffee Roasters
They have lots of outdoor seating, which was a necessity for us with Olive. They also have a large selection of pastries and ICE CREAM. Dream breakfast for sure.
