Dog Friendly Salt Lake City

For my second installment of Dog Friendly City, I’m talking about my hometown of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is both one of the best cities in the West for dogs and also one of the worst since dogs are sadly not allowed in many of the recreation areas close to the city.

There’s this thing called the Wasatch Front Watershed, which is where our drinking water comes from so it has special rules to make sure the water stays as clean as possible meaning NO DOGS in City Creek Canyon (above the treatment plant), Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, Parleys, Dell, and Lamb’s Canyon. That being said there are still plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors with your dog in Salt Lake City.

Dog Friendly Trails in Salt Lake City

Millcreek Canyon is the best place to take dogs in Salt Lake City. On odd days of the week, dog’s have free reign on the trails in Millcreek and can romp around anywhere off-leash (although required to be leashed in parking areas, picnic areas, and roads). On even numbered days dogs are still allowed but must be leashed at all times. Odd days in Millcreek can get quite busy so I recommend going early especially on the weekends our venturing up the less traveled trails like Alexander Basin, Mt. Aire, Bowman Fork all the way to Baker Pass, or Desolation Trail past the Salt Lake Overlook.

Memory Grove gets my vote for 2nd best place to take your dog in Salt Lake City. Just blocks from downtown, dogs can run off-leash and wild on the creek side Freedom Trail. Just be sure to keep your dog on leash until you get to the off leash area sign because I’ve seen rule breakers ticketed in the past.

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail runs the entire length of the foothills located behind Salt Lake City and is also an excellent place to take your dog. Although dogs are required to be leashed, very few hikers, runners, and bikers follow this rule and the city is toying with the idea of off leash hours on segments of this trail.

See more dog friendly parks and off-leash areas on the Salt Lake City Parks website.

Dog Friendly Dining in Salt Lake City, Utah

Dog friendly patios are on the rise in Salt Lake City. The Campfire Lounge was one of the first places in town to allow dogs on their patio and many other restaurants and bars have followed suit like the Sugarhouse Wasatch Brewpub, Em’s Restaurant, Eggs and the City, Uinta Brewery Pub, and more!

Salt Lake’s 15th and 15th neighborhood is especially dog friendly. The King’s English bookstore has dog parking and across the street Caputo’s and Einstein’s allow dogs on their patios. Dogs can also enjoy free live jazz on the Caputo’s patio on Fridays during summer! Nearby Emigration Market has plentiful shaded pet parking and a dog water fountain too.

Plenty of coffee shops across the valley also allow dogs on their patios too such as 9th and 9th’s Coffee Garden, Blue Star Coffee in the Canyon Rim area, 3 Cups in Holladay, and Salt Lake’s Blue Copper and Amour.

Dog Friendly Lodging in Salt Lake City

Bring Fido has a complete list of all dog friendly lodging options in Salt Lake. My dog prefers the Motel 6, which have all mostly been updated and allow pets at NO EXTRA cost.

As far as dog friendly camping in Salt Lake goes, there are very few options. The closest national forest campgrounds in Salt Lake are located in Big and Little Cottonwood which do not allow dogs. You can venture south to American Fork Canyon where dogs are allowed, out to Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake where dogs are also allowed, or free at large camping out at Stansbury Island

What did I miss? Where are your favorite dog friendly shops, restaurants, or trails in Salt Lake City?