Salt Lake City’s Best Activities For You and Your Dog
by MADISAN HINKHOUSE
At first glance it may seem like Salt Lake City isn’t the most dog friendly city, with the two big canyons (Big and Little Cottonwood) being off-limits to your furry friends, but that’s just not true. Even with some of the city’s largest tourist attractions being off-limits to dogs, there are still plenty of ways to have fun with your furry friend.
Whether you want to enjoy the outdoors with a hike or relax in a park, Salt Lake has many of your typical dog gems, but our Capital City also offers some unexpected things to do with your fur-kids.
Image courtesy Madison Hinkhouse
Lots of Salt Lake City’s restaurants and bars have dog-friendly patios, so if relaxing with friends and having a drink with your dog by your side sounds amazing, keep reading. Keep in mind, your dog will need proof of their rabies vaccination to enter any establishments.
The Best Dog Friendly Restaurants & Bars
Campfire Lounge (Sugar House): Campfire offers a great selection of both food and drinks and has a big patio for dogs to relax with their owners around gas fireplaces.
Spitz (Sugar House, Downtown): If you’re looking for some delicious and healthy food to enjoy with your dog, Spitz is the place for you. The mediterainian restaurant has a dogs-welcome patio.
Cafe On First (The Avenues): For a yummy cup of coffee, refreshing smoothie, or a small bite to eat with your dog, Cafe On First in The Avenues is a cute, quiet spot to enjoy one of Salt Lake’s most scenic neighborhoods.
The Best Dog Parks
Tanner Dog Park: The most popular dog park in Salt Lake City, but for good reason. With a stream flowing through and two places for dogs to swim it’s the perfect spot for your dog to take a swim on a hot summer day. The walk is also a great workout for humans too. If your dog doesn’t like big crowds of other dogs, this may be one to avoid.
Fairmont Dog Park: In the heart of Sugar House, Fairmont Dog Park is a great spot for those who don’t want to walk much while letting their dog play with others. It’s a large enclosed area where lots of dogs go to run and play. The park also features a shaded section for those sunny days.
Memory Grove Park (off-leash area): Near Utah’s Capitol building in Salt Lake City, sits a gorgeous park called Memory Grove. If you walk up the canyon, you’ll find a nice stream with an off-leash dog trail nearby. It’s probably the most serene place to take your dog in the city.
The Best Hikes To Do With Dogs
Dog Lake: In Millcreek Canyon you’ll find dog lake (at the very top). It’s the perfect hike for dogs who love to swim. It ends at a lake full of happy pups. Millcreek requires dogs to be on-leash on even days off (they can be off-leash on odd days).
Neff’s Canyon: Neff’s Canyon is perfect if you don’t want to try to remember on/off-leash rules. Dogs are always able to use this trail off-leash. It’s long, but you can just go as far as you want and turn around.
Bonneville Shoreline Trail: The Bonneville Shoreline trail is listed as an on-leash area, though you’ll find lots of off-leash dogs, just be careful of zooming bikers. This trail is great in the Spring, Fall and Winter but gets pretty hot during the summer.
Now get out there and take your dog on a date!
Always remember to leave no trace when you’re enjoying nature.