The giant arches and red rock formations of southeastern Utah are truly a sight to behold. And what better way to experience them than on a hike with your dog? But you won’t be able to hike with your dog within Arches National Park, where dogs are not allowed on any hiking trails. Fortunately, Moab has beautiful, dog-friendly trails without the crowds of the park. Below are some of our favorite hikes for you and your dog near Arches National Park.
Grandstaff Canyon Trail
Distance: 5.7 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Elevation Gain: 836 feet
Description: Beautiful trail with sand, sandstone and frequent creek crossings that ends at the unique Morning Glory Arch. Some minor scrambling up rocks. Shaded in the early morning hours but can can quite hot once the sun rises and reaches the rocks.
Reactivity Rating: 2/5 paws. This trail isn’t great for reactive dogs. Much of the trail is narrow and surrounded by vegetation, making it difficult to step off trail and let others pass.
Jeep Arch Trail
Distance: 3.7 mile loop
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Elevation Gain: 954 feet
Description: Beautiful views of the red rocks and valleys along the trail, with the best views if you do the loop counter-clockwise. Some small scrambling at spots. It can get incredibly hot once the sun rises, with limited to no shade, so make sure to bring plenty of water and go as early as possible during warmer months. The trail is well marked with green paint in the beginning but it gets difficult to follow the cairns once you hit the loop. We highly recommend downloading the offline trail map from Alltrails before you go.
Reactivity Rating: 5/5 paws. We’ve only seen one other person the two times we’ve hiked this trail. The trail is mostly open on the rocks, making it easy to spot and avoid other dogs and humans. You’re almost guaranteed to have the trail and top of the arch to yourself.
Corona Arch Trail
Distance: 2.3 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Elevation Gain: 462 feet
Description: A little steep at the beginning but largely flat, with nice views along the way to Bowtie Arch and Corona Arch. The trail is exposed with no shade, so bring plenty of water and hike early. In view of Corona Arch is a ladder/cable section with a steep drop-off that may not be possible or safe with your dog, so use your judgment. We decided to turn around at this point, as it was a bit risky for one person with two dogs.
Reactivity Rating: 3/5 paws. The arches draw more people than Jeep Arch, but the trail is still not nearly as crowded as within Arches National Park. It is mostly easy to see other people and dogs coming and to step off trail.