Some trips are fun. Other trips are truly memorable because you get to travel with a dog. If you have ever watched your pup stare at you from the driveway while you loaded the car, you know exactly what I mean.
Saddle up, because when you come to Kanab, your dog does not get left at home. I see it every single day around here: dogs on the trails, dogs on the restaurant patios, dogs wandering through downtown shops like they own the place. This little red rock town genuinely rolls out the welcome mat for four-legged travelers. Kanab is one of the easiest towns in the Southwest to travel with a dog. Long days, cool mornings, golden evening light, and enough adventure to wear out even the most energetic pup.
This guide covers everything you need to know about traveling with a dog in Kanab, from where to stay and where to hike, to where to grab a great meal with your dog right next to you. Let’s make sure you both have a great time here!
Where to Stay When You Are Traveling with a Dog
At My Star VR, we have two pet-friendly properties right here in Kanab. The Western Star Bungalow and the Star Garage both welcome dogs. These are not your standard rentals. We have poured our creativity and hospitality into every corner of them, with a big side yard complete with dog wash basin and water source, a full-on old west town front along the fence, and more handcrafted details that catch you by surprise. Nothing about these spaces is cookie-cutter, and that is exactly the point.
Having a full kitchen is a game-changer when you are traveling with a dog. You can prepare your pup’s regular food, cook your own meals, and come home to your own porch instead of a hotel hallway. Pets need to stay off the furniture, but there is plenty of room to stretch out and settle in.
Book direct at mystarvr.com for the best rates and flexible cancellation. We are local, we are easy to reach, and we will treat ya like family, pups included.
Taking Your Dog To Zions National Park, Bryce Canyon, or The Grand Canyon
Kanab is the perfect basecamp between the three main Southern Utah national parks, but before you head out to any of them with your furry friend, make sure you know the rules for each of them.
Dogs are only allowed on the Pa’rus Trail (3.5 miles, paved), parking areas, campgrounds, and Zion Lodge grounds. No shuttles, no other trails. You want to keep your pup out of the water and on a leash.Zion National Park actively monitors for the presence of harmful cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the Virgin River, but you don’t want your dog to accidentally get any of those from drinking the river water.
Your canine companion is allowed on all paved surfaces in Bryce Canyon, which actually gets you a lot, including the stunning half-mile Rim Trail stretch between Sunrise and Sunset Points and the shared-use path toward Inspiration Point. Unpaved trails are off limits. They do have a fun B.A.R.K. ranger program you can do with your dog.
Grand Canyon North Rim: The North rim of the Grand Canyon is more restricted to dogs than the South Rim. The kennel is at the South Rim, so don’t plan on that if you’re not going that far. At the North Rim, dogs are limited to the Bridle Trail (about 1.9 miles, dirt path), the campground, and parking areas. Keep them on a leash, and make sure to have plenty of water.
A Better Option For Hiking With Your Dog Than The National Parks
2 words: Red Canyon. Red Canyon sits inside the Dixie National Forest, and that means that every single trail here is open to dogs on a leash. No exceptions, no paved-only rules, no shuttle buses your pup cannot board. They can romp through all the red rock hoodoos, pine trees, and wide open trails with you. A lot of people in the dog-travel world call it the dog-friendly version of Bryce Canyon.
The Red Canyon Visitor Center on Highway 12 is your starting point. Grab a trail map inside and decide how much you want to take on. For a shorter outing, the Pink Ledges Trail and Hoodoo Trail combine into an easy 2.2-mile loop that starts and ends right in the visitor center parking lot. If you want a bigger day, the Golden Wall Trail connects to the Buckhorn Trail for a 4 to 5 mile loop through some stunning canyon scenery. There is also a paved bike path that runs along the highway if you want something flat and easy.Full trail details and a map are available through the Red Canyon Visitor Center page on the Dixie National Forest site.
The Best Hikes Near Kanab for You and Your Dog
This is where Kanab really delivers for anyone traveling with a dog. A lot of the most spectacular terrain around town is leash-friendly and genuinely accessible. I watch guests head out with their pups in the morning and come back in the afternoon looking like they just had the best day of the year. Here are the spots worth putting at the top of your list.
No defined trail here, just a sprawling dunefield you and your pup can roam at will. The pink-tinted sand is soft on paws and the whole place has a play-around energy dogs love. Go early in the day before the sand heats up. Check the State Park site to get your bearings before you go.
About a third of a mile in, you will hit one of the quirkiest sights near Kanab: old Impalas and Bel-Airs from the 1960s stacked into a hillside as flood control. What started as an engineering fix turned into a genuinely fascinating stop. Short, easy on the dog, and a great photo moment.
A gentle 1.5-mile hike off Highway 89 into the Grand Staircase-Escalante, where wind and water have carved mushroom-shaped rock formations that look straight out of a storybook. Go around the morning or evening golden hour and the light on those formations will knock your boots off. Easy on most dogs and their people.
Five miles north of town on Highway 89. A half-mile round trip with a little scrambling leads to honey-colored cave chambers carved into the sandstone back in the 1930s. Short, photogenic, and a solid pick when you want something unique without a full-day commitment. Bring water and watch the weather for flash flood conditions.
For the teams that want a real adventure. This 3.7-mile round trip leads through soaring slot canyon walls, ancient petroglyphs, and some of the most dramatic scenery in Southern Utah. You will need a permit from recreation.gov and a high-clearance vehicle to reach the trailhead. Traveling with a dog through Wire Pass is one of those experiences people talk about for years.
Things to Do in Town with Your Dog
Kanab is not just trails and canyon walls. The town itself has character to spare, and a good chunk of it is wide open to your pup.
• Little Hollywood Movie Museum: Over 100 western films were shot right here in Kanab, and this big fenced outdoor space full of sets and props tells that story. Perfect for pup photos and a leisurely walk through some genuinely cool local history.
• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary: The largest no-kill animal sanctuary in the country sits just north of town. Dogs are welcome on certain tours and in common areas. You can even take an adoptable dog out for a hike. Check their website for current options.
• Downtown Kanab: Stroll Center Street and you will find a lot of shops welcome dogs right inside. Slow pace, friendly faces, and your pup will get greeted more often than you will.
Where to Eat with Your Dog in Kanab
Patio dining with your dog is not a rare exception in this town. It is pretty common. Here are the spots that work best when you are traveling with a dog.
Jakey Leigh’s Cafe Bakery: Fresh coffee, pastries, and breakfast burritos worth waking up early for. Dogs welcome inside and on the patio.
Rockin’ V Cafe: Down-home southwestern cooking, and the patio is specifically reserved for guests with dogs. You heard that right. Your traveling-with-a-dog status earns you the best seats in the house.
Giff’s Barbecue: Classic BBQ after a long day on the trail. Brisket, pulled pork, and dogs are welcome inside.
Keeping Your Pup Safe in the Desert Heat
Desert safety matters even more when you are traveling with a dog. I see visitors underestimate the heat every season, so here is what I always tell guests before they head out.
• Between April and Sept hike early in the morning or the last hour before sunset. Midday heat on all that red rock gets intense fast.
• Pack more water than you think you need. For both of you. Then a little more.
• Use paw wax before and after hikes. Hot sandstone is rough on paw pads.
• Stay on leash and on marked trails. It keeps your dog away from plants that can cause harm. Also, cryptobiotic soil crust can be permanently damaged by one footstep off trail,
• Never leave your dog in the car, even for a short stop. Desert heat inside a vehicle is not something you want to mess with.
Saddle Up and Book Your Stay
When you are traveling with a dog and you find a town where they are genuinely welcome everywhere, the whole trip is much less stressful, and has more room for the kind of memories you want to create. The Western Star Bungalow and the Star Garage at My Star VR were designed to be the best place to land for you and your doggy after a fun day of exploring. John and I built these places with you in mind, and we want you to leave thinking it was the best vacation rental you have ever stayed in.
Check availability and book direct at mystarvr.com. Best rates, flexible cancellation, and a local host who can point you straight to the good stuff.
Kick off them boots and let the good times roll.
