Dogs at Snow Canyon

Where a dog can go

The know-before-you-go page says dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet long) and under control at all times, and that you scoop, bag, and bin all waste. Its B.A.R.K. Ranger section says all the trails in the park are dog friendly, and that leashes must be under 6 feet. The same section says this is a designated-trail park: off-trail hiking is not allowed, and you use the map so you stay on a legal trail. The park FAQ adds that dogs are permitted on all park trails and in the campground, leashed (6 ft max), in the owner’s control, on designated mapped trails, with waste scooped, bagged, and thrown away in a trash receptacle.

The know-before-you-go page does not print a separate list of closed trails for dogs. It does say some park areas are closed seasonally and to obey posted closures. Johnson Canyon’s seasonal closure is a trail closure on the park FAQ (March 15 through September 14 except ranger-guided hikes), not a dog-only rule.

Leash and waste

Use a fixed leash that cannot pay out past that limit. The rules line says max 6 feet. The B.A.R.K. paragraph on the same page says under 6 feet. A retractable leash that extends farther does not meet either wording. The page does not say a retractable leash is banned by name.

Bag the waste and put it in a bin. The B.A.R.K. section says dog feces can carry diseases that wild animals are more sensitive to than domestic animals. It also says even a well-behaved dog can stress wildlife, including the desert tortoise, and that tortoises may release their water reserve when a dog approaches. Keep distance. Do not let the dog approach wildlife.

Heat

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The know-before-you-go page does not say that pavement burns paws. The park’s heat advisory, on the main park page, is written for people: if the air reads 100°F (37°C), the surface will be over 150°F (65.5°C), and it asks you to avoid hiking, biking, or other activities between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. in summer. That is the heat fact the park prints. It is not a dog-paw rule, and this page is not veterinary advice. Booties are a gear choice for that hot ground, not something the dog page requires.

Zion is not the same park

Zion National Park does not allow pets on a general hike. On the NPS pets page, checked the same day, pets are limited to public roads and parking areas, developed campgrounds and picnic areas, the grounds of Zion Lodge, and the Pa’rus Trail. They are not allowed on other trails, in wilderness, on shuttle buses, or in public buildings. The page also says to keep dogs out of the water because of cyanotoxins. The Zion write-up is zioncanyontours.com/dogs.html. This Snow Canyon page is dogs.html, also at snowcanyontours.com/dogs.html.

A small kit

Three things cover the rule and the heat: a fixed leash that stays within 6 feet, waste bags, and booties if the ground is hot. Prices below were on the product page on October 3, 2026, and can change. These links go to the retailer. No affiliate tag is on the URL.

Trail manners beyond the leash are on trail etiquette and dogs. A bike day is a different page: e-bikes.