By Anissa Howell

Has your furry friend exhausted smelling the same corners again and again? To add some spice in your outdoor adventures consider taking your companion on a hike!

Here are some hikes you may consider taking your four-legged kid(s) on:

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Wind Cave Trail

Moderate Difficulty, ON LEASH

Wind Cave is a popular trail with a beautiful view of Logan Canyon. The Trailhead is located on the left side of the road about 5.3 miles from the mouth of the canyon, across from the Guinavah Campground. There is a 1095 foot elevation gain from the hike beginning, to the Cave at the top. Start hiking early in the day to avoid the heat. Wear appropriate hiking shoes, the climb is steep. At the top of the hike you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the canyon, and have the opportunity to explore the open cave with your dog. There is a skylight in the cave that makes Wind Cave extra unique. The trail is open year round, but it is the most easily accessible from March to November.

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Adams Canyon Trail

Moderate Difficulty, ON LEASH

Adams Canyon Trail is a perfect trail to hike with your pup in the summertime. The trail gains about 1,400 feet beginning to end. Adams Trail is easily accessible in the dryer months of the year, from early spring to early fall. Before going on this hike, check the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Quality section of the website in case the waterfall or streams are under a toxic algae warning. For those who persevere to the top of the hike, they will be rewarded with a 40 foot waterfall. Make sure to bring lots of water for you and your furry friends as there is not a lot of tree cover on the hike. To locate the Trailhead, turn right off of Highway 89 in Layton onto East Side Drive. Turn right, and then head south until you reach a rocky parking lot. As you are climbing into the canyon, the path will meet up with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Make sure to keep to the right when the path forks! When you are inside the canyon, the path is going to fork again. Stay on the left trail.

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Corona and Bowtie Arch Trail

Moderate Difficulty, ON LEASH

Do you want to enjoy a beautiful sandstone view with your pup? The Corona and Bowtie Arch Trail is a great hike if you are looking for a short, half day hike. To locate the trailhead, take Interstate 279 where it breaks from Highway 191. Interstate 279 will follow the Colorado River. Follow the road until you see a gravel parking lot. The trailhead is on the right side of the road. The hike is three miles round trip if you go all the way to the end, and the elevation gain from beginning to end is a mere 469 feet. You will see Bowtie Arch before Corona Arch, and you may be convinced you have found the main Arch, but remember to continue on!

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Rock Canyon Trail

Moderate Difficulty, ON LEASH

Do you have a pup that doesn't shy away from an adventure? For a view of the mountains, this hike is sure to not disappoint! In the winter, it is not recommended to hike this trail with your furry friend as it is very slippery. In warmer months, the trail is very well maintained. There are multiple different kinds of rock formations to enjoy on the way through, appealing to many geology lovers. The beginning of the trail is paved, and is very well maintained and then it changes to a dirt trail further up. If you hike the entire trail, it is 5.5 miles round trip, and the hike has a steep change in elevation; 1709 feet.

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Memory Grove

Easy Difficulty, OFF LEASH on Freedom Trail

Memory Grove is a woody oasis away from the bustling city life of Downtown Salt Lake City. To access Memory Grove, go to the East Side of the Capitol Building. There are parking spots just off the road. Take your dogs on leash down the stairs to the park. Memory Grove has a nice park where you can walk your dog on leash, and in the back of the park, there is an off leash trail to the left. Be sure to pay attention to the signs to be sure you are in an area that is ok for your dogs to be off leash. This is a perfect trail for your pup to practice their social skills. Often many dogs will be on the off leash trail running and playing in the creek together. The off leash trail is dirt, and climbs a mere 167 feet beginning to end.

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Alien Tower via Highland Blvd

Easy Difficulty, OFF LEASH in most areas, ON LEASH in others.

This hike really delivers with the 360 degree view of the Wasatch valley at the top. We recommend that you go on this hike on a low pollution day to see more dramatic views of the cities below. The “Alien” Triangle at the top of the hike is interesting to view. Parking is on Deer Ridge Road, right by the trailhead. Be sure to pay attention to the signs when visiting this area with your furry friend, most parts of the trail are off leash, but in some areas, your pup must be on a leash. The trail is dirt, and gains a respectable 538 feet from beginning to end.

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Round Valley Loop

Moderate difficulty, OFF LEASH

Is your pup just begging to run in a wide open space? Round Valley Loop is a great option for those wanting to see beautiful views a little closer to the ground. This hike is entirely exposed beginning to end, and has no tree cover. The entire loop is off leash friendly. To access the beginning of the loop, park on Highland Drive just off of Interstate 40. The entire trail loop is just over 11 miles, and it is unlikely that you will come across people that you didn't come to the trail with. The trail loop is dirt, and has a 1046 foot gain in elevation if you choose to hike it beginning to end.

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Tanner Park

Easy difficulty, OFF LEASH

Tanner Park is a fenced, off leash, 13 acre piece of land with a nature trail running through it. Be sure to pay attention to signs to ensure that you are in an off leash area before letting your pup off leash. The trail is dirt and rock in some areas, and there is a small stream that runs through the park that your pup can splash through. There is a lot of shade in the Park to make summertime hiking adventures a little bit easier. Still remember to bring lots of water! To access Tanner Park, travel east on Highway 80. Get off on the 2700 exit, and follow the two roundabouts to Heritage Way. Finally, turn left on 27th East.

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Dog Lake via Big Water and Little Water Loop

Moderate difficulty, OFF LEASH on odd numbered days only

This trail is a wonderful option for dogs wanting to have fun in the water! Dogs can swim in Dog Lake, but it is recommended that humans not swim with their furry buddies. The trail up to Dog Lake is dirt and gains about 1440 feet as you hike. You will ascend through a beautiful forest and be rewarded with spectacular views at Dog Lake in a serene meadow. On odd days of the month, dogs are able to be off leash on this trail (1st,3rd,5th, etc.) per Millcreek Canyon rules. On even days of the month, dogs are still allowed here, but must be on leash. Check the Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Quality section of the website in case Dog Lake is under a toxic algae warning.

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Run-a-Muk at Kimball Junction

Easy difficulty, OFF LEASH

Run-a-Muk is exactly what the name implies. It is a place for your dog to run around off leash! From Run-a-Muk you are able to see Utah’s Olympic Park, home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. To access Run-a-Muk, go to Olympic Parkway. There will be a clearly marked parking lot there. There is a 2 mile trail at Run-a-Muk, and also 43 acres of land enclosed by a fence. The trail is dirt, and while it is not groomed, enough people use it which makes it not difficult to traverse. The elevation gain is only 75 feet making Run-a-Muk a favorite for all pups and humans.

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Have you been on any of these hikes with your pup? Did you know that we offer on and off leash hikes? Go to sugarhousepets.com/services to get started today!

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