A Dog Owner’s Guide to Memory Grove Park

If you’re staying in or visiting downtown Salt Lake City and looking for an easy hike with your dog, Memory Grove Park is nearby and hard to beat. Tucked into the Avenues neighborhood just below the Utah State Capitol, this park is one of the best off leash areas near downtown Salt Lake City, especially if your dog loves to swim. Between the shaded trail, the creek access, and the walkable location, it’s a go to for city dwellers who want a dose of nature without leaving downtown.

Memory Grove also happens to be one of the most picturesque parks in the city! It opened in 1924 as a memorial to Utah’s WWI dead, and over the following decades it picked up a German cannon, the 145th Field Artillery Monument, a memorial column and pergola, and the Meditation Chapel, built in 1946 to honor Utah’s WWII veterans. You’ll also spot the historic Memorial House as you walk through. It’s one of the most picturesque parks in the city and it’s not uncommon to see people stopping to take photos. It’s worth slowing down to take it in, even if your dog is mostly there for the creek!

Getting to Memory Grove Park

There’s no dedicated parking lot for Memory Grove, so you’ll want to plan on street parking.

• Canyon Road: Most visitors park along Canyon Road, which is parallel parking in the neighborhood and leads right to the park’s main entrance.
• 8th Avenue: You can also park on the street up near 8th Avenue in the Avenues. From there, a trail and stairway drop down into the canyon on the east side, landing you almost right at the off leash trailhead. Just know you’ll be heading downhill to get there.
• Capitol Boulevard: If you’re visiting the Capitol anyway, there’s street parking along Capitol Boulevard, and a nice trail walks you down into the canyon and into the park from there. Both of these entrances involve a bit of elevation change, so keep that in mind if you or your dog aren’t up for stairs or a downhill walk.

What to expect in the park

The main part of Memory Grove, where the monuments and the small pond are, is an on leash area. This is important to know before you visit: the pond and the surrounding grounds are not where your dog gets to run free, so keep them leashed as you make your way through.

To reach the off leash section, walk north through the main part of the park along the east side of the creek. At the north end, you’ll hit the Freedom Trail, a half mile, unpaved trail that runs along City Creek. This is the off leash area, and it’s clearly marked. The creek here runs fairly low, so it’s more of a wading spot than a swimming hole, with a few nice open areas where dogs can really frolic. The trail is mostly shaded, so it’s a nice option even on a warm day. There are a few garbage cans and pet waste bag stations along the way, but it’s worth bringing your own bags just in case.

On the west side of the creek is Canyon Road, which is popular with cyclists and walkers. That side is not off leash, so keep your dog leashed if you cross over or walk along it.

A note on spring runoff: from roughly April through early June, snowmelt can send City Creek running high and fast. It’s beautiful to see, but it’s not the time to let your dog in the water. Keep a close eye on the creek level during these months and stick to leashed walking if the water looks swift.

Good to know before you go

Memory Grove is a genuinely popular spot, so a few practical things are worth knowing going in.

It gets crowded, and parking goes with it. Between walkers, runners, cyclists, and dog owners, Memory Grove sees a lot of traffic, especially on weekends. Since street parking is your only option, that means fewer open spots the later you arrive. If you can, aim for a weekday or an early morning or evening visit for an easier time parking and a quieter trail.

You’ll likely run into off leash dogs in on leash areas. It happens here, and it can be frustrating. Please stick to the marked rules. Following them is what keeps spots like Memory Grove open and dog friendly long term.

The canyon is not fenced. Even in the designated off leash area, there’s nothing physically stopping a dog from wandering off the trail, so this park is best suited for dogs with solid recall.

Other dog friendly spots nearby

If you enjoyed Memory Grove, a few other spots are worth adding to your list:

• Tanner Park (Parley’s Historic Nature Preserve): Another beloved off leash trail with creek access, just off I-80 near the mouth of Parley’s Canyon. Read our full guide to Tanner Park for details.
• City Creek Canyon: Keep heading north past Memory Grove and you’ll enter City Creek Canyon itself, a paved canyon road that’s popular with walkers and cyclists. Leashed dogs are allowed in the lower canyon, but they’re not permitted past picnic site 16, near the water treatment plant about 3 miles up, since that area is a protected watershed.
• Rotary Glen Dog Park: Located at the base of Emigration Canyon, this unfenced park also has creek access and tends to be less crowded.

Craving a bite after your walk? Downtown Salt Lake has no shortage of dog friendly patios within a short drive of Memory Grove. Check out our interactive map to find dog friendly restaurants and other spots near you.

The Bottom Line

Memory Grove Park is one of the easiest off leash hikes to reach from downtown Salt Lake City, and the mix of history, shade, and creek access makes it a favorite for city dwelling dog owners. Just remember: the main park and the west side of Canyon Road are on leash, and the Freedom Trail on the east side of the creek is where your dog gets to roam free and splash around. Watch the creek during spring runoff, bring your own waste bags just in case, and you’ll have an easy, scenic outing right in the heart of the city.