While Utah offers an abundance of places to hike, sometimes you just need a safe place that is meant for your dog. Here are our top picks for dog parks in and around Salt Lake City:
Cottonwood Dog Park
Location: 1580 W North Star Dr 300 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Fenced: Yes
Water: Yes
Shade: Yes
Parking: Plentiful – park at the Department of Agriculture and head across the Jordan River to access the park
Why we love it: Cottonwood Park is a large dog park with plenty of mature trees and grass. This means shade in the summer and minimal mud in the winter! There are picnic tables available and a paved path that makes this park one of the better handicap accessible parks in the area. The park is right on the Jordan River Parkway so feel free to bike or walk here!
Memory Grove
Location: 300 N Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Fenced: No – But it is in a canyon
Water: No- Just the creek
Shade: Yes
Parking: Minimal- You will need to park on Canyon Road just outside the main park which may be difficult on weekends
Why we love it: Located just north of downtown and near the Utah State Capitol, Memory Grove Park is an oasis within Salt Lake City. Head through the main portion of the park (dog must be leashed) to the mouth of City Creek Canyon to access a wonderful off leash trail that runs parallel to a creek. While the path gets narrow at times, this a great option to get in some exercise for both you and your pup after work! Be cautious of high and swift water during spring runoff season.
Brickyard Park
Location: 1050 S 200 W, Bountiful, UT 84010
Fenced: Yes
Water: Yes
Shade: Yes
Parking: Moderate- You may have trouble on extremely busy days
Why we love it: Brickyard Park in Bountiful is the newest dog park in the Salt Lake City area and thus has some of the best amenities. The park is not large, but makes up for the lack of space with other features. Immediately outside the fence is a large set of playground equipment so this is the perfect park for families who need to wear out the dogs and kids while keeping an eye on both. The water fountain in this park features not only a human and dog level dispenser, but also a waterbottle filler! Since this park was built on an existing plot of parks land, there are plenty of mature trees and grass to keep your pup cool.
Willow Creek Dog Park
Location: 4460 Split Rail Ln, Park City, UT 84098
Fenced: Yes
Water: Yes- Just outside the fenced portion of the park
Shade: Minimal- A couple of shade structures exist on the dry side but fill up quickly
Parking: Plentiful- You may have trouble on days where there are sporting events
Why we love it: While this gem is up in Park City, it’s absolutely worth the drive if you have a dog who loves to swim! Swimming with dogs in Utah can be tricky due to watershed rules but Park City offers a full fenced, large swimming pond just for dogs! Not only is the pond quite sizable, it also features a dock for those interested in working on their jumping skills. Adjacent to the pond is a separately fenced dry area. The dry area is primarily grass so it’s a good place to dry off a bit before getting back into the car. It also features a few pieces of basic agility gear if you are interested in that sort of thing!
Dayland Dog Park
Location: 300 East 13400 South, Draper, UT 84020
Fenced: Yes
Water: Yes
Shade: Minimal- A couple of shade structures exist but fill up quickly
Parking: Moderate- Typically not an issue in their dedicated lot other than on extremely busy days
Why we love it: Dogs who love water will appreciate the small creek that runs through this park. There is plenty of space for the dogs to run and a walking path around the entire park for those humans looking to get in some steps too! While the park is primarily gravel, there is a grassy area for dogs who prefer that. A well maintained small dog area overlooks the main park for the smaller pups who need more space.
Run-A-Muk Dog Park
Location: 3399 Olympic Pkwy, Park City, UT 84098
Fenced: Yes- A few minor weak spots in the northeast corner
Water: No
Shade: No
Parking: Limited- Note there are two parking lots for this park but they fill up quickly and you may find you need to park on the road
Why we love it: If there was an award for “Best Fenced Dog Park That Doesn’t Feel Fenced,” this park would win it by a mile. With 43 acres of space and an approximately 2 mile trail, your dog is sure to burn off some energy. It’s a great place to practice recall knowing that, in a worst case scenario, your dog is somewhere in that 43 acres. All the space, though, does mean you need to be extra vigilant on watching for your dog’s waste as it’s easy to miss when they run off trail.
Tanner Park
Location: 2760 Heritage Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Fenced: No- But it is in a canyon
Water: No- Just the creek
Shade: Yes
Parking: Limited- Note there are two parking lots for this park but they fill up quickly and you may find you need to park on the road
Why we love it: Situated at the mouth of Parley’s Canyon, Tanner Park is a local favorite for those looking to get in a small “hike” without leaving Salt Lake City. The park itself, as well as nearby Parley’s Trail, are both leashed but head down the path into the canyon to let your dog roam free. A wonderful creek offers plenty of places to get cooled off, but do use extreme caution during spring runoff as the water is high and swift.