Dog Boarding and Daycare Near Zion National Park: How to Plan No-Dog Trail Days
Most Zion trails are closed to dogs, so a day or two of daycare opens up the big hikes. Here are the boarding options near the park and how to build your days around them.
In this guide
- Dog boarding and daycare near Zion at a glance
- Canyon Paws in Rockville
- Dogtown Pet Spa in St. George
- Other kennels nearby
- How to plan your no-dog trail days
- Which hikes to save for daycare days
- A sample daycare day
- A sample week with a dog
- What to ask a kennel before you book
- Bring your dog’s records
- Can you leave your dog at the cabin?
- Our take
If you’re bringing a dog to Zion, the easiest way to hike the park’s big trails is to book a day of dog daycare or boarding nearby. Canyon Paws in Rockville, just outside Springdale, offers daycare and overnight boarding minutes from the park, and Dogtown Pet Spa in St. George is a good second option. Book ahead, bring vaccine records, and plan your hike around the kennel’s hours.
Dogs are allowed on only one trail in Zion, the paved Pa’rus Trail, so a lot of the guests at our pet-friendly cabins in Apple Valley set aside one or two no-dog days. Here’s how to find care, what to ask, and how to fit it all into a Zion trip. For the full list of park rules, see our guide to where dogs can go in Zion.
Dog boarding and daycare near Zion at a glance
| Option | Where | Services | Hours | Drive from Apple Valley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon Paws | 800 E Main St, Rockville | Daycare and overnight boarding | Daily, 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m. | About 45–50 min (on the way to Springdale) |
| Dogtown Pet Spa | 130 N 800 E, St. George | Boarding, daycare, grooming, training | Mon–Fri 7:30–6, Sat 9–5, Sun 2–5 (no Sunday daycare) | About 45 min |
| Other kennels | Hurricane, Kanab, Cedar City | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Hours and policies change, so confirm with the business before you book.
Canyon Paws in Rockville
Canyon Paws is the most convenient choice for a Zion day. Rockville sits on UT-9 a few minutes short of Springdale, so you pass right by on the drive from Apple Valley, Hurricane or St. George. It offers dog daycare and overnight boarding and is open every day from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
How to book: daycare reservations are made online, and boarding is arranged by phone (435-703-6680) or email. In spring and fall, when Zion is busiest, reserve as early as you can.
The 7:30 a.m. opening shapes your day. You won’t be on the very first shuttle at 7 a.m., but you can drop off, drive a few minutes to Springdale, park and be riding up the canyon not long after. Just leave yourself enough time to be back by 6 p.m.
Dogtown Pet Spa in St. George
Dogtown Pet Spa in St. George offers boarding, daycare, grooming and training, with online reservations. Its hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 2 to 5 p.m., with no daycare on Sundays.
St. George is about 45 minutes from our cabins but about an hour from Zion’s south entrance, in the opposite direction. That makes Dogtown a better fit for overnight boarding, or for a daycare day spent somewhere other than Zion Canyon. It’s also useful if your Canyon Paws dates are full.
Other kennels nearby
The National Park Service notes that there are also boarding kennels in Hurricane, Kanab and Cedar City. If you’re starting from Kanab for a day on Zion’s east side, or visiting Cedar Breaks from Cedar City, ask a local vet’s office for a recommendation. We only list businesses here that we’ve been able to confirm.
How to plan your no-dog trail days
The best Zion trips with a dog alternate. Spend some days where your dog is welcome and save the trails that don’t allow dogs for daycare days.
Which hikes to save for daycare days
- The Narrows: a long day in the river, and the river is off-limits to dogs anyway.
- Angels Landing: needs a permit, so match your daycare booking to your permit date.
- Observation Point via East Mesa or the Watchman Trail: good trails that are closed to dogs and take a few hours or more.
- Kolob Canyons: no Kolob trail allows dogs.
A sample daycare day
- Leave Apple Valley around 6:30 to 6:45 a.m. It’s about 45 to 50 minutes to Rockville.
- Drop off at Canyon Paws at 7:30. Bring food, any medications and a leash.
- Park in Springdale and ride into the park. In busy months, Zion’s own lots often fill by about 9 a.m.
- Hike your big trail. Pack lunch so you’re not rushing.
- Head out of the canyon by mid-afternoon. Shuttle lines can be long late in the day, and pick-up is by 6 p.m.
- Collect your dog and spend the evening together back at the cabin, by the fire pit.
A sample week with a dog
| Day | With your dog | Without your dog |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive, settle in, sunset walk on our property (leashed) | |
| Day 2 | Early walk on the Pa’rus Trail, afternoon rest | |
| Day 3 | Daycare in Rockville; hike The Narrows | |
| Day 4 | Sand Hollow State Park or Snow Canyon State Park | |
| Day 5 | Daycare; Angels Landing (with a permit) or Observation Point | |
| Day 6 | Day trip to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary near Kanab |
Our list of dog-friendly hikes and things to do near Zion has details on the with-dog days.
What to ask a kennel before you book
A short phone call or email up front avoids surprises at drop-off.
- What vaccines do you require, and how do you want proof? Ask whether a phone photo is fine or whether your vet needs to send records directly.
- What are drop-off and pick-up times? Ask what happens if you’re running late.
- Is there a temperament test or trial day? Some kennels assess dogs before group play.
- How do dogs spend the day? Group play or individual runs, indoor or outdoor time, and how they handle heat in summer.
- Can you give medication or feed my dog’s own food?
- What’s the cancellation policy? Useful if a permit falls through or the weather changes your plans.
- What happens in an emergency? Ask which vet they use.
Bring your dog’s records
Before you leave home, ask your vet for a copy of your dog’s vaccine history and save it on your phone. Kennels usually ask for proof of current vaccinations, and the exact list varies from one business to the next. Some vaccines need to be given a certain number of days before boarding to count, so ask well ahead of your trip rather than the week before.
It also helps to have your vet’s phone number handy, along with the nearest emergency clinic. In this area, that’s Southwest Animal Emergency Clinic in St. George, which is open 24/7.
Can you leave your dog at the cabin?
At our cabins, no. Our house policies ask that pets never be left unattended, and the same goes for leaving a dog in the car at a trailhead. Zion’s summer heat makes a parked car dangerous for most of the year. A day of daycare is the safer and kinder option.
Our take
A Zion trip with a dog works best when you stop trying to bring the dog everywhere. Book Canyon Paws for your big hike days, give your dog its own adventures on the days in between, and spend the evenings together outside. Our pet-friendly cabins charge a flat $29 pet fee per stay, with dogs leashed outdoors and out of the hot tubs. Check each cabin’s page in our cabin lineup for its pet limit, then see live availability and book direct.
Frequently asked questions
Is there dog daycare near Zion National Park?
Can I leave my dog in the car while I hike in Zion?
Are there dog kennels in St. George, Utah?
What do I need to board my dog near Zion?
Can I leave my dog alone in a vacation rental near Zion?
About the authors
This guide comes from the team at Anasazi Cliffs Lodging, four private desert cabins in Apple Valley, Utah, run by local hosts Robert and Maria. We help guests plan Zion, Gooseberry Mesa and Southern Utah days every week, and we update these guides when rules and conditions change.
