Dog-Friendly Guide to the Utah Side of Dinosaur National Monument

🐾 Dog-Friendly

So you’re thinking about visiting Dinosaur National Monument, but your dog is coming along — worth it or not? What can you see and do with a dog in tow?

We visited the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument before Athena came into our lives, so this perspective comes from someone familiar with the park and its highlights — but now we’re looking through a dog-friendly lens. Dogs are family, after all, and knowing where they’re welcome can make or break your trip. While service animals are always permitted, pets are subject to restrictions, and you don’t want to drive all the way out only to realize your beloved canine captain can’t join the fun at the best spots.

Quick note:
Dinosaur National Monument spans both Utah and Colorado, but this guide focuses on the Utah side, located in northeastern Utah, where most of the park’s iconic stops are. The Colorado side is gorgeous too — scenic drives and overlooks galore — but it’s an entirely different location. Even though the two visitor centers are only about 30 minutes apart, reaching Utah’s main stops involves some driving, and the Colorado side requires even more. Focusing on one side at a time will make your visit far less rushed and more enjoyable.

Quick dog-friendly skim guide: Utah side

This is a quick overview — read the full guide below for detailed tips, practical advice, and how to make the most of your visit with your dog.

• Scenic Drive (Tour of the Tilted Rocks): Best way to see the park with a dog; marked pullouts, desert views, tilted rock layers. ~1 hour round trip (without stops).
• Petroglyph stops:
  • Swelter Shelter: Flat, short, entirely dog-friendly. First stop on the scenic drive.
  • Cub Creek Petroglyphs: Dogs allowed in parking lot only, but the main panel is just steps away.
• Historic Josie Morris Cabin: Dogs can roam the grounds near the parking lot (on leash). Cabin interior & trails are off-limits unless you have a second person.
• River Trail: The only dog-friendly hiking trail in the Utah section; up to 3.4 miles round trip, easy, but exposed.
• Campgrounds: Green River & Split Mountain. Dogs allowed but not in the river.
• Rules: Leash (6 ft max) or otherwise restrained, never tied or left alone.

Where dogs are allowed

Per the National Park Service, in the Utah section of Dinosaur National Monument, pets are allowed in the following areas:

• Roads and parking areas
• Campgrounds
• Swelter Shelter Trail
• River Trail
• Within 100 feet of developed areas such as roads, parking lots, campgrounds, day-use areas, and river launches

General rules for dogs:
Dogs must be leashed (6 feet max) or otherwise physically restrained and never left alone or tied to objects.

Here’s a breakdown of the specific areas of the park you can visit with your dog and how practical/enjoyable each one is:

Scenic drive (Tour of the Tilted Rocks)

The Tour of the Tilted Rocks scenic drive is hands-down the easiest way to experience Dinosaur National Monument with a dog. Pets are allowed in vehicles and along roads, so this 10-mile route (one way) is a stress-free way to see the park’s geology without leaving your car.

The drive follows Cub Creek Road, the main road in the monument, starting near the visitor center and winding through desert scenery, colorful cliffs, and tilted rock layers that showcase the monument’s geologic marvels. Most of the road is paved, but the last few miles transition to a dirt road which is suitable for most vehicles on dry days (no need for high clearance) but not maintained in the winter.

• Marked Stops: Several pullouts along the drive — from sweeping viewpoints to signed stops for rock formations, petroglyphs, and hiking trails.
• Dog Note: Not every stop is feasible with a dog, but many are just scenic overlooks you can easily enjoy together.
• Duration: ~1 hour without stops (round trip).

Petroglyph sites

Swelter Shelter Petroglyphs: The first stop on the Tour of the Tilted Rocks scenic drive. Easy walk to a shallow sandstone alcove with Fremont rock art (mostly petroglyphs with a few pictographs). Flat, short, and completely dog-friendly, perfect warm-up stop before continuing down Cub Creek Road.

Cub Creek Petroglyphs: About 8 miles further down Cub Creek Road (and also the work of the Fremont people). Dogs are only allowed in the parking area, but the main panel is just steps away from your car.

• Quick peek option: leave your dog in the vehicle (windows down) or take turns with a companion.
• Don’t miss the next pullout with enormous lizard carvings — short steep path, but still visible from roadside.

Historic Josie Morris Cabin

At the very end of Cub Creek Road (the Tour of the Tilted Rocks scenic drive), you’ll find the Josie Morris Cabin, home of Josie Bassett Morris — a larger-than-life pioneer and local legend.

• Dogs can roam the grounds on leash (stay near the parking lot).
• Off-limits: cabin interior and nearby trails, including the very short trail into Box Canyon.
• The cabin’s charm: dirt floors, old fireplace, remnants of original wallpaper — details that really bring Josie’s story to life.

Tip:
If you have a second person, take turns exploring while the other stays with your dog. This way you could also aim for the short and scenic Box Canyon stroll which can take as little as 15 minutes, or even the longer Hog Canyon Trail.

River Trail

The River Trail, connecting the Green River and Split Mountain campgrounds, is the only hiking trail in the Utah section of Dinosaur National Monument that allows dogs.

• Length: up to 3.4 miles round trip
• Difficulty: easy, exposed — bring water and sun protection
• Scenic, wildlife spotting, and peaceful
• Best if camping nearby, but not a “destination hike”

Campgrounds

Pets are allowed at Green River and Split Mountain Campgrounds (official NPS campground info here).

• Some sites have shade or even private river access.
• Dogs are NOT allowed in the river(!), even on a leash. The currents, underwater obstacles, and deep holes make it unsafe.
• Stargazing with your dog curled up next to you? Totally fine.
• Summer and safety note: Dogs must be leashed (6 ft max) and never left unattended at the campsite, in a vehicle, or in a tent. During the hot summers, make sure your dog is well hydrated (potable water in the campgrounds is available seasonally).

Where dogs aren’t allowed (and practical considerations)

• Buildings, most trails, backcountry, river trips
• Quarry Exhibit Hall: Home of the world-famous dinosaur fossil wall with over 1,500 real dinosaur bones; pets prohibited inside.
  • Peak season: Most visitors take the shuttle from the Quarry Visitor Center, but the shuttle isn’t pet friendly. You can, however, drive up in your own vehicle if you travel with pets (just let the park rangers know).
  • Solo travelers: Leaving a dog unattended in the car is prohibited, so without a second person, this stop is off-limits.
• Other Trails: Apart from River Trail & Swelter Shelter path, pets aren’t allowed on any official trails or backcountry hikes.
• Green River: Dogs allowed at river launches but not in the water — even in a boat or raft.

Plan your route

I’ve put together an interactive map of Dinosaur National Monument with all the main sights, trails, and historic spots clearly marked. It’s a great way to see how everything is spaced out and plan your route — just keep in mind that the map shows all highlights of the monument, some of which are not dog-friendly. Use it alongside this guide, which has the details you need for visiting with your dog.

My take on visiting Dinosaur National Monument with a dog

Honestly? There isn’t a ton to do in the Utah section with a dog. Solo visitors are mostly limited to the scenic drive and the petroglyph stops, plus the River Trail, which is worth considering if you’re camping in the monument but not exactly a “destination hike.” The Quarry, which makes this park truly unique, is off-limits unless you have a second person to manage your dog. If you have a companion, your options open up significantly — you can still see much of what makes Dinosaur National Monument unforgettable, though you’ll need to plan carefully and take turns at certain stops.

Bring plenty of water, plan for hot summers, and be mindful of wildlife. Never leave your dog unattended, especially at dawn, dusk, or near thick vegetation. Mountain lions, bears, and other critters do roam the park, though encounters are rare. And, of course, always clean up after your dog.

For those who want to explore the areas that aren’t pet-friendly (like the Dinosaur Quarry Exhibit Hall with real dinosaur fossils, the popular Fossil Discovery Trail, or the Desert Voices and Sound of Silence trails), there are a few boarding facilities in the nearby Jensen/Vernal area, plus services like Rover, and hotels that allow dogs to be left unattended. These options can work if that’s your comfort zone, but they’re not for everyone, and it’s worth weighing the risks before deciding.

The bottom line is… Dinosaur National Monument is dog-friendly in some ways, yes, and certainly doable, but plan carefully and set expectations. A second pair of hands makes all the difference.

For up-to-date tips, alerts, and closures, visit the official Dinosaur National Monument NPS site.