Dog-Friendly Sedona: Trails, Parks and Patios for Your Fall Trip

Yes, Sedona is a dog-friendly town, and fall is the best time to prove it: cooler days make the red rock trails comfortable for paws, and the most popular state park nearby reopened to dogs on October 1. The catch is that the rules change from one patch of land to the next, so a dog-friendly Sedona trip goes smoothly when you know which parks say yes, which say no, and where the leash rules tighten. We have been driving guests (and plenty of their dogs) around Sedona since 2004, and this is the cheat sheet we give them.

Dog-friendly Sedona at a glance: who says yes, who says no

Most of the land around Sedona is Coconino National Forest, and that is good news for dog owners. Here is the short version before we get into details:

National forest trails around Sedona: dogs welcome. Leashes are required at developed recreation sites, which includes trailheads and picnic areas, and the Forest Service notes that an unleashed dog can earn you a citation. We keep dogs leashed on the trail too; Sedona trails are busy, and you will share them with mountain bikers, horses and wildlife.
Slide Rock State Park: dogs allowed from October 1 through April 30, but never in the creek area. From May 1 to September 30 pets are not allowed in the park at all (Arizona State Parks).
Red Rock State Park: no pets. It is managed as a conservation park and the park states plainly that pets are not allowed (Arizona State Parks).
Sedona Dog Park at Posse Grounds: the city’s off-leash park, right in West Sedona.
Grand Canyon: leashed dogs are fine on South Rim trails above the rim, never below it.
Wine country: many Verde Valley patios welcome well-behaved dogs, and two of our three tour brands do too.

Always pick up after your dog. The Forest Service requires it wherever your dog leaves waste (USDA Forest Service), and in a place this popular it really adds up.

Dog-friendly hikes in Sedona: how to choose a trail

We will not pretend there is one perfect dog trail, because the right one depends on your dog. A young Lab and a 12-year-old dachshund need very different days. What we look for when we suggest a hike to guests with dogs:

Shade and footing. Sedona sandstone is rough, and on a sunny afternoon slickrock holds heat. Trails that run along washes or through juniper and pine stay kinder on paws than wide-open rock. Oak Creek Canyon, north of town, has the most shade and the coolest air, and that is where the fall color shows up late in the season.

No scrambling. Several of Sedona’s most photographed hikes finish with a steep, hands-on scramble. Those last stretches are hard on dogs and on the people trying to lift them. Pick routes that are a steady walk the whole way, and turn around before the climbing starts.

Fewer crowds. Trailheads closest to Uptown and the big-name formations fill early, and a narrow trail packed with people is stressful for many dogs. Go at first light, or choose lesser-known connector trails on the edges of town.

Know before you go. Trail conditions change, and some areas close for repairs or fire recovery. If you were hoping for West Fork in Oak Creek Canyon, read our update on whether West Fork Trail is open before you drive up.

Bring more water than you think your dog needs, plus a collapsible bowl. Even in October, midday sun on red rock is intense, and there is very little natural water on most Sedona trails.

Slide Rock State Park with dogs (October through April)

Slide Rock is the classic Oak Creek Canyon stop, and the fall and winter window is your chance to bring the dog. Pets are allowed in the park from October 1 to April 30. They still may not go into the creek area, so plan to walk the orchard and the historic homestead grounds with your dog, and take turns if someone in your group wants to see the natural waterslide up close.

The park opens at 8 AM, and entry closes an hour before the park does. Check current hours and fees on the Slide Rock page before you go. Weekends fill up fast even in fall, so an early arrival makes the whole visit calmer for a dog.

Red Rock State Park, on the other side of town, is off-limits to pets year-round. If someone in your group wants to visit, plan it for a time when the dog can stay behind in a comfortable spot. Never leave the dog in the car. The National Park Service warns that the inside of a parked car can climb above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and on sunny days even fall temperatures in the Verde Valley are enough to make that dangerous.

The Sedona Dog Park and Thursday Yappy Hour

For a day off the trail, the Sedona Dog Park at Posse Grounds is the city’s off-leash park, at the corner of Soldiers Pass Road and Carruth Drive (950 Soldiers Pass Rd.). From October 2 through March 31 it is open 7 AM to 7 PM, and from April 1 to October 1 it runs 6 AM to 8 PM. It closes on Thursday mornings from 9 to 11 AM for cleaning (City of Sedona).

On Thursday mornings the city also hosts Yappy Hour, a weekly social hour for friendly dogs and their owners on the lower softball field at Posse Grounds. Through October it runs 8 to 9 AM. From November through March it moves to 9 to 10 AM. If the field is too wet, it moves into the dog park for the week, and the city notes it can be canceled if off-leash use on the fields becomes a problem (City of Sedona). It is a great way for a visiting dog to burn off energy before a long drive.

Day trips with your dog: Grand Canyon and the Verde Valley

Grand Canyon. The South Rim works for dogs as long as you stay up top. Leashed pets (6 feet maximum) may use trails above the rim and the main campgrounds, but pets are not allowed below the rim, on park shuttle buses or in most park lodging. If you want to hike into the canyon, the South Rim kennel near Maswik Lodge takes dogs and cats, open daily 7:30 AM to 5 PM. It requires vaccination records and recommends booking ahead at 928-638-0534 (National Park Service). There is no kennel on the North Rim. Our Sedona to Grand Canyon day trip guide covers routes and drive times.

Tuzigoot National Monument. This hilltop Sinagua pueblo near Clarkdale is a good stop on a dog day. Leashed pets (6 feet maximum) are welcome on the grounds, but not inside the visitor center (National Park Service). The loop trail is short, and the views over the Verde River valley are worth it.

Verde Valley wine country. Cottonwood, Page Springs, Cornville and Jerome are a short drive from Sedona, and wine country is one of the most dog-friendly parts of the region. Many tasting rooms have outdoor patios, and policies vary, so a quick call ahead is always smart. Our Sedona wineries and vineyards guide lists the stops we visit.

A dog-friendly Sedona wine tour

Here is the part we like most. Well-behaved, friendly dogs are welcome on Wine Tours of Sedona and Sedona Wine Adventures tours, and promo code DOGFRIENDLY takes 10% off when you book. When we know a dog is coming, we route the day through dog-friendly patios, so nobody has to wait in the van. Left your dog at home? Our company guide dog, Ama, is happy to fill in.

A few notes so the day goes smoothly:

Tell us the dog’s size and temperament when you book so we can plan stops and seating.
The DOGFRIENDLY code replaces other discounts and is not added on top of them; the details are on our pricing and policies page.
Sedona Wine Adventures is private and pay-as-you-go, which suits a relaxed pace with plenty of breaks for the dog. See Sedona Wine Adventures for formats and rates.

What to book, what to bring and when to go

When to go: Mid-October through November is prime time for dogs. The days are cool, trails are dry, Slide Rock allows pets again and Oak Creek Canyon is at its best. Winter works too; just watch for icy, shaded stretches after a storm. We skip midday hikes from late spring through early fall, when rock and pavement get too hot for paws.

What to book: - Pet-friendly lodging, confirmed in writing, including any pet fee and whether dogs may be left alone in the room. - A Grand Canyon kennel reservation, if you plan to hike below the rim. - A dog-friendly wine day, using code DOGFRIENDLY.

What to bring: - A 6-foot leash. Retractable leashes are a bad fit for narrow, rocky trails. - At least a liter of water per dog for short hikes, more for long ones, plus a bowl. - Waste bags (more than you think you will need). - Paw protection or booties for rough rock, plus a small first-aid kit with tweezers for cactus spines. - Current vaccination records, especially if a kennel is anywhere in your plans.

Sedona is at its best when everyone in the family gets to come along, so if you would like a wine day that welcomes your dog too, start with our Tour Chooser and we will map out a dog-friendly afternoon in Verde Valley wine country.