A local favorite for nearly every dog owner in Salt Lake City, Tanner Park! This off-leash dog park/trail is a great spot to go hang with your pup for an hour or two. It has quickly become a favorite weekend spot for Winter and I. She gets to meet new friends, and I get some exercise on the well maintained trail. Tanner Park is a great option for those days I am not ready to tackle hike but want to spend some time outdoors. It does get crowded on the weekends, so I tend to like to go early on Sundays or weekdays during the day.
The “Trail” at Tanner Park
Dog parks are typically not my first choice. But Tanner Park is a bit different. The trail aspect of this dog park keeps the dogs moving. This prevents (in my opinion) the opportunity for many of the issues you typically see at dog parks. The hike is a short ~1.5 mile round trip.
If your dog is not super reliable off leash I HIGHLY recommend keeping them on-leash when you enter the park. Why?
- The first bit of the trail is steep, with a drop-off on one side that an excited pup could easily fall from. In the winter micro-spikes are necessary as the beginning portion of the trail is steep and icy.
- While the off-lease area is fenced in for the most park, there is not a secure gate at the entrance.
Once you are down in the park, it is easy going. There are three different spots your pup has creek access. If you feel like giving them a bath when you get home that is. One creek access is to the left when you get into the park. The other two are along the main trail to the right. There are a few spots where the trail opens up and provides open space for the dogs to run around.
Personally I avoid bringing any toys to Tanner Park, and I have noticed many owners do the same. There is plenty for your pup to sniff out here, no need for toys!
Before you go
Parking at Tanner Park – at least for the off-lease area – is limited. The second parking lot at Tanner Park is the one you want, and the entrance to the off-leash trail is to the right. If you are lucky you will snag a spot in the parking lot. If not do not stress, there is plenty of street parking.
In the winter there are no trash bins along the trail, however the park does provide poop baggies year round. Be the good human and pick up after your pup while you enjoy the park. Leaving poop ruins someone else’s experience.
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