10 Top Canine-Approved Park City Hiking Trails

Park City, Utah, is an outdoor and nature lover's dream come true. This hiking hot spot has more than 400 miles of public hikes in the beautiful scenery. Enjoy the Utah wilderness and stunning views on these trails around Park City.

Park City has a variety of trails, ranging from quick after-work hikes near town and multi-day backpacking trips deep in the Uintas. Hikers are emersed in nature with diverse wildflowers and wildlife. Year around hiking allows visitors to experience all four seasons with changing leaves in fall, snowy winters, warm spring, and hot summers.

Park City has trails for every level of hiker, from kids to experienced adults, and even a few to let your dog run and play. This article lists the top 10 best hikes near Park City.

1. Dawn’s Trail

Photo Credit: Amanda Hayes / AllTrails

This out-and-back trail near Park City, Utah, is an easy route. However, it takes an average of about 2 hours to complete.

Dawn's trail is a long, strenuous hike that takes hikers through some of Park City's most scenic areas. This is a popular place for birding, hiking, and trail running, so you'll likely encounter other nature-lovers while exploring.

The best times to visit this trail are April through October. Dogs are welcome on the trail - but must be on a leash. Visitors can expect to see lots of wildlife on the trail. There are chipmunks and elk to see as you enjoy this amazing hike.

Views of the stunning landscape will turn any hiker into a nature photographer. Dawn's trail is an excellent option for hikers looking for a challenging yet rewarding trail experience. The trail is well-maintained and provides spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 3.6 miles

Elevation gain: 846 feet

2. Bloods Lake

Photo Credit: Park City Chamber of Commerce

The new parking lot for Bloods Lake is just before the summit. The old one is now strictly for drop-offs only. There are 40 parking spots here for hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers to share. And there's a new toilet too.

Unfortunately, the parking lot is shared for different trails in the area, so it fills up quickly. Be mindful of parking. The police will issue tickets to cars parked on the shoulder of a road outside the parking lot.

The Bloods Lake hiking trail weather is often hot and humid. Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

Bloods Lake is a local favorite, hidden on the side of a 10,000-foot mountain. You can't beat an alpine lake perfect for swimming with peninsulas and rock features.

The trail is easy to follow, making it an excellent option for beginner hikers. However, if you're looking for a scenic hike, consider taking the Bloods Lake Hiking trail's walking trail.

The hike is rated as moderate difficulty. However, this well-maintained trail is perfect for anyone looking for an easy hike with plenty of fantastic scenery.

The trail follows a meandering path through stunning alpine scenery, with views of glaciers, peaks, and valleys. The Bloods Lake Hiking trail is perfect if you're looking for a scenic hike with plenty of variety.

It has some moderately steep areas and is environmentally friendly. The trail's design helps alleviate erosion occurring on the hillside of the original trail. Hikers can expect heavy traffic on weekends. Many people camp near the lake or use the area for hang-gliding.

Hiking, fishing, bird watching, and wildflower viewing are popular activities on the Bloods Lake Hiking trail. There are some good places for hammocks near the rope swing at this trailhead. This out-and-back trail provides a kid-friendly and dog-friendly hike.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 2.7 miles

Elevation gain: 429 feet

3. Armstrong Trail

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Phillips / AllTrails

Armstrong officially starts at Silver Star. However, parking is limited, and it's best to start from the main PCMR base. Park in the PCMR lot, then walk up the ski run under the Eagle chairlift. Follow trail number three into the woods on your right.

Armstrong is classified as intermediate in difficulty. This trail connects to Dawns, Spiro, and Silver Spur. The trail is easy enough to follow and provides an excellent opportunity for solitude.

Armstrong trail is an incredible hike for those looking for a scenic adventure. The trail has a variety of challenging terrain, including rolling hills, rocky ridges, and valleys.

It's a 1.8-mile walk back down to the trailhead at Silver Star Access with additional outlets to Spiro and Silver Spur. Several short sections are challenging, but the majority of the hike is easygoing. It’s a good option for beginners.

The 3.3-mile loop trail generally takes 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. This route is popular among birders, hikers, and mountain bikers, so be prepared to encounter other visitors.

The best time to visit this trail is from April through September. Dogs are welcome as long as they’re kept on a leash.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 3.3 miles

Elevation gain: 672 feet

4. Run-A-Muk

Photo Credit: Visit Park City

Run-a-Muk Dog Park & trail was opened as an off-leash dog field in November 2014 in Kimball Junction, Utah. You can hike in a fenced dog park while giving your dogs time to play.

On this loop, you'll find the "Down Dog" trail and "Happy Dog." You can enjoy the hiking-only trail for your dog or for those who want a quick hike in the great outdoors with kids.

There are options for longer or shorter loops. Parents with small children will appreciate this short, easy excursion into nature. The trail is under 2 miles round trip. Dogs have the freedom of roaming the full 43-acre fenced-in field.

The entrance to Run-A-Muk is on the Millenium trail on Olympic Parkway and can be accessed by going south of Whole Foods or north of Bear Cub Drive. Run-A-Muk has quickly become one of Park City's best areas to let your dog roam off-leash.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 1.5 miles

Elevation gain: 177 feet

Related Read: 70 Best Things To Do in Utah

5. McPolin Farm Nature Trail

Photo Credit: Hoover Hodge / AllTrails

This trail takes hikers near the McPolin Barn, a historic barn was built in 1921. The farm itself dates back to 1886.

McPolin Farm Nature trail is an interactive experience with signs with information on animals and activities for the kids. The Farm trail offers options that appeal to people of all ages.

The Farm trail is a leisurely walk perfect for families because it is flat. It is primarily used by walkers, runners, and cyclists.This trail can become crowded, so be considerate of others as you pass through. This trail gets very hot and is best explored in the morning or evening.

Bring plenty of water with you, as well as sunscreen and sunglasses. Utah is hot most of the year, and it's always good to be prepared.

The trail offers you stunning views during every season. The summer sees rolling hills blanketed in green, while the wintertime is beautifully covered in snow and ice.

To access the McPolin Farm Nature trail, start at the farm's top. There is a paved trail that leads in each direction. From this point, go right on the smooth trail and follow it to the dirt-packed trail.

There is a sign at the trailhead that includes some information about McPolin Farm trail. From here, you can walk 1 mile in either direction. Each sign helps keep your child engaged with their surroundings and ensures they don't get too bored or restless.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 1.4 miles

Elevation gain: 134 feet

6. Union Pacific Rail Trail

Photo Credit: Lauren Wells / AllTrails

The Union Pacific Rail trail is less challenging than some trails and will take an average of 3 hours and 42 minutes to complete.

This path is great for hiking, horseback riding, and trail running. The trail is open year-round, making it a popular place to visit anytime.

Park City's first official recreational trail cuts through town before heading through wetlands and farms. Utah is home to some of the most stunning scenery.

Union Pacific Rail Trail offers quite an awesome experience. The Union Pacific Rail Trail is popular with snowshoers and cross-country skiers during the winter.

The surface of this trail is dirt and gravel, which can become rutted by weather and horses. Some of the majestic views can only be experienced by those willing to hike through difficult terrain.

Continue trekking past the towns of Wanship and Coalville and ends up at a reservoir in Park City. The trail also connects some of Park City’s most popular singletrack trails and sees a ton of mountain bike and pedestrian foot traffic in the summer.

This vantage point offers stunning views of the Wasatch Front and is great for a day hike or bike ride. Hike along a one-mile section of the historic Utah Eastern Railroad that ran from the local silver mines after the railroad was completed in 1880.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 11.3 miles

Elevation gain: 465 feet

Related Read: 10 Best Camping Spots In Uinta

7. Silver Lake Trail

Photo Credit: T N / AllTrails

The Silver Lake hike is a popular trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon, with spectacular views during the summer months. It's a winding trail along the head of the canyon, which is about a mile long—picnic tables, interpretive signs, and fishing access.

The Visitor's Center offers maps and wildflower guidebooks for sale from the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation. Catch a view of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in America. The Wasatch Mountains are located east of Salt Lake City.

The trail is not very difficult to navigate, and it is heavily used for hiking and trail running. This hike is a perfect choice for dog owners who want to let their dogs run off-leash.

The Silver Lake Trail Loop is a 0.9-mile-long boardwalk that goes around Silver Lake. This short trail can get crowded on weekends, but it's a lovely escape into the alpine landscape surrounding Silver Lake.

The Silver Lake Trail offers several routes, so nature lovers can spend the entire day venturing into the Utah wilderness with plenty of options for exploration.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 4.7 miles

Elevation gain: 1,433 feet

8. Lackawaxen Lake Trail

Photo Credit: Laura Tungseth / AllTrails

Wildflowers fill the area surrounding Lackawaxen Lake.  It is near Guardsman's Pass, between Park City and Big Cottonwood Canyon.

The trailhead moved a mile east in 2020. The old trailhead for Guardsman Pass is now just a drop-off area or vista point.

This is a popular location for hikers who enjoy the four-season climate and scenes of high alpine lakes, wildflowers, and autumn leaves.

The Lackawaxen Lake trail allows dogs on a leash, but restrict dogs from walking within 100 feet of Blood's Lake because it is a watershed area.

The trail from Bloods Lake to Lackawaxen Lake, a popular destination for hikers, is loose and challenging at some points.

At Lake Lackawaxen, you feel like you are entering high alpine terrain. Open meadows and small fields make for a peaceful hike to the lake.

If you are in search of a quieter, less crowded trail than Bloods Lake, Lackawaxen offers twice the elevation gain, incredible scenery, and wildflowers.

This mostly level trail with some sections of rocky gravel can be a little slippery, so bring your bug spray. Also, be sure to wear sunscreen because it can get hot near water in late spring and in summer.

Plenty of switchbacks lead up steeply from Bloods and eventually deposit you into an open meadow before reaching the lake.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 5.1 miles

Elevation gain: 1,118 feet

9. Rob’s Trail

Photo Credit: Erin Mckalip / AllTrails

Rob's trail is a steady, gradual climb that winds through beautiful aspen groves and pine trees, providing shade the whole way.

There are also other trails to connect with in this area. The route also connects Mid-Mountain and The Olympic trail at the 2.1-mile turnaround point.

Consider hiking in early morning or late afternoon because this trail does tend to get crowded by midday. Early on the walk, switchbacks take you through a lush forest of pines and aspens.

The trail has long, mild switchbacks that lead up the North-facing side of the hill with different landscapes between forested areas and views of Snyderville Basin below.

On the trail, you will approach a stone bench honoring late local skier Sam Jackenthal. The spot is ideal for taking a break and enjoying the picturesque landscape.

Volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, and earthquakes cut and sculpted the landscape over the centuries. From the clifftops to the valley floors, you'll find outstanding views.

After that, there is a stunning view of the Canyons on the left side of the trail, where it bends off of Ambush and Holly's trail. No matter what season you visit, this view is spectacular.

The final stretch of the hike reaches a summit with great views of Snyderville Basin and the surrounding peaks. From the summit, there are also great opportunities for photography.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 8.5 miles

Elevation gain: 1,863 feet

10. Lamb’s Canyon Trail

Photo Credit: Max Goldberg / AllTrails

The Lambs Canyon trail is a 4 mile-long trail that will have you addicted to the wilderness. The shaded woods create a comfortable hiking experience.

The trail leads through dense spruces and aspens but will give you the feeling of really being out in the woods. As a result of lacking sunlight, it stays nice and cool all year around. Escape summer heat on this chill hike.

The trail is pretty gradual and easily scalable. At the top of Lambs, you can descend into Millcreek Canyon or take a less strenuous back way.

Hiking through Utah's breathtaking landscape offers hours of exploration, with wildflowers, trees, mountains and canyons dominating the landscape.

Millcreek Canyon is a scenic place to visit during the summer because it has plenty of cover and beautiful views. This a two-mile hike to the top with several exquisite views.

The Forest Service hiking trail is mostly smooth, with a few switchback turns and no rocks. The hike is humid because of the dense trees.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 6.5 miles

Elevation gain: 2,782 feet