The Pa'rus Trail: Zion's Paved, Pet-Friendly Path
The only trail in Zion that allows dogs and bicycles — 3.5 miles, paved, level, and the park's most accessible walk.
The Pa'rus Trail is unlike anything else in Zion National Park, and its distinction is a rule rather than a view: it is the only trail in the park where bicycles and dogs are permitted.
Why that makes it genuinely important
National parks restrict pets on trails almost universally, and Zion is no exception — with this single paved exception.
If you are traveling with a dog, this is the only walk in Zion available to you. That is worth knowing before you drive an hour with a dog in the car expecting to hike, because there is nowhere in the park to leave one and leaving one in a vehicle here is dangerous rather than merely inadvisable. See the dog-friendly guide for the wider picture, and note that the desert closer to St. George is considerably more permissive than the park.
For cyclists it serves a second purpose entirely: it is the way to move through the south end of the canyon under your own power, without a bus and without a car.
What it is
Paved, level and wide — about 3.5 miles round trip with roughly 50 feet of elevation change over its whole length — following the Virgin River from near the visitor center up to Canyon Junction and crossing the river on bridges along the way.
That makes it:
- Fully accessible, with a wide firm surface and no steps.
- Easy with small children, with river access points along the route where a hot afternoon becomes tolerable.
- A quiet alternative to the shuttle for reaching Canyon Junction on foot or by bike.
The views are of the lower canyon and the Watchman, which are not lesser views for being easily reached.
The best times
Early morning and evening, both for the light on the canyon walls and because the trail is largely unshaded.
Sunset from the bridges is one of the most photographed views in the park, and the trail's flatness means you can be standing there without having committed to a climb — which is why it is the right answer for an evening when somebody in the group does not want to hike.
In summer, do not walk it at midday. Paved, open and hot; asphalt in the desert is warmer than the air above it, which matters for dogs more than for people. Test the surface with the back of your hand before walking a dog on it.
Practical
- No permit and no shuttle required — it starts near the visitor center.
- Dogs must be leashed, and the rule is enforced rather than suggested. Confirm current pet regulations with the park, as they can be adjusted.
- Bikes yield to walkers, and the trail gets genuinely busy in the evening — this is a shared path rather than a bike path.
- Water and shade are limited; carry your own for yourself and your dog.
- The Virgin River runs alongside for the length of it, and the park advises against letting dogs drink from streams in Zion because of cyanobacteria.
Where it fits
The Pa'rus is the answer to several awkward questions at once: what to do with a dog, what to do with a stroller, what to do without the shuttle, and what to do in an evening with an hour left. For a moderate hike from the same end of the park, the Watchman Trail starts nearby. For the other genuinely accessible walk in the canyon, see the Riverside Walk.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my dog into Zion?
Only on the Pa'rus Trail, which is the single trail in the park where dogs are permitted, and they must be leashed. Every other trail in Zion is closed to pets. This matters enormously if you are traveling with a dog, because there is nowhere to leave one at the park and doing so is dangerous in this climate. Confirm current pet regulations with the park, as rules can be adjusted.
Can I cycle in Zion?
On the Pa'rus Trail, yes — it is the only trail in the park open to bicycles, and it is the way to move through the south end of the canyon under your own power. Cyclists yield to walkers, and the trail gets busy in the evening when the light is best. Elsewhere in the park, bicycles are restricted to roads rather than trails.
Is the Pa'rus Trail suitable for wheelchairs and strollers?
Yes, and genuinely rather than technically. The surface is paved and wide enough for two-way traffic, there are no steps anywhere on it, and the bridges over the river sit level with the trail rather than being reached by a ramp or a lip. Across the whole 3.5-mile round trip the ground rises about fifty feet, which is spread out enough that it does not read as a gradient. Two things to plan for: shade is very scarce, so time it for morning or evening in warm months; and bicycles are permitted here and nowhere else in the park, so expect to be sharing a path that gets busy around sunset.
How long is the Pa'rus Trail?
Around ninety minutes at a gentle walking pace, out and back, and it is one of very few trails in Zion where that estimate is reliable. Nothing here slows you down unpredictably: no climbing, no scrambling, no waiting for a shuttle at either end, and no bottleneck where the trail narrows. On a bicycle it is a short spin, which is rather the point — this doubles as a way to move through the south end of the canyon under your own power rather than existing purely as a walk. Families with small children should allow longer, since the river access points along the way are hard to walk past on a warm evening.