A Dog-Friendly Guide to Sedona: Hikes, Restaurants, Vineyards & Places to Stay
Sedona may be famous for red rocks, hiking trails, and incredible sunsets, but there’s another reason we love it: it’s an exceptionally fun place to visit with your dog.
With miles of dog-friendly trails, plenty of restaurant patios where four-legged travelers are welcome, and vacation homes where your pup can come along too, there’s no reason your best friend has to miss the adventure.
If you’re planning a dog-friendly trip to Sedona, here are some of our favorite ways to explore, eat, and stay with your pup.
Hit the Trails Together
One of the best things about visiting Sedona with a dog is how much of Red Rock Country you can explore together.
Dogs are welcome on Sedona-area trails, but keep them leashed, bring plenty of water, and always pack out their waste. Desert conditions can also change quickly, so consider your dog's fitness level and the weather when choosing a hike.
Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte
For classic Sedona scenery, it’s hard to beat the trails around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.
The Courthouse Butte Loop offers beautiful red-rock views without requiring the scrambling found on some of Sedona’s more challenging hikes. It's a great option if you want a longer adventure with plenty of scenery for both you and your pup.
Because this is one of Sedona’s most popular hiking areas, an early start is usually worth it.
Chimney Rock
Looking for something shorter?
The Chimney Rock area offers several interconnected trails, making it easy to customize your hike depending on how much energy you—and your dog—have that day.
There isn't much shade, so this is one we particularly recommend for cooler weather or an early-morning hike.
Little Horse Trail
Little Horse is another beautiful option for exploring Sedona with your dog.
The trail offers sweeping views toward the Village of Oak Creek and glimpses of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The beginning of the trail is relatively exposed, and you'll often share it with mountain bikers, so keep your dog close and bring plenty of water.
West Fork Trail
If your dog prefers trees and creek crossings to wide-open desert, West Fork is a completely different Sedona experience.
The trail winds through Oak Creek Canyon beneath towering canyon walls and is particularly beautiful when temperatures are cooler. It's also popular, so arriving early—especially on weekends—is a good idea.
What About Cathedral Rock?
Dogs are allowed, but this is one where knowing your dog matters.
Cathedral Rock involves steep sections, slick rock, and scrambling. An athletic dog with an experienced owner may handle portions of it well, but it isn't the trail we'd automatically recommend simply because it's one of Sedona's most famous hikes.
There are plenty of other trails where you and your dog can enjoy spectacular views without negotiating the steeper climb.
Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Sedona
After hiking, everyone deserves lunch—including the furry member of the group.
Sedona has a surprisingly good selection of restaurants with dog-friendly outdoor seating. Patio policies can always change, so it's worth confirming when you arrive, but these are some great places to start.
Located in Uptown Sedona, Open Range combines red-rock views with a dog-friendly patio—and they even offer a menu specifically for dogs.
It's an easy choice if you want lunch or dinner in Uptown without leaving your pup behind.
One of our go-tos! Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and beautiful Sedona views make Hideaway House a favorite after a day outside.
Its outdoor patios are pet-friendly, making this a great casual option when you're exploring with your dog.
If you're staying or exploring in West Sedona, Golden Goose has a dog-friendly outdoor patio and a broad American menu.
It's particularly convenient when you want a sit-down meal without heading into busy Uptown.
Tucked inside Tlaquepaque, The Secret Garden has a shaded garden patio that's dog-friendly.
This is a particularly fun choice if you want to combine lunch with a stroll through Tlaquepaque's shops and galleries.
A post-hike beer tastes even better when your hiking buddy can come along.
Sedona Beer Company offers a relaxed atmosphere, craft beer, food, and dog-friendly outdoor seating—exactly the kind of place that works after a dusty day on the trails.
Mesa Grill sits near the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout and has a pet-friendly patio with fantastic views. They even had a dog menu, which our pups definitely appreciate!
Pair it with a trip up Airport Mesa and you have a pretty great Sedona afternoon.
Don’t Forget Arizona Wine Country
One of our favorite parts of bringing a dog to the Sedona area is that the adventure doesn’t have to end when the hiking does.
Just south of Sedona, the Verde Valley is home to Arizona wine country—and several of our local wineries are especially welcoming to four-legged visitors.
D.A. Ranch is one of our favorite places to spend a relaxed afternoon in Page Springs.
The beautiful property feels more like hanging out at an idyllic ranch than visiting a traditional tasting room, with plenty of outdoor space to enjoy a glass of Arizona wine. It’s also particularly dog-friendly, making it an easy stop when your pup is along for the trip.
Grab a glass, find a spot outside, and settle in for a while. This is wine country at its most relaxed.
Oak Creek Vineyards is another great choice for travelers exploring the Verde Valley with their dogs.
Its casual atmosphere and dog-friendly outdoor areas make it an easy addition to a day spent exploring Page Springs—and it's especially convenient if you're staying at one of our Cornville vacation homes.
Salt Mine Wine is tucked into the beautiful Verde Valley landscape and is another favorite for dog-friendly wine tasting.
Bring your pup, enjoy the outdoor space, sample locally made Arizona wines, and take in a completely different side of a Sedona-area vacation. They even have an Instagram account dedicated to their four-legged visitors!
The Perfect Dog-Friendly Day Near Sedona
If we were planning the day ourselves?
Start early with your pup on one of Sedona’s red-rock trails before the day warms up.
After your hike, grab lunch together on a dog-friendly patio, then head south toward Page Springs and spend the afternoon at one—or a few—of our dog-friendly local wineries.
Then head back to your Stargazer home, put your feet up, and enjoy your private hot tub while your thoroughly exhausted hiking buddy takes a well-earned nap.
Red rocks, good food, Arizona wine, and your dog along for all of it.
That sounds like a pretty perfect day to us.
A Few Tips for Visiting Sedona With Your Dog
Sedona is dog-friendly, but the desert deserves respect—especially during warmer months.
Summer rock and pavement can become dangerously hot even when the air temperature doesn't seem extreme. During warm weather, hike early in the morning or later in the evening, check the ground before letting your dog walk on it, and carry more water than you think you'll need.
Never leave your dog in a parked vehicle, even briefly.
We also recommend packing a collapsible water bowl, leash and harness, waste bags, and a towel for muddy paws if your adventures take you near Oak Creek.
And remember: you're sharing Sedona's trails with hikers, mountain bikers, wildlife, and other dogs. Keeping your pup leashed helps make the experience safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Stay Somewhere Your Dog Is Welcome, Too
Of course, the other half of planning a dog-friendly Sedona vacation is finding somewhere to stay.
Several Stargazer Vacation homes welcome dogs, and we don't charge an additional pet fee.
Our Dark Sky Ranch home is perfect when you want a little more room to spread out.
Enjoy a private hot tub, sauna and red-light therapy, a wraparound porch, mountain views, and access to the shared plunge pool. Your dog gets plenty of fresh Arizona air, and you get a pretty spectacular place to come home to after a day in Sedona.
For something a little different, our custom shipping-container cottage combines modern design with a private hot tub, outdoor space, dark skies, and access to the shared plunge pool.
It's one of our most unique stays—and dogs are welcome.
Traveling with family or friends?
Our three-bedroom Copper Sky Log Cabin offers a private hot tub, fire pit, wraparound outdoor space, and Oak Creek access just across the street.
It's a wonderful home base when you want a little more room for both humans and dogs.
For two people and a pup, the Bunkhouse is one of our favorite little escapes.
This modern container retreat has a private hot tub, outdoor space, and Oak Creek access across the street—all within easy driving distance of Sedona.
Bring Your Best Friend to Sedona
Some vacations are simply better when your dog comes too.
Spend the morning exploring red-rock trails, grab lunch together on a patio, head back to your vacation home for a soak in the hot tub, and do it all again the next day.
That's our kind of Sedona trip.
Explore our dog-friendly vacation homes and book your next Arizona adventure directly with Stargazer Vacation at stargazersedona.com.
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