Up to 7.5 mi RT · Easy · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
Trailhead & parkingSpacious lot near the Lake Mead NRA entrance.
Flat, wide, and easy on paws — genuinely one of the best dog hikes on this list, with a turnaround distance you can adjust to your dog's pace.
Who it's wrong forDogs sensitive to heat — this is fully exposed with no shade, watch paw temperature on the pavement/gravel in warm months.
Fees & permitsLake Mead NRA entrance fee may apply depending on access point.
Best time to goCool-season mornings, carry extra water for your dog.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: Varies by chosen turnaroundParking: LowCrowding: Light to moderate
2.2 mi RT · ~450 ft gain · Moderate · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
Trailhead & parkingSandstone Quarry lot, fills by 9am weekends.
A great payoff hike for an active dog, though the final scramble section requires a dog comfortable on uneven rock.
Who it's wrong forDogs uneasy on scrambling terrain — the final approach to the tanks has real rock scrambling.
Fees & permits$20/vehicle Red Rock Canyon entrance fee. Scenic Drive timed-entry reservation required Oct 1–May 31, 8am–5pm.
Best time to goCool-season mornings.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 1.5–2 hrsParking: HighCrowding: Busy weekend mornings
1.5 mi RT · ~100 ft gain · Easy · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
⚠ Closed in summer (Valley of Fire's park-wide heat closure) — open Fall, Winter, and Spring only.
Trailhead & parkingRoadside pullout, fills by mid-morning.
Short, flat, and easy on dogs — a good pick for a quick outing with your dog that still delivers a real photo-worthy destination.
Who it's wrong forDogs bothered by crowds — this is the busiest trail in the park.
Fees & permits$10/vehicle Nevada plates, $15/vehicle non-Nevada, Valley of Fire State Park entrance fee.
Best time to goEarly morning or late afternoon, and cooler for a dog's paws.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 45 min–1 hrParking: HighCrowding: Consistently busy
3 mi RT · ~1,100 ft gain · Moderate · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
⚠ Closed until Fall 2027 (2023 storm damage) — check current USFS alerts before planning a trip specifically for this trail.
Trailhead & parkingMary Jane Falls trailhead, Kyle Canyon.
Cool forest air is as good for dogs as it is for people — a comfortable, longer outing without desert heat risk.
Who it's wrong forDogs that overheat easily even in cooler conditions — there's still real elevation gain here.
Best time to goSpring through fall, cooler mountain temperatures year-round.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 2–3 hrsParking: ModerateCrowding: Heavy on spring/summer weekends
2.6 mi RT · ~580 ft gain · Moderate · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
Trailhead & parkingIts own lot on the Scenic Drive.
Shaded canyon walls keep this cooler than most Red Rock trails — genuinely more comfortable for a dog than the fully exposed options.
Who it's wrong forDogs that struggle with boulder-hopping — the final stretch has some rock-hopping.
Fees & permits$20/vehicle Red Rock Canyon entrance fee. Scenic Drive timed-entry reservation required Oct 1–May 31, 8am–5pm.
Best time to goOne of the few Red Rock trails suited to a warm-day dog walk.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 2–2.5 hrsParking: ModerateCrowding: Light
Lower trail (confirm mileage) · Strenuous · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
⚠ This entry covers the Lower Trail, which is open — the Upper Trail remains closed until 2029.
Trailhead & parkingLee Canyon ski area lot.
Cool high-elevation air, genuinely comfortable for an active dog even in summer, though the elevation itself is a real factor for both of you.
Who it's wrong forOlder or less-conditioned dogs — the elevation and distance are a real undertaking.
Best time to goJune–September.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 3+ hrsParking: Low outside ski seasonCrowding: Light
2.8 mi RT · ~950 ft gain · Moderate · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
Trailhead & parkingNorth Loop/Cathedral Rock lot, Kyle Canyon Road.
A solid moderate outing with real payoff views, comfortable temperatures for dogs most of the year.
Who it's wrong forDogs uneasy on ridge-line exposure near the top.
Best time to goJune–September for cool air.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 2–2.5 hrsParking: LowCrowding: Moderate on summer weekends
1.2 mi RT · 534 ft gain · Moderate · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
Trailhead & parkingSmall residential-street lot.
A quick, steep outing good for burning off energy — short enough that heat is manageable even for a less heat-tolerant dog if timed right.
Who it's wrong forDogs needing a longer outing, or hiking midday in summer given the full sun exposure.
Best time to goSunrise or sunset year-round.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 45 min–1 hrParking: High for a lot this smallCrowding: Moderate
2.4 mi RT · ~230 ft gain · Easy to Moderate · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
Trailhead & parkingIts own lot, usually has space.
More shade than most Red Rock trails, a gentler grade — a comfortable, easy-paced option for an older or less active dog.
Who it's wrong forNothing in particular — one of the more universally dog-friendly picks on this list.
Fees & permits$20/vehicle Red Rock Canyon entrance fee. Scenic Drive timed-entry reservation required Oct 1–May 31, 8am–5pm.
Best time to goGood shoulder-season pick.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 1.5–2 hrsParking: LowCrowding: Light
1.3 mi loop · ~157 ft gain · Easy · Dogs: Allowed, leashed
Trailhead & parkingSawmill Trailhead day-use lot, primitive restrooms on-site.
Easy, short, and cool at elevation — a low-key loop good for a dog that isn't up for a strenuous mountain hike.
Who it's wrong forNothing specific — this is one of the easiest, most broadly dog-friendly picks here.
Best time to goSummer, for the cool air.
From our hikersEditorial estimate — not yet from visitor reports
Actual time: 45 min–1 hrParking: LowCrowding: Light
Before You Go
Not every popular trail near Las Vegas allows dogs. Petroglyph Canyon Trail (Sloan Canyon) and Cowboy Trail both explicitly prohibit dogs to protect the petroglyph sites — don't assume a trail allows dogs just because it's on other "best hikes" lists on this site.
Leash rules are universal and enforced. Every trail on this list requires a leash, typically 6 feet maximum — this isn't optional at any of these locations.
Paw safety matters as much as human heat safety. Sandstone and pavement can burn paw pads well before the air feels dangerously hot to a person — the 7-second hand test (if you can't hold your palm on the surface for 7 seconds, it's too hot for paws) applies on every exposed trail here.
Carry water for your dog specifically — don't assume they'll drink enough from a shared bottle, and bring a collapsible bowl.
Ranked using official land-manager data (distance, elevation, fees, and current reservation rules) plus on-the-ground editorial review of each trail. Hiker-submitted time, parking, and crowding reports will be folded in as they come in — every hiker-feedback figure above is currently our own estimate, clearly marked as such. How we rank these.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best dog-friendly hike near Las Vegas?
Historic Railroad Trail — flat, wide, easy on paws, and you can adjust the distance to your dog's pace and fitness.
Are dogs allowed everywhere in Red Rock Canyon?
No — check the specific trail. Most Scenic Drive trails on this list (Calico Tanks, Ice Box Canyon, Pine Creek Canyon) allow leashed dogs, but always confirm for a trail not on this list.
Which hikes near Las Vegas do NOT allow dogs?
Petroglyph Canyon Trail and Cowboy Trail in Sloan Canyon both prohibit dogs to protect the petroglyph sites, despite being excellent hikes otherwise.
Is it safe to hike with a dog in Las Vegas heat?
Only with real precautions — check pavement/rock temperature with the 7-second hand test, carry extra water for your dog, and stick to cooler-elevation trails (Mary Jane Falls, Cathedral Rock, Bristlecone Trail) in summer.
