City of Rocks in southern Idaho is a small (14407 acres) but fun national reserve to take your fur-kids to. It gets 4-paws on my rating scale. There are 22 miles of trails which are all dog-friendly. Some of the trails are shared with horses and mountain bikes so if your dog doesn’t like either of those then choose your trails wisely. A trail map is available online or at the visitor center in Almo.
History, biodiversity and rock climbing
The park combines the history of the Shoshone and later emigrants on the California Trail with the dramatic geology of an uplifted and eroded landscape of metamorphic rocks. The area also supports a large variety of animals and over 450 plant species. Not to mention the world-class rock climbing.
Camping is popular so plan ahead
Campsites are spread amongst the rocks so each one is unique. There isn’t much for amenities besides vault toilets, and water is only available from April-October. It is a popular park for camping and reservations are available and recommended.
The elevation of the park ranges from 5720-8867 feet. Keep lots of water available for yourself and your pooch. Western rattlesnakes are the only venomous vertebrates to be concerned about. As always it is a good idea to check out the park pet policies for any changes.
