With its breathtaking red rock landscapes and dog-friendly atmosphere, Sedona, Arizona is the “pawfect” destination for travelers who want to explore the beauty of the desert with their canine companions. Pack your bags and get ready for a fun-filled weekend blended with outdoor adventures, pet-friendly dining, and relaxing moments that both you and your dog will enjoy. From luxurious accommodations to scenic hikes, delicious meals with awe-inspiring views, and even a wine tour with your pup by your side, Sedona provides a variety of experiences that cater to both humans and dogs.
A Weekend in Dog-Friendly Sedona
Posted by Erin Ballinger
Friday
4 p.m. Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock
Begin your weekend away at Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, where your four-legged travel companions receive a pet packet with a dog bed, bowls, and a pet menu for doggy room service. Rooms include gas fireplaces, private balconies or patios, and flat-screen TVs. Pet parents will appreciate the top-rated 18-hole golf course, day spa, and dog-friendly restaurants onsite. Let Fido stretch his legs and enjoy the scenery on trails and grassy areas around the hotel for quick and easy pet relief during your stay.
5 p.m. Sedona Dog Park
After traveling and before the evening festivities begin, visit Sedona Dog Park with your pup. In addition to its stunning red rock views, this dog park has separate areas for large and small dogs, water stations, benches, and a shaded area. Fido just needs up-to-date vaccinations to play.
6 p.m. Open Range
Once you and your pooch have worked up an appetite, make your way to the pet-friendly, temperature-controlled patio at Open Range Grill & Tavern. Fido can chow down on chicken and carrots or other tasty morsels from the dog menu while you enjoy contemporary American cuisine and cantina favorites in a relaxed environment with unbeatable red rock views. Brandt Beef steaks are a popular menu item, but be sure to save room for dessert. Open Range’s Carrot Cake, colossal Seven-Layer Chocolate Cake and Caramel Lava Cake are enough to make you drool like your four-legged dining companion!
7 p.m. Sedona Beer Company Uptown
For after-dinner drinks with local flair, make your way to Sedona Beer Company Uptown, a local brewpub that serves small-batch craft beer. Dogs are allowed at outdoor tables while you sip on draft microbrews like the Haterade-Prickly Pear Marg sour or the Red Rock American Amber. Fido can lap up water while you take in the scene.
Saturday
7:30 a.m. Creekside American Bistro
When it’s breakfast time, take your pup to Creekside American Bistro, where he can order steak tartare from the canine menu. The menu also features a cheddar omelet with turkey jerky or venison stew that your pup might prefer. All dogs receive filtered, ice-cold water to wash down the meal. For an on-the-go snack, grab an order of chicken jerky cookies. Don’t worry, Creekside American Bistro serves homestyle breakfasts for humans that are as hearty as they are heartwarming, served with care from dawn until 4 p.m. daily.
9 a.m. West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead
You’ve got to get in at least one amazing morning hike during your weekend in Sedona. West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead is a dog-friendly, well-maintained three-mile trail in the Coconino National Forest that’s suitable for all skill types. The path goes through the Oak Creek Canyon with many different plants for your pooch to see and sniff, and in several places, the trail crosses a beautiful creek. Just keep Fido on a leash the entire time you explore.
12 p.m. Mesa Grill
Admire stunning views of Sedona’s famous red rocks and colorful gardens when you eat lunch with your pup at Mesa Grill. Located atop Airport Mesa, the dog-friendly eatery also gives canine aviation enthusiasts the chance to watch airplanes take off and land while relaxing on the partially enclosed, heated patio. The menu features Southwestern favorites like burgers, a classic ribeye steak, and pasta, along with vegan options and a selection of Arizona craft beer. Make your pooch’s tail wag with a treat from Mesa Grill’s Doggie Deck Favorites Menu featuring items like chicken jerky cookies, five-star venison stew, and steak tartare.
1 p.m. Sedona Red Rock Adventures Wine Tours of Sedona
Every tour offered by Sedona Red Rock Adventures welcomes dogs, including a romp across Red Rock country to some of the area's finest pet-friendly wineries. Spend the afternoon with Fido sampling the vintages at Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro and Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery with an experienced guide and driver. Very Important Pets can enjoy the lap of luxury in the comfortable puppy play area in the back of the vehicle.
7 p.m. Sedona Pizza Company
After tasting wine all afternoon, discover an authentic Neopolitan pizza experience at Sedona Pizza Company, where pies are baked in an 800-degree wood-fired oven hand-built in Naples, Italy. Find a seat on the covered patio and order a tried-and-tested margherita or create your own pie with your choice of toppings. There’s even a dog menu with mouthwatering meals for mutts, including chicken apple sausages, a puppy patty and Rover’s Rice and Veggies, all served with a complimentary bowl of water.
Sunday
7 a.m. Rascal
Enjoy a bright and early start to your last day with a meal at Rascal in the heart of West Sedona. Fido is welcome to join you at an outdoor table on the covered and heated patio for breakfast and can order from his own dog menu. You can indulge and refuel with the Rascal Benedict, a delectable twist on a classic favorite, or savor avocado toast topped with farm-fresh eggs and vibrant microgreens. If you have a sweet tooth, try the lemon ricotta pancakes drizzled with berry compote and honey butter while you take in the scenery.
9 a.m. A Day in the West Jeep Tours
You can’t leave Sedona without an off-road adventure in one of the town's ubiquitous four-wheel drive Jeeps. Fortunately for Fido, A Day in the West offers you and your dog the chance to explore the area's canyons and natural rock formations on your own fur-flying escapade. The family-owned company offers a number of guided tours in and around Coconino National Forest, including the Mogollon Rim Tour, which features breathtaking panoramic views courtesy of an exhilarating ascent to an elevation of 7,500 feet. If you want to see a particular site or attraction, customized tours are available for you and your pup. A Day in the West operates daily with private tours ranging from 90 minutes to three hours.
12 p.m. Hideaway House and Depart Sedona With a Dog-Tired Fido
Fido may never be able to enjoy kibble again after being spoiled with so many delicious meals at restaurants. Give him one last lunch he’ll never forget at Hideaway House where he’ll be greeted with a bowl of cold water and a complimentary Milkbone, and the dog menu features pup patties, chicken breasts, bacon and Italian sausage. While you enjoy your own lunch surrounded by stunning views, reflect on what a fun weekend you spent with your pup in Sedona.