Dog-friendly National Parks – Many people think that national parks are off-limits to pets, but many are actually quite dog-friendly. A handful of parks throughout the West allow pets on designated trails and have pet-safe accommodations for owners who want to explore without their animals.
This may come as a surprise, but dogs are allowed on many trails and campgrounds around one of America’s most visited parks. In particular, you can walk your four-legged friend in the developed area, as well as on asphalt roads, sidewalks, and bike paths. Dog-friendly camping can be found throughout the park, except for hiking campsites and group campsites. Don’t forget to keep your fur babies on a leash, pick up after them, and don’t leave them in the car.
Dog-friendly National Parks
The Grand Canyon offers many great options for travelers with pets. On the South Rim, leashed dogs can walk all trails above the rim. The North Rim is tighter, with dog access to the greenway that connects the North Kaibab Trail and part of the Arizona Trail. If you’re hoping to explore the dog-restricted area, you can park your pup at the Grand Canyon Kennel for the day (they accept cats, too). The park offers some great pet-friendly hotels. Pets are welcome at Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, Trailer Village, and Yavapai Lodge.
Dog Friendly National Park Sites · National Parks Conservation Association
Experience one of the most beautiful sections of the Pacific Crest Trail with your pup. Dog-friendly hiking can be found on the 18-mile section of the PCT through North Cascades National Park. Pets are also welcome in many recreation areas around the park, such as Ross Lake and Lake Chelan.
Zion National Park offers an excellent hiking trail for dogs, the 3.5 mile Pa’rus trail. Dogs are also allowed in all developed areas of the park, such as paved roads, campgrounds, and picnic areas. If you want to explore the park without your pets, animals are allowed to stay at your campsite if they are properly restrained (and if the weather conditions are safe). Remember, Zion gets incredibly hot, so always keep your animal cool and hydrated.
Almost all of the Great Sand Dunes are open to pets and their owners. The only place you can’t bring your four-legged friend is the backcountry, backpacking sites, and off-trail areas. This park has some dangers, such as hot sand, cacti, and wild animals, so be careful.
Dogs are actually encouraged here! Pets are allowed anywhere in the park – roads, trails, and wilderness areas. The visitor center even offers honorary “Bark Ranger” dog tags.
Ranked: America’s Most Dog Friendly National Parks
Dogs are allowed on several trails and beaches in Olympic National Park, including Peabody Creek Trail, Madison Falls Trail, Spruce Railroad Trail, and July Creek Loop Trail. You can also get sand with your pup on the dog-friendly beach between the Hoh and Quinalt Reservations in the Kalaloch area. Pets are welcome in campgrounds, picnic areas, and paved and dirt roads.
White Sands National Monument, NM Pets are allowed everywhere in this 275 square mile chalk dune park. As in all other parks, pets must be on a six-foot leash and owners must pick them up.
Out West, Acadia National Park, Shenandoah National Park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park all offer several dog-friendly hiking and camping options. Across the nation, hundreds of millions of people have experienced their stunning landscape, untouched wilderness, and rich biodiversity. Since Yellowstone was first established in 1872, a total of 63 national parks* have been designated by law in 30 states and two territories.
It may surprise you to know that most national parks do not allow dogs. There are several reasons for this, but this policy is in place mainly to conserve the environment and avoid interaction with the park’s wildlife. Some parks, while allowing dogs, limit their access to trails and other areas.
Best Dog Friendly State Parks In Utah
The good news is that there are still some spectacular dog-friendly national parks to explore. Of course, you should follow some basic rules such as keeping your dog on a leash that is six feet or shorter, and making sure to clean up after it. We recommend that you check each park’s website for any specific pet rules that may apply locally.
Yes, let’s dig in – here are the best dog-friendly national parks where you can make lifelong memories.
Located along the coast near Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park spans two halves of the island and the tip of a beautiful and lush peninsula. Boasting the famous Cadillac Mountain, the highest mountain on America’s Atlantic coast, this park is filled with giant, glacially deposited boulders, pebble beaches, granite domes, and valleys stunning. Dogs are welcome on more than 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of historic crushed stone wagon road system established by John D. Rockefeller Jr. this incredible sea.
One of the most pet-friendly national parks of them all, Shenandoah National Park contains a beautiful section of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is famous for its Skyline Drive that cuts along the mountain ridge. The eponymous river cuts a wide valley on the west side, while the hills of the Virginia Piedmont roll gracefully to the east. Dogs are allowed on an incredible 500 miles of trails, including a significant portion of the Appalachian Trail.
Top 10 Dog Friendly National Parks In The U.s.
America’s newest national park * is also one of the most dog-friendly. Nestled south of the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, it was created to protect and preserve the New River Gorge and the surrounding area. Rich in natural and cultural history, the park contains extraordinary geological features carved by flowing water.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational activities, including some of the best white water rafting in the country. The characteristics of the Appalachian Plateau are particularly unique, with an exposure of more than 300 meters of sandstone and shale. Allowed on 100% of the trails in this pet-friendly park, dogs can explore everything from rocks and canals to the ruins of an abandoned mining town.
Nestled between Akron and Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley is one of the most unique national parks in the country. The only border between two large cities, it contains an extensive road network, several small towns, 15 public parks, golf courses, and many private attractions. You can even explore caves created by falling rocks. Dog parents can walk their pups on more than 100 miles of trails and see the impressive stone outcroppings scattered along the way.
Just southeast of Chicago along Lake Michigan, there is a wide stretch of sand formed by glacial movement, as well as forests, prairies, and marshes. This diverse landscape includes the 15,000+ acres of Indiana Dunes National Park. Visitors can enjoy West Beach along the lake (with views of the Windy City across the water), fish, camp by the sand, and more. Best of all, leashed dogs are free to roam the entire 15-mile shoreline of this dog-friendly park.
The 12 Most Dog Friendly National Parks In The Us
Adjacent to its namesake town, Hot Springs National Park is a small accessible park with many distinctive features. You will see a natural spring at the base of Hot Springs Mountain that produces over half a million gallons of hot water and steam per day. Along with the historic baths in the city, visitors can enjoy the mountains, forests, campsites, and nearby towns at their leisure. You and your friend can explore the 26 miles of pet-friendly trails located in the city.
Covering a large part of the Tularosa Basin, this unique national park contains many dunes made of chalk crystals. This is one of the largest national parks, covering almost 150,000 acres. A popular filming location for westerns during Hollywood’s golden age, it is also surrounded by the White Sands Missile Range, a historic military testing area and firing range.
Like many newly established national parks, White Sands is dog friendly. Your puppy is allowed to walk on a leash around all the beautiful sand dunes and off trails Colorado has four national parks, and three of them have many areas where dogs are allowed! Unfortunately, the country’s most popular national park (Rocky Mountain National Park) does not allow dogs on some trails. But three lesser known parks – Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison are definitely worth a visit with your pup! All three of these parks are in southern Colorado, and can be combined into one awesome road trip (The Ultimate Dog-Friendly Colorado Road Trip post is in the works). If you plan to hit several parks in the same year, consider getting an annual National Parks pass! The annual pass is $80, but admission to each individual park will be $25 or $30 each.
Great Sand Dunes is about a four hour drive south of Denver. Although it’s a lot of driving, it’s possible to make this a day trip – that’s what Alice and I did! Dogs are allowed in the first set
Hit The Trails With Your Pooch! Fan Favorite Dog Friendly National Parks To Hike
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