The short version
Several national parks let a leashed dog share a real walk, not only the parking lot. Acadia permits pets on 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, Shenandoah on most of its 500+ miles of trails, and Cuyahoga Valley on over 100 miles of hiking trails and the Towpath. Great Smoky Mountains keeps dogs to the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail, Grand Canyon’s South Rim to trails above the rim, and Yosemite to paved valley walks such as Bridalveil Fall and Lower Yosemite Fall.
Parks with miles you can share
These are the days that feel like a real hike together. The park’s own page names a long stretch of trail, a towpath, or every trail it has.
Maine
Acadia
Why we like itCarriage roads and most of the trail system are open to a leashed dog, which is a rare kind of welcome.
There are 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads where pets are permitted. The pet-friendly list names carriage roads, most trails, and the Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods campgrounds. On Isle au Haut, pets are permitted for day hiking only. The page also invites you to become an Acadia Bark Ranger.
A few places stay off the walk. Most lakes are public water supplies, so pets and people may not swim in them. Sand Beach is off-limits to pets from June 15 through September 8, and Echo Lake from May 15 through September 15. Public buildings, ranger-led programs, the Wild Gardens of Acadia at Sieur de Monts, and Duck Harbor Campground are closed to pets. Trails closed to pets are Precipice, Beehive, the Ladder Trail to Dorr Mountain, Beech Cliffs Trail, Perpendicular Trail (Mansell Mountain), and Jordan Cliffs Trail between Penobscot East Trail and the carriage road. Trails the park does not recommend for pets are Acadia Mountain, Flying Mountain, Giant Slide, Cadillac Mountain’s west face, Bubble and Jordan Ponds Path between the carriage road and The Featherbed pond, Norembega Goat Trail, Bubbles-Pemetic Trail, Penobscot Mountain (Spring) Trail, Upper Beachcroft Trail, and Upper Gorge Trail.
Where to stay with your dog in Portland, ME.
100 miles of trails45 miles of carriage roadsCampgrounds
Checked · Acadia pets page (opens in a new tab)
Virginia
Shenandoah
Why we like itThe park says it is one of the few that allow pets on trails, and the closed list is a short slice of a very long system.
Leashed pets are allowed on most trails. They are also allowed in campgrounds, and the page says pet-friendly lodging is available. The closed list totals fewer than 20 miles of the 500+ miles of trails in the park.
Pets are prohibited on Fox Hollow Trail (mile 4.6), Stony Man Trail (mile 41.7), Limberlost Trail (mile 43), the route from Post Office Junction to Old Rag Shelter, Old Rag Ridge Trail, Old Rag Saddle Trail, Ridge Access Trail in the Old Rag area, Dark Hollow Falls Trail (mile 50.7), Story of the Forest Trail (mile 51), Bearfence Mountain Trail (mile 56.4), and Frazier Discovery Trail (mile 79.5). The beginning of the route toward Stony Man follows the Appalachian Trail, where dogs are allowed, but you cannot turn onto the blue-blazed Stony Man Trail to the summit with a pet. Pets are not allowed on ranger programs.
Most trailsFewer than 20 miles closedCampgrounds
Ohio
Cuyahoga Valley
Why we like itA canal towpath, pond loops, and longer forest walks are written for a day with a dog.
With a few exceptions, leashed pets are welcome. Pets are allowed on over 100 miles of hiking trails and on the multi-use Towpath Trail.
The page’s short walks: a 2-mile back-and-forth on the Towpath from Ira Trailhead to the Indigo Lake connector, through Beaver Marsh, on flat crushed limestone; Oak Hill Trail, a 1.5-mile loop that is mostly flat and skirts Sylvan Pond; a 2-mile back-and-forth on the Towpath from the Canal Exploration Center to Tinkers Creek Aqueduct; and Lake Trail, a 1-mile loop around Kendall Lake, with two sets of stairs and connections to Pine Grove, Cross Country, Kendall Hills, and Salt Run.
Longer walks on the same page: Pine Grove Trail, a 2.2-mile loop; Cross Country Trail, a 2.5-mile loop through forest and meadow; Tree Farm Trail, a 2.75-mile loop past Horseshoe Pond; Salt Run Trail, a 3.3-mile loop with a shorter 1.8-mile loop; and the Buckeye Trail, a 7.1-mile loop between the towns of Boston and Peninsula that uses the Buckeye and Towpath Trails.
Only service animals are allowed in park buildings and on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Pets and service animals are not allowed on the East Rim mountain bike trails. Pets are prohibited at Virginia Kendall Hills during sledding.
Over 100 miles of trailsTowpath TrailNamed loops
Arkansas
Hot Springs
Why we like itEvery trail in the park is open to a dog, including a stroll along Bathhouse Row.
Dogs are welcome on all 26 miles of trails. The page invites a walk on Bathhouse Row or any of the park’s trails, and pets are allowed in the Superior Bathhouse Restaurant and Brewery. There is a BARK Ranger program; the page says to ask at the Fordyce Visitor Center or call. Pet waste stations sit at both ends of Bathhouse Row and in the campground. Bring enough water, and check that the sun has not made the pavement too hot for paws.
Pets are not permitted inside federal buildings. They wait outside the visitor center and other park buildings.
All 26 miles of trailsBathhouse RowRestaurant welcome
South Carolina
Congaree
Why we like itThe boardwalk and the rest of the trails are open, so a floodplain walk can include the dog.
Pets are allowed on all trails, including the boardwalk, and in the campgrounds. Large sections of the Boardwalk Trail are elevated and somewhat confined, with no quick way off, so a dog that is uncomfortable around other people or pets may do better on another trail. In spring you may see snakes. The park says most are harmless, and a leash is the easy way to keep a little distance.
For a camping or canoeing day, the page asks you to bring food, water, a first aid kit, and any safety gear they might need. A life jacket is the example it gives.
All trailsBoardwalkCampgrounds
Checked · Congaree pets page (opens in a new tab)
West Virginia
New River Gorge
Why we like itDogs are allowed on all the trails, so a gorge day can include them from the start.
Pets are allowed on all trails. Bring extra water for the hike. Streams may contain harmful bacteria or parasites such as Giardia, and there is no drinking water at the trailheads. Water fountains or bottle-filling stations are at every visitor center.
Pets are not allowed in any park buildings or visitor centers, or at ranger-led programs.
All trailsWater at visitor centers
Kentucky
Mammoth Cave
Why we like itThe dog can hike every surface trail, then wait out a cave tour in a day kennel.
Leashed pets are allowed on all surface trails. Pet-friendly lodging is available in the Woodland Cottages. On backcountry trails you may meet people on horseback. The page asks you to move aside and keep your pet calm while the riders pass. Ticks and other biting insects are present, and the page encourages a word with your vet before the trip.
The Lodge at Mammoth Cave runs a self-service outdoor kennel for large and small dogs or cats during daylight hours, while you are on a cave tour. Proof of vaccination is required at the kennel. For dogs, the page lists current rabies, DHLP, Bordetella, and parvo. The phone on the page is (844) 760-2283.
Pets are not permitted in caves or park buildings. Service animals are authorized in caves and facilities that are open to the public.
All surface trailsDay kennelWoodland Cottages
The Pawsport
A weekly note of pet-friendly trips: parks, towns, and stays that are glad you brought the dog.
A named beach, dune, or short list of trails
These parks do not open every path. They do name the beach, the dune walk, or the handful of trails where a dog can come.
Washington
Olympic
Why we like itThe yes list is short and specific: a lakeshore trail, a waterfall walk, and beaches in the Kalaloch area.
Pets are allowed on Peabody Creek Trail at the visitor center in Port Angeles, from the Rialto Beach parking lot to Ellen Creek (a half mile), the beaches between the Hoh and Quinault Reservations in the Kalaloch area, Madison Falls Trail in the Elwha, Spruce Railroad Trail on the north shore of Lake Crescent, and July Creek Loop Trail on the north shore of Lake Quinault. Pets are also welcome in drive-in campgrounds, picnic areas, and on paved or dirt roads.
The park notes that leashed pets are allowed on trails in Olympic National Forest, and that the forest is a different place than the national park. Well-behaved dogs can become Bark Rangers at the Kalaloch Ranger Station.
Pets are not permitted on any trail that is not on that list, in public buildings, on interpretive walks, or in the wilderness. Do not bring dogs onto tidal rocks. The sharp stone, along with barnacles and mussels, can cut their paws.
Spruce Railroad TrailKalaloch beachesMadison Falls
Checked · Olympic pets page (opens in a new tab)
Indiana
Indiana Dunes
Why we like itThe lake beaches are open to a leashed dog for most of the year, including a swim if you want one.
Pets are allowed year-round on all beaches. The leash stays on even while they swim, and handlers who let a pet chase birds or otherwise harass wildlife can be cited. Waste comes off the beach with you. Pets are allowed on the Pinhook Upland Trail. You can join the BARK Ranger program on a ranger-led hike, finish the activity guide, and receive a collectible dog tag.
Pets are not allowed in the lifeguarded swimming area at West Beach from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through the Monday of Labor Day weekend. They may walk through that stretch to reach the beaches on either side. Pets are not allowed on the Pinhook Bog Trail. The guidelines say pets are not allowed on the equestrian portion of the Glenwood Dunes Trail system, and the list of closed areas names Glenwood Dune Trail. Nature play areas on the east side of the Douglas Center main parking lot, and in the Mather and Douglas loops of Dunewood campground, are closed to pets. During large events some areas close for the day. The page says to watch for brown signs or call the visitor center at (219) 395-1882.
Beaches year-roundPinhook Upland TrailBARK dog tag
Colorado
Great Sand Dunes
Why we like itYou can walk the main day-use dunes and a few named trails, with a clear line at the first high ridge.
Pets are permitted in the Preserve, including Mosca Pass Trail, and in the main use areas of the park, including Piñon Flats Campground, Dunes Overlook Trail, and along the Medano Pass Primitive Road. The overview on the pets page also marks the Liberty Road and the northwest corner of the national park as open to leashed pets, along with the main day-use area of the dunefield.
Pets are not permitted inside the visitor center and bathrooms, in the dunefield beyond the first high ridge of dunes, off the Dunes Overlook Trail, north of Castle Creek Picnic Area except along Medano Pass Primitive Road, north of Point of No Return (including Sand Ramp Trail), or in backpacking campsites inside the national park. In summer the page says sand can reach 150°F from late morning through late afternoon. It suggests early morning or evening, socks or booties, and the cool wet sand when Medano Creek is flowing.
Mosca Pass TrailDunes Overlook TrailDay-use dunes
Arizona
Petrified Forest
Why we like itA fenced bark park sits by the visitor center, and paved trails plus designated wilderness are open.
Pets of all types are welcome. There is a fenced dog park, with sections for small dogs and big dogs, next to the parking lot for the Painted Desert Visitor Center. The park calls it a wild-space dog park, with a waste-bag dispenser by the gate. Pets are allowed on any paved road or trail, and in all designated wilderness.
Sign up for the Bark Ranger program at any entrance booth or visitor center. Read and agree to the rules on the card, and four-footed participants get a treat. Bark Ranger pet tags are for sale at the visitor centers.
Only service animals are allowed in park buildings.
Where to stay with your dog in Phoenix.
Bark ParkPaved trailsDesignated wilderness
New Mexico
White Sands
Why we like itThe park says pets love the soft sand and the new smells, on a leash you can gather back in.
White Sands says you will love bringing a furry companion: new scents, sights, cool soft sand, and excitement, as long as they are non-disruptive, on a leash no longer than six feet, and under physical control. Two pet-walking stations with waste bags sit outside the visitor center, one beside the women’s restroom and one behind the picnic tables.
Pets are not allowed inside the visitor center. Do not leave a pet unattended, especially in a vehicle. The page says that if it is 75ºF outside, the inside of a vehicle can reach 100ºF within 10 minutes.
Soft sandWaste stations outside
Famous parks with a shorter list
People ask about these parks first. The welcome is real, and the park’s page says exactly where it stops.
Arizona
Grand Canyon
Why we like itThe South Rim has walks above the canyon for a leashed dog, and a kennel if the inner canyon is the plan.
The park says it loves dogs, big and small. On the South Rim, leashed pets are allowed on trails above the rim, at Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, Trailer Village, and throughout developed areas. Yavapai Lodge is the only in-park lodge with pet-friendly rooms.
The Grand Canyon Kennel, on the South Rim near Maswik Lodge, boards dogs and cats for the day or overnight. Reservations are recommended, especially in summer and on holidays. Dogs need proof of current rabies, DHLP, bordetella, and parvo. Cats need rabies, feline leukemia, and a distemper combo (FDVR). Indoor cats can skip the feline leukemia proof with a doctor’s note. The kennel is open daily from 7:30 am to 5 pm, at 928-638-0534. Outside those hours, pickup and drop-off are arranged in person at Maswik Lodge. For retrieval after 5 pm, the page lists Xanterra Fire & Safety at 928-638-2631.
Pets are not allowed below the rim, on inner canyon trails, or on park shuttle buses, and not in park lodging except a pet-friendly room. The park says it does not have a B.A.R.K. program or B.A.R.K. tags. On the North Rim, leashed pets are only allowed on the bridle trail (greenway) that connects the North Kaibab Trail, and on the portion of the Arizona Trail north to the park entrance station. There is no kennel on the North Rim. The pets page lists the North Rim season as May 15 to October 15 and points to current status and closures because of the Dragon Bravo fire. At Tuweep, leashed pets are only allowed on established roads and in the campground.
Where to stay with your dog in Phoenix.
Trails above the South RimSouth Rim kennelYavapai Lodge
Tennessee and North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains
Why we like itTwo named trails are the hike. Campgrounds, picnic areas, and the roads are open too.
Only two trails permit leashed pets: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Pets are also welcome in frontcountry campgrounds, in picnic areas, and along roads.
The park says most trails and many areas are off-limits, and it suggests considering leaving a pet at home if you want a wider hike. Dogs have been prohibited in the backcountry since the park was established in the 1930s. In bear country the page says not to let a dog bark at, chase, or corner a bear. It says that if a dog runs after a bear and leads it back, there is a 50% chance the dog will be injured or killed, and a higher chance a person will be hurt if they try to help.
Where to stay with your dog in Gatlinburg. Where to stay with your dog in Pigeon Forge.
Gatlinburg TrailOconaluftee River TrailCampgrounds
Checked · Great Smoky Mountains pets page (opens in a new tab)
California
Yosemite
Why we like itA few famous valley walks are paved and open to a dog, even though most trails are not.
Pets are allowed in developed areas, and on fully paved roads, sidewalks, and bicycle paths except where a sign says otherwise. The page names Bridalveil Fall trail, Lower Yosemite Fall trail, the paved trail through Cook’s Meadow (including boardwalks), and the paved road to Mirror Lake, not the unpaved trail around the lake. Pets are allowed on the Wawona Meadow Loop. They are allowed in campgrounds except walk-in campgrounds, such as Camp 4, and except group campsites.
A few more places are on the page. At Wawona: Chowchilla Mountain Road, and the Four Mile and Eleven Mile fire roads, but not the Four Mile Trail in Yosemite Valley. At Hodgdon Meadow: Carlon Road from the trailhead to Hodgdon Meadow, but not to Carlon Falls, and the Old Big Oak Flat Road from Hodgdon Meadow to the Tuolumne Grove parking lot, but not the Old Big Oak Flat Road trail. Dogs are allowed on the road within Tuolumne Grove, not on the nature trail. You can pick up a B.A.R.K. Ranger pledge card at any Yosemite visitor center. Store pet food the way you store human food. The page says pet food is also bear food.
Pets are not allowed on other trails, including the trail to Vernal Fall, even if they are carried. Also closed: unplowed roads covered in snow, wilderness and other undeveloped areas, all meadows, beaches, and waterways, public buildings, shuttle buses, and lodging areas, including Housekeeping Camp. There is no exception for a pet in a backpack, carrier, stroller, or your arms.
Bridalveil Fall trailLower Yosemite FallCook’s Meadow
Checked · Yosemite pets page (opens in a new tab)
Before you clip on the leash
The National Park Service says parks welcome pets in developed areas, on many trails and campgrounds, and in some lodging. It also says many parks do not allow pets on hiking trails or boardwalks, and that each park’s page is the one to check. B.A.R.K. means bag your pet’s waste, always leash your pet, respect wildlife, and know where you can go. The hiking-with-pets page says to keep a dog on a 6-foot leash. Some parks offer a walk with a ranger, some a pledge, and some the honor system.
Do not leave a dog in a closed car. Acadia says summer sunshine is a threat to pets in vehicles. Cuyahoga Valley says that on a 75°F day, the inside can reach 100 degrees in a matter of minutes, even with the windows partly open. White Sands says that at 75ºF outside, the inside can reach 100ºF within 10 minutes. Grand Canyon says not to leave a pet in a closed vehicle when temperatures are hot.
Checked · Pets in national parks (opens in a new tab) · Hiking with pets (opens in a new tab) · B.A.R.K. Ranger program (opens in a new tab) · Visiting parks with pets (opens in a new tab) · Acadia pets page (opens in a new tab) · Cuyahoga Valley pets page (opens in a new tab) · White Sands pets page (opens in a new tab) · Grand Canyon pets page (opens in a new tab)
Your questions, answered
The short answerAre dogs allowed in US national parks?
National parks welcome pets in developed areas, on many trails and campgrounds, and in some lodging. Many parks do not allow pets on hiking trails or boardwalks, and each park sets its own rules, so the pet page is the one to read before you go. The parks on this guide are ones whose pages name a real place to walk.
Checked · Pets in national parks (opens in a new tab) · Hiking with pets (opens in a new tab) · Visiting parks with pets (opens in a new tab)
The leashDoes my dog have to stay on a leash?
Yes. The National Park Service hiking-with-pets page says to keep a dog on a 6-foot leash. B.A.R.K. means bag your pet’s waste, always leash your pet, respect wildlife, and know where you can go. Every park on this page states a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Checked · Hiking with pets (opens in a new tab) · B.A.R.K. Ranger program (opens in a new tab)
The SmokiesWhich Great Smoky Mountains trails allow dogs?
Only two trails permit leashed pets: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Pets are also welcome in frontcountry campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads. Most other trails are off-limits.
Checked · Great Smoky Mountains pets page (opens in a new tab)
Grand CanyonCan my dog hike below the rim at the Grand Canyon?
No. Pets are not allowed below the rim, on inner canyon trails, or on park shuttle buses. On the South Rim, leashed pets are allowed on trails above the rim, at Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, Trailer Village, and in developed areas. A kennel on the South Rim boards dogs and cats while you go farther.
AcadiaCan my dog swim at Acadia?
Most lakes in the park are public water supplies, and pets and people may not swim in them. Sand Beach is off-limits to pets from June 15 through September 8, and Echo Lake from May 15 through September 15. Carriage roads and most trails are still open to a leashed dog.
Checked · Acadia pets page (opens in a new tab)
B.A.R.K. RangerWhat is a B.A.R.K. Ranger?
B.A.R.K. stands for bag your pet’s waste, always leash your pet, respect wildlife, and know where you can go. Each park designs its own version. Some offer a walk with a ranger, some a pledge, and some ask you to follow the principles on the honor system. The National Park Service describes it as visit a park, take the pledge, get a badge.
Checked · B.A.R.K. Ranger program (opens in a new tab) · Pets in national parks (opens in a new tab)
Service dogsAre emotional support animals allowed on trails that are closed to pets?
No. Acadia says emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not service animals, and that a service animal may go to all park locations. Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite say emotional support, therapy, and companion animals follow the pet rules. Grand Canyon quotes the Americans with Disabilities Act: emotional support, comfort, or companionship is not the work of a service animal.
Checked · Acadia pets page (opens in a new tab) · Great Smoky Mountains pets page (opens in a new tab) · Yosemite pets page (opens in a new tab) · Grand Canyon pets page (opens in a new tab)