These Are the Most Pet-Friendly National Parks to Hike With Your Dog
These are the best parks to get fresh air with your furry friend.
From the geysers of Yellowstone to the waterfalls of Yosemite, the U.S. National Parks are home to some of the most stunning sights in the country. What better place to hike and camp with your pet, right? Not so fast.
It may surprise you to learn that many national parks don’t allow pets. Curious dogs can unintentionally upset delicate ecosystems or species by chasing small animals or disturbing ground nests. And the parks can pose dangers to your pet as well, like encounters with bears or poisonous snakes.
But there's some good news! Some national parks are pet friendly and safe, offering hundreds of miles of hiking paths where pets who are kept on a leash can hike with you. To enjoy the natural beauty of our country with your furry friend, check out the eight most pet-friendly national parks. Before you head out, always remember to check the individual rules of the park you want to visit.
What to Know Before Taking a Pet to a National Park
The National Park Service encourages you and your pet to become a B.A.R.K. ranger by following pet safety standards. If you take a pet into a National Park, remember these guiding principles to protect both your pet and the park:
- Bag your pet’s waste
- Always leash your pet
- Respect wildlife
- Know where you can go
The rules vary from park to park, but most parks require leashes to be no longer than six feet. Remember that pet food can attract bears, so exercise caution with packing snacks. Bring plenty of water to keep your pet hydrated — a good rule of thumb is to bring at least as much water for your pet as you are bringing for yourself. Lastly, always use common sense when hiking. Tell somebody where you will be, and take a cell phone with you.
Acadia National Park
This beautiful Maine park has lots of options for hiking with your pet including more than 100 miles of pet-friendly hiking and another 45 miles of carriage roads where you can bring a leashed dog. Nearby campgrounds are dog friendly too, but be aware of ticks in the underbrush that can latch onto you and your dog.
Yosemite National Park
A few hours east of San Fransisco, this home of Half Dome offers the Wawona Meadow Loop trail, a 3.5 mile hike with beautiful wildflowers where leashed pets are welcome. There are many paved roads, sidewalks and bike paths throughout Yosemite where pets are allowed, but be sure to check the signage first to confirm.
Bears are common, so keep your pet close and be careful with any food (human or pet) that you bring with you.
North Cascades National Park
Most of the trails at Washington's North Cascades do not allow pets. But the major exception is the Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from Southern California to Washington.
This trail is challenging but beautiful. It offers the unique opportunity to do an overnight backpacking trip with your dog, but make sure your dog is properly trained to behave safely on the trail and is ready for that level of exertion.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Near Cleveland, OH, Cuyahoga Valley offers forests, hills and farmland in a pet-friendly setting. The park has 110 miles of pet-friendly hiking for you to enjoy with your dog. However, pets aren’t allowed on the park’s Scenic Railroad Train, so if you’d like to ride on the park’s historic train, you’ll have to schedule a separate trip without your pup.
Shenandoah National Park
Almost all of the hiking trails in northern Virginia's Shenandoah National Park are pet-friendly — of the 500 miles of trails, only about 20 miles don’t allow pets. Dogs are welcome at Shenandoah campgrounds, and the park even includes pet-friendly lodging. If you or your pup prefer not to walk a longer distance, short hikes are easily accessible off of the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway.
Mammoth Cave National Park
The main draw of this national park in Kentucky is the 336 miles of underground hiking in the massive cave system. Except for registered service animals, pets are not allowed inside the caves, which means you’ll need to miss the main attraction if you bring your dog.
However, the park has surrounding woodland with 70 miles of trails where pets are welcome to hike. The park also offers kennels where you can board a dog for the day if you would like to hike outside and then see the caves.
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most iconic national parks, but because of the steep drop offs, it can also be dangerous to dogs. For this reason, pets aren’t allowed below the rim of the canyon. However, you can take pets along the 13-mile South Rim Trail for beautiful views.
Pets are not allowed on the park shuttle buses, but there are kennels offered near the South Rim Trail if you want to explore below the rim. Make sure you have proof of your dog’s vaccinations if you want to use the kennel.
Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park, in South Carolina, is home to the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern U.S. Even better, leashed pets are allowed on all the trails in the park. You can rent a canoe or kayak to see the park from the water on a 50-mile paddle trail, a perfect adventure for an adventurous pup.
Sarah Vincent (she/her) covers the latest and greatest in books and all things pets for Good Housekeeping. She double majored in Creative Writing and Criminal Justice at Loyola University Chicago, where she sat in the front row for every basketball game. In her spare time, she loves cooking, crafting, studying Japanese, and, of course, reading.
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