What dog doesn’t like going for a W-A-L-K?
According to the American Pet Products Association, approximately 62 percent of households in the United States have pets, which include about 78 million dogs. Many people include their dogs in their travel plans, since placing a dog in a kennel for an extended period of time can be quite expensive, as well as stressful for the dog.
Many national park sites allow dogs on specified trails, and some national park concessioners allow dogs in some lodging facilities, like Xanterra Parks and Resorts at Yellowstone National Park and Delaware North Companies at Shenandoah National Park.
If you plan to bring your dog with you on a visit to a national park, you should be prepared. An important thing to remember is that heat can kill. Be sure to carry enough water for you and your pet. If you travel to a park where dogs are allowed only in specific areas, don’t leave your dog in a hot vehicle or RV while you explore parts of the park that restrict dogs. This practice is generally prohibited at national park sites, and your pet could be impounded.
Hot sand and rocky terrain can injure the sensitive pads on a dog’s feet, so be sure that Fido’s precious paws are protected. Hiking through wooded areas in parks can pose a danger of ticks, which can spread diseases to you and your pet. Wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself, and check your dog thoroughly after a visit to a park to prevent any ticks from latching on to your dog. Don’t deviate from trails while visiting a park with your dog, since harmful insects and reptiles such as poisonous snakes and spiders can hide in tall grasses and shrubbery.
Some national park sites do not allow dogs, and there are very good reasons for these restrictions:
* Dogs can potentially carry diseases that could affect the park’s wildlife. Unvaccinated dogs could spread diseases to park wildlife. Unfortunately, not all pet owners are responsible about keeping their dog’s vaccinations up to date.
* Dogs can unknowingly threaten wildlife, scaring birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding, and resting sites. The scent left by a dog can signal the presence of a predator, disrupting or altering the behavior of park wildlife. Small animals may hide in their burrow the entire day after smelling a dog and may not venture out to feed.
Clover showing off her Bark Service bandana.
* Unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can disturb even the calmest, friendliest, and best-trained dogs, causing them to behave unpredictably or bark excessively. Domesticated dogs are descended from wolves, and their instincts can take over in a situation where they feel threatened or frightened.
* Pets may become prey for larger predators such as coyotes, mountain lions, and bears in some of the larger wilderness parks. Additionally, if a dog disturbs and enrages a bear, it may lead the angry bear directly to the owner. Dogs can also encounter insects that bite and transmit disease, and plants that are poisonous or full of thorns and burrs.
* Historic structures, archaeological sites, and sacred grounds are no places for dogs. Fido could unknowingly damage historic buildings or artifacts, disturb important archaeological sites, and walk over or relieve themselves in places that are sacred to Native Americans and other groups.
* Not everyone is a “dog person.” In fact, some people are afraid of dogs, and it is the responsibility of park officials to provide a safe, enjoyable environment for all visitors, even if they aren’t “dog people.” These rules are in place not only to protect your dog, but to protect you and other visitors as well as the environs of the park.
Failure to adhere to a park’s pet policy may result in a citation (minimum fine is $75). 36 CFR 2.15 (Code of Federal Regulations) provides more details concerning pets in National Park Service areas.
Here is a list of a few national park sites that allow dogs, and their specific rules. Check the National Park Service’s website or contact a park directly for individual rules regarding dogs in parks before visiting-- each park may have different stipulations based on the location, resources, and environment of the park.
Saratoga National Historical Park, with its rolling hills and gorgeous scenery of the Hudson Valley in New York, is a wonderful place for leashed dogs and their owners to explore. Although dogs are not allowed in the visitor center or inside park buildings, the park offers a tie-up area adjacent to the visitor center entrance, and provides water and waste bags in certain areas.
Dogs are welcome at Cape Hatteras National Seashore! Horses are allowed at Cape Hatteras as well, and can travel anywhere vehicles are permitted to drive except in campgrounds. Horses are required to use ORV (Off Road Vehicle) ramps when crossing dunes. There are some understandable restrictions at Cape Hatteras: Pets are not allowed on designated swim beaches or in buildings, nor are they allowed in protected resource areas such as sea bird and sea turtle nesting areas.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, situated between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, is a great place to take your dog. It has more than 100 miles of multi-use trails! Dogs must be restrained on a leash that is six feet or shorter in length on park lands at all times, and they are not permitted in park buildings or on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (exception for service animals).
At Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Kentucky, leashed dogs are welcomed throughout the park’s 24,000 acres. Horses are permitted on designated trails and at the Hensley Camp, White Rocks, and Martins Fork backcountry campsites.
Devils Postpile National Monument in California is so dog-friendly that it includes dogs in its volunteer program, called the “Paw Patrol.” Volunteers patrol the park with their canine companions to help keep visitors educated on the rules associated with dogs at the monument, and to serve as ambassadors on the trails, sharing information with visitors and answering questions.
Eastern National, a cooperating association at more than 150 national park sites, has introduced the “National Bark Ranger” product line for dogs, which will allow them to show their national park pride. There are several items available in multiple colors, including a leash, collars, bandanas, a poo bag dispenser, a pull toy, and a collapsible water bowl, all emblazoned with the fun “Bark Ranger” logo. These items are available at some national park sites and on eParks.com. Click here to see the full product line.
So get out there and take your dog for a W-A-L-K in a park—it will be great fun for both of you!
Comments
You're not supposed to leave your dog or your kids unattended in a vehicle, so to me it's the same thing. I SORT of understand the "it could be harmful to your pet or the surroundings" so why not make it mostly pet friendly with warning and at your own risk? Suggest that upon entering the park there's doggies waste bags given and maybe a fee so that all may enjoy. Also make it known that upon entry with a pet you must present a certificate of health for your pet to travel that most vets will provide and are required within 7 days of flight travel anyways. That's proves they are healthy, you've now covered health, waste, and a fee everyone pays for that one dumb pet owner who doesn't clean up or is irresposible. Also provide a small inside cool place to check your pet in if that park doesn't allow pets in really cool places. Let's just be fair and stop punishing people who don't have pet sitters and people who just want to enjoy the scenery with their best friend. No one want to drive around a park for 3 and a half hours just to only have to stay in tour car because your pet isn't allowed. It's just not fair. You can't leave your kid why should you be FORCED to leave your pet?
Absolutely right! I can't believe that my dog isn't allowed in areas that horses are! These policies are ridiculous.
People who enjoy the outdoors, wildlife and parks are very often pet owners. The majority of which are responsible. Recently walking on a "No dogs" beach I was watching horses and unsupervised children all of which were doing more damage than my dog would. Years ago we were required to show proof of vaccination when we entered a park with our pets. Owners who do not control their animals should be penalized but banning all dogs to hot parking lots, cars, or roads is just cruel and destroys the experience for the whole family. At Lassen our dog wasn't allowed even in the devastated area, what could be hurt in a are blasted out by a volcano! Almost all the excuses that state "dog" could be changed to child or adult. Someone in the a position of power at the NPS must hate animals and families. The parks are for the enjoyment of all. The majority of families own pets and vacation is not enjoyable without their pet.
The policy needs to be addressed and changed to at least allow some pet accessible areas in each park instead of the punitive policy in place now.
I will never forget my last trip to Yosemite, Sequoia NP & Kings Canyon. One of the giants is surrounded with a fence along with a sign that clearly reads "Keep Out". I pointed this out to the family who was climbing on the bottom of the tree as they posed for a picture and I was basically told to mind my own business. As soon as that family crossed back over the fence, another couple was quick to hop the fence. I don't think that dogs put the parks or their contents at risk...unless they belong to people above the law...the people who climb fences are probably the same people who never pick up doggy doodoo which is probably the root of the anti-dog laws.
Your bias is obvious and overlooks some valid points. I personally witnessed a dog off leash in YNP catch and kill an animal. Everyone except the owner was angry, he just roared off in his vehicle like nothing happened. You also are overlooking the fact that your pet can be injured or killed by wildlife. A dear friend's dog likely died from exposure to wildlife near where I live but they will never know exactly what happened because they just let the beautiful dog run out of view. Who knows what that dog encountered. It's time for maturity and adult behaviour on your part.
Pretty laughable that Parks are "allowing dogs". Pictured Rocks in Michigan, you can have them at your campsite, but not on any trails or anywhere outside your campsite. That's effectively a ban without a ban. Who is going to sit at their campsite the whole day or otherwise leave their dogs in the kennel all day? Unfortunately, if you own a pet, you are effectively persona non-grata at National Parks.
This is a ridiculous policy!! I live in Arizona and visit the Grand Canyon all the time. I watch continuously as people, KIDS and people visiting from foreign countries, constantly disrespect our National Parks. They leave the trails, stand precariously at the edge of the canyons, trample sensitive planting areas, etc. People visiting have scratched their names into rocks, sprayed painted names, etc. in our parks all around this state and the Utah parks. What can a leashed dog possibly do to a park that disrespectful, out of control visitors haven't already done? I want to take my little dog hiking with me in the back of a carried backpack. Nobody would even know she was there. And, if I am caught I would get a fine??????? But someone's little brat or someone visiting from another country can crawl all over the Indian Ruins we have here that are supposed to be protected and that is just fine.
I'm disgusted.
And for the person who carries mase and a tazer when they hike in case a dog should attack them so they prefer national parks? Where the heck do you nornally walk? It must be some broken down city with rabid, attack dogs running wild everywhere. I would suggest you just stay home and never leave. No dog in my neighborhood on a leash would ever deserve to be attacked by you!
I have been a long-time supporter and user of national parks, and I'm a first-time dog owner. Maybe I'm missing something because these restrictions don't seem that unreasonable. I've hiked the Grand Canyon twice, and there is no way I would ever take my GSD with me into the canyon because it's too risky. My dog is wonderful and he's trained, but he could still be spooked or excited by so many things he's never encountered before: pack mules, strange hikers, steep trails, unfamiliar wildlife, etc. And if he was injured in a place where the NPS would have to send in a helicopter or other emergency rescue method, I'm not confident they would make the effort for a pet. I also agree with the comment in the article that dogs could stress some of the native wildlife, and I would rather find other places to spend time with my dog. I don't want someone bringing a wild moose into my backyard and stressing/injuring/killing my dog!
I also completely agree that there are many irresponsible people who visit our parks, and I wish the park service would fine and/or ban those people from the park system. But using that as a reason to justify full access to the parks for dogs is not a valid argument to me.