You can take your pet to the national parks, just understand the rules, regulations, and your pet's needs/NPS, A.W. Biel

We never imagined that someday we would trade our backpacks for a big, boxy trailer. But it was the perfect way to give our dying dog the road trip of a lifetime. The learning curve was steep but once we discovered the joys of RVing with pets to national parks, campgrounds, and public lands, there was no turning back. During the last 13 years of living on the road full-time, here’s what we’ve learned about camping with pets in America’s parks.

Lesson One: Know the Pet Hazards

Planning a national park adventure strictly around your bucket list will set you up for disappointment at best, and disaster at worst. As tourists carrying the comforts of home, we tend to forget that national parks are set in some of the wildest, remote places on the continent. A well-prepared RVer can easily cope with these challenging environments, but pets are often safer and more comfortable at home or in a kennel.

Before you go RVing with pets in national parks, research the region’s climate and environmental conditions before bringing your dog or cat along. The landscape, native plants, and animals in many park sites are rife with pet hazards. Some parks have more than others, many are dense with thorny plants and wild critters that sting, bite and entice pets into dangerous territory.

Ironically, the tough terrain might seem impervious to paw prints, but the truth is that it can be highly sensitive to the impact of pets. From dog poop polluting pristine lakes and rivers to scaring wild native animals out of ordinary routines, a domestic pet brings a host of potential and sometimes lethal problems.

Always keep your dog on a leash in the national parks/NPS, A.W. Biel

Extreme weather can also be a hazard. We learned this the hard way during our first visit to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. It was July, and we foolishly didn’t consider that the scorching temperatures could be dangerous for our dog. On our way up we justified the journey because the campground has electric hookups. Technically we could have left him in the RV with the air conditioner running. But in the heat of the blistering day when we arrived, we didn’t want to risk a power failure. Jerry never left our side, and our visit was considerably curtailed. Exploring on foot was out of the question for our three-legged dog, and we missed a lot of the park’s best features.

As pet parents, it’s our responsibility to protect our dogs and cats from harm wherever we roam together. Once we place our pet’s needs above our own, a better, richer experience follows.

Lesson Two: Some National Parks are More Pet-Friendly Than Others*

All park sites require pets to be leashed, under control and away from wildlife, but some have more lenient pet policies than others. For example, although most national parks allow them in campgrounds, at view points, on paved paths and picnic areas, a handful allow pets on unpaved hiking trails or in the backcountry. These are the places you want to visit. They include:

Yosemite National Park (California), where dogs can romp on the unpaved Wawona Meadow Loop trail and trot on bicycle paths. A summertime kennel makes it easy to temporarily park your dog in a safe place so you can explore in the backcountry.

Acadia National Park (Maine), which allows dogs on over 100 miles of hiking trails and 40 miles of carriage roads that wind through the park.

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia), featuring nearly 500 miles of pet-friendly hiking trails and one of the few sites that allow pets in the backcountry. 

North Cascades National Parks (Washington), a lush coastal landscape where dogs can hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, neighboring recreation lands and throughout the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio), which has about 130 miles of dog-friendly hiking trails through dense forest.

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona), allows dogs on any trails above the canyon rim. When you want to hike to the bottom where pets are prohibited, a neighboring South Rim kennel conveniently provides day boarding.

* Check the park's website, as some of the above parks do have limits on the trails pets can travel.

The National Park Service is trying hard to welcome travelers with pets while promoting responsible behavior in the park. A fun “B.A.R.K. Ranger” activity (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pets/bark-rangers.htm) in many visitor centers encourages pet parents to engage in a short program that allows dogs to earn an official “Bark Ranger” ambassador badge if they pledge to:

Bag pet waste

Always leash pets

Respect wildlife and

Know where to go with pets at the park

As of 2020 participating BARK Ranger national parks include:

Acadia National Park (Maine)

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (Nebraska)

Biscayne Bay National Park and De Soto National Memorial (Florida)

Devil’s Tower National Monument (Wyoming)

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (Oregon & Washington)

Friendship Hill National Historic Site (Pennsylvania)

Gateway Arch National Park and George Washington Carver National Monument (Missouri)

Golden Spike National Historic Park (Utah)

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

Gulf Islands National Seashore (Florida & Mississippi)

Harper’s Ferry National Historic Park (West Virginia)

Hopewell Culture National Historic Site (Ohio)

Independence Hall National Park (Pennsylvania)

Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

Little River Canyon National Preserve (Alabama)

Minute Man National Historic Park (Massachusetts)

Montezuma Castle National Monument (Arizona)

Natchez Trace Parkway (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee)

Olympic National Park (Washington)

Pecos National Historical Park (New Mexico)

Petersburg National Battlefield (Virginia)

Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

Redwood National Park (California)

San Juan Islands National Park (Washington)

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site (New York)

Tonto National Monument (Arizona)

Tuzigoot National Monument (Arizona)

Vicksburg National Military Park (Mississippi)

A well-trained pet, and a leash, go hand-in-hand in the parks/NPS, A.W. Biel

Lesson Three: Set an Example with Mindful Behavior

All pet parents know that the one thing our pets want most in this world is to be by our side. They don’t care where they do it, and they certainly don’t ask to go to the national parks. We take our little captive dogs and cats to these wild, unfamiliar and sometimes scary places without their consent. When we do, setting them up for success is critical for everyone’s sake by remembering that:

National parks were created for the public, not our pets. As much as I wish that my dog could go everywhere with me, the reality is that he can not—and neither can yours. Try not to take it personally if a “No pets” sign puts an end to your national park plans. That sign is there for a good reason—to preserve the sights, sounds, and activities that you went there for in the first place. If all of us want to be welcomed back with dogs, we must remember the rules apply to all of us.

RVs are not boarding kennels. A trailer or motorhome can give a false sense of security in the wild when you have all the comforts of home. Between little luxuries like the fridge, mattresses, and microwave, it’s easy to forget that just beyond the door are neighbors who crave the same solitude as you. Those thin fiberglass walls won’t muffle the sad sounds of a lonely, whining dog left alone all day. And RVs look solid, but they offer minimal protection from a determined bear who only sees a giant lunchbox. Always try to minimize the time you leave your pet alone in the RV, even if you believe your dog doesn’t bark or that bears aren’t a threat.

The author, and the author's dog, know the rules for visiting national parks with pets/Rene Agredano

Pet sitters are ready to help. If you have a dog who doesn’t mind being kenneled, make the most of your park visit by hiring a local pet sitter. Many small towns outside of popular pet-friendly national parks have dog sitters and cat kennelers ready to help you enjoy an unrestricted day in the park. You’ll find these pet lovers through local veterinary clinics, the chamber of commerce and websites like Rover.com and DogVacay.com. Many national parks also have traditional kennels right outside park gates, including: 

Yosemite National Park, California: Yosemite Hospitality operates a dog kennel from late May through early September. Many Rover.com dog providers have home-based pet sitting in surrounding towns.

Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce Canyon, Utah: Private dog kennels offer boarding in Panguitch and South Escalante.

Arches and Canyonlands, Utah: Moab has three kennels ranging from a veterinary clinic boarding facility to a doggie B&B.

The Grand Canyon, Arizona: Leave your pet at a private kennel on the South Rim near Maswik Lodge.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado: Plenty of kennels and dog sitters are ready for your pet at the eastern entrance in Estes Park and at the park's western side in Grand Lake.

If there’s a national park that plenty of people want to visit, odds are good that a local pet sitter is ready for hire. As with any pet sitting service, always check for references and bring along proof of immunizations (rabies, distemper, parvo, and Bordetella) and any other items to keep your pet safe and happy.

I wouldn’t trade RVing with pets to national parks for anything. Sure, there are many limitations when you bring them along. But from Yosemite to Acadia and everywhere in-between, our adventures with our first dog Jerry were the highlights of the ten years he was alive.

Today we are still RVing, but with another dog. Wyatt is the center of our universe not so much because of who he is, but rather, what he is. Simply put, he’s a dog. And like all canines, he teaches us how to savor every moment and appreciate nature’s beauty. By honoring his instincts while respecting the rules, our national park visits are creating another ten-plus years of unforgettable, happy memories for all of us.

This article was made possible through underwriting from RVShare.com