Are dogs allowed in National Parks? Yes and No

Technically, you can bring your dog into National Parks in America, but it probably isn’t worth it.

Last year, we were planning a road trip to three National Parks within a reasonable driving distance from Boise, Idaho. The list included Lassen Volcano, Crater Lake, and Redwoods National Parks. Our truck camper conversion was complete, and the cozy camper shell would be our home during the ten-day excursion. Now when we plan a road trip the first thing on our packing list is our four-legged companion, Kona. Before Kona is loaded into the back seat (where she promptly passes out), we always check the rules for where we can and can’t bring our pup hiking.

I scoured each of the parks websites, but I found the language a little confusing. I surmised, yes, you can bring your dog, but they can’t go on any of the unpaved hiking trails. So you’re only allowed to walk your dog on what boils down to a sidewalk. I wasn’t about to haul Kona hundreds of miles so she could sit in the car while we tramped about in the woods.

I was frustrated. I bitched and moaned about how nature shouldn’t have rules and cursed the people who undoubtedly must have done something to have these limitations established. When I finally settled down and began thinking of things from the Park Rangers perspective, I dug in and did a little research on why there are so many restrictions on dogs inside National Parks.

Agitating the Wildlife

If you have visited Yellowstone, you’ll notice the wildlife seems oddly okay being around humans. Hunting in most National Parks is forbidden. Therefore the Bison and Elk in Yellowstone don’t see humans as a threat (unless you get close to them). I imagine they look upon our petite, mostly furless frames and think nothing of us. Humans are everyday occurrences in the parks, so we are predictable to wildlife. We snap some quick photos and walk away. Dogs are viewed differently by other creatures. They stare at dogs the same way we stare at exotic animals. Most animals aren’t familiar with the domesticated version of the wolf. In the animal kingdom, wolves are a threat, even to other wolves. So just the smell of your dog or sharp bark could enrage the bison, elk, bear, etc. and causing you, your pet and others around you to be in danger.

Marking Their Territory

I think we are all familiar with how dogs mark what’s theirs. Inevitably your dog is going to have to relieve itself on the trail. In normal circumstances, a little leaf watering is okay when you’re out on your favorite trail. So now imagine if hundreds or thousands of dogs were regularly using your chosen path as a bathroom. Even the most remote hiking trails inside of National Parks get used more than your average backcountry trail, so the bathroom breaks become an issue. Like I mentioned earlier, wildlife views dogs as threats. If local animals realize these trails get frequented by predators based on the smell of the urine, they will change their natural patterns causing a ripple in the ecosystem. Who knows how that would transform the environment. Us humans have already changed their landscape, let’s try to limit further disruptions.

Limited Resources

We don’t like to think about it, but your dog could get hurt, sick or lost while traveling trails in the park. The Park Rangers are already at max capacity preventing knucklehead amateurs from falling off the side of the Grand Canyon while trying to take a selfie. Dogs have several advantages over humans (like being undeniably adorable), but they are still susceptible to heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration. Dogs can’t vocalize their trouble into words, so you have to keep a keen eye on their mannerisms to identify symptoms before they materialize. If you typically don’t bring your pet on long hikes, you may not be able to diagnose such issues. The parks are underfunded, and they can’t dedicate the resources to canine search and rescue missions.

We have to respect the rules of our wild spaces to keep these areas protected. This includes those involving dogs in National Parks. With all the restrictions, you have to make a choice when visiting the parks; Do you bring your dog and not experience the best trails? Or do you leave your best friend at home and run free? It’s not an ideal situation no matter how you slice it, but hopefully, it makes sense to people why the rules about bringing your dog to the National Parks exist.

To see parks rules for bringing your pet to a specific National Park click here.

What are your thoughts on bringing dogs to National Parks? Any tips and tricks if you do end up bringing them? Let us know!