Editor’s Note: Always check the park\u2019s website before heading out in case policies have changed. All parks require pets to be on a 6-foot leash at all times. All U.S. National Parks websites can be found at nps.gov.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Having a dog means having a constant sidekick who is always up for an adventure. While there are many spots around the country where dogs are more than welcome, national parks are a bit more restrictive. And it makes sense \u2014 national parks often have fragile ecosystems with a rich wildlife population, so rules are in place to protect the park, its wildlife and your pet.<\/p>\n Many national parks and historical areas\/monuments only allow on-leash dogs within a certain distance from the road, picnic area or campground (like at Joshua Tree National Park), but some parks have something for everyone, including dogs! Here are a few of our favorites.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re craving the salty, ocean air and sound of waves crashing, head to Acadia National Park and you won\u2019t have to leave Fido at home. Dogs are allowed on all 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, as well as the Blackwoods, Seawall and Schoodic Woods campgrounds. (Fun fact for you early birds: Acadia is the first place in the United States where you can watch the sun come up in the morning!)<\/p>\n Photo: Ron Karpel | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Who doesn\u2019t have the Grand Canyon on the bucket list? Luckily, your dog can tag along, too \u2014 on any trail above the rim as well as the Mather Campground, Desert View Campground and Trailer Village. If you want to explore the trails in the canyon, many hotels in the area are pet-friendly, and the South Rim Kennel is available if you need to board your dog.<\/p>\n Photo: Sara Valenti | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dogs are only allowed on certain trails in this park on the Olympic Peninsula, but it\u2019s worth the trip to take in the lush forest and driftwood-laden beaches. Pets can accompany you on a trek on Peabody Creek Trail, Rialto Beach parking lot to Ellen Creek, the beaches in the Kalaloch area between the Hoh and Quinault Reservations, Madison Falls Trail, Spruce Railroad Trail and July Creek Loop Trail.<\/p>\n Photo: Wilsilver77 | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You and your dog can go anywhere in this Civil War historical park \u2014 except on the park shuttle or in buildings \u2014 so explore wherever you\u2019d like. Another perk to bringing your dog here is you have plenty of additional hiking options along the famous Appalachian Trail \u2014 it runs right through town!<\/p>\n Photo: Jose A Feliciano Cestero | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo mountains in Southern Colorado lies a 30-square-mile sand dune field. This unique spot allows dogs on many of the designated trails in the Main Use Area of the park, including Pi\u00f1on Flats Campground and even out on the dunes (just not beyond the first high ridge). The sand can get very hot in the summer, so only take your dog out in the morning or evening.<\/p>\n Photo: scgerding| Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dogs are allowed on more than 110 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of the Towpath Trail along the Cuyahoga River. Known for its beautiful waterfalls and gorgeous fall colors, the national park should be on any road-trip list.<\/p>\n Photo: typhoonski | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dogs are allowed pretty much anywhere here. The only place they can\u2019t go are inside buildings, but with more than 60 miles of beach to explore and five camping areas, there is plenty of room for everyone to romp.<\/p>\n \u27bc Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash. Off-leash dogs can be a danger to wildlife or themselves (many parks are in rugged areas) or might bother other visitors, even if they\u2019re trying to be friendly. The next time you are going on a family trip to a national park, don\u2019t worry about leaving your dog at home \u2014 with a little extra planning (and maybe some new ideas from this list), everyone can join in on the fun.<\/p>\n Top photograph: Try Media | Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: Hiking With Dogs: A Guide to Safely Taking a Hike With Your Dog<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The post 7 Of Our Favorite Dog-Friendly National Parks<\/a> by Abbie Mood<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post 7 Of Our Favorite Dog-Friendly National Parks<\/a> by Abbie Mood<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Editor’s Note: Always check the park\u2019s website before heading out in case policies have changed. All parks require pets to be on a 6-foot leash at all times. All U.S. National Parks websites can be found at nps.gov.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Having a dog means having a constant sidekick who is always up for an adventure. While there are many spots around the country where dogs are more than welcome, national parks are a bit more restrictive. And it makes sense \u2014 national parks often have fragile ecosystems with a rich wildlife population, so rules are in place to protect the park, its wildlife and your pet.<\/p>\n Many national parks and historical areas\/monuments only allow on-leash dogs within a certain distance from the road, picnic area or campground (like at Joshua Tree National Park), but some parks have something for everyone, including dogs! Here are a few of our favorites.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re craving the salty, ocean air and sound of waves crashing, head to Acadia National Park and you won\u2019t have to leave Fido at home. Dogs are allowed on all 100 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, as well as the Blackwoods, Seawall and Schoodic Woods campgrounds. (Fun fact for you early birds: Acadia is the first place in the United States where you can watch the sun come up in the morning!)<\/p>\n Photo: Ron Karpel | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Who doesn\u2019t have the Grand Canyon on the bucket list? Luckily, your dog can tag along, too \u2014 on any trail above the rim as well as the Mather Campground, Desert View Campground and Trailer Village. If you want to explore the trails in the canyon, many hotels in the area are pet-friendly, and the South Rim Kennel is available if you need to board your dog.<\/p>\n Photo: Sara Valenti | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dogs are only allowed on certain trails in this park on the Olympic Peninsula, but it\u2019s worth the trip to take in the lush forest and driftwood-laden beaches. Pets can accompany you on a trek on Peabody Creek Trail, Rialto Beach parking lot to Ellen Creek, the beaches in the Kalaloch area between the Hoh and Quinault Reservations, Madison Falls Trail, Spruce Railroad Trail and July Creek Loop Trail.<\/p>\n Photo: Wilsilver77 | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You and your dog can go anywhere in this Civil War historical park \u2014 except on the park shuttle or in buildings \u2014 so explore wherever you\u2019d like. Another perk to bringing your dog here is you have plenty of additional hiking options along the famous Appalachian Trail \u2014 it runs right through town!<\/p>\n Photo: Jose A Feliciano Cestero | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo mountains in Southern Colorado lies a 30-square-mile sand dune field. This unique spot allows dogs on many of the designated trails in the Main Use Area of the park, including Pi\u00f1on Flats Campground and even out on the dunes (just not beyond the first high ridge). The sand can get very hot in the summer, so only take your dog out in the morning or evening.<\/p>\n Photo: scgerding| Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dogs are allowed on more than 110 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of the Towpath Trail along the Cuyahoga River. Known for its beautiful waterfalls and gorgeous fall colors, the national park should be on any road-trip list.<\/p>\n Photo: typhoonski | Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dogs are allowed pretty much anywhere here. The only place they can\u2019t go are inside buildings, but with more than 60 miles of beach to explore and five camping areas, there is plenty of room for everyone to romp.<\/p>\n \u27bc Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash. Off-leash dogs can be a danger to wildlife or themselves (many parks are in rugged areas) or might bother other visitors, even if they\u2019re trying to be friendly. The next time you are going on a family trip to a national park, don\u2019t worry about leaving your dog at home \u2014 with a little extra planning (and maybe some new ideas from this list), everyone can join in on the fun.<\/p>\n Top photograph: Try Media | Getty Images<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: Hiking With Dogs: A Guide to Safely Taking a Hike With Your Dog<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The post 7 Of Our Favorite Dog-Friendly National Parks<\/a> by Abbie Mood<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAcadia National Park, Maine<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Grand-Canyon_getty1141226800.png\")
<\/p>\nGrand Canyon National Park, Arizona<\/h3>\n
![\"Dog-Friendly](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Olympic_Sprice-Trail_getty1210392653.png\")
<\/p>\nOlympic National Park, Washington<\/h3>\n
![\"Dog-Friendly](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Harpers-Ferry_getty1005667794.png\")
<\/p>\nHarpers Ferry National Historical Park, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/REV_Great-Sand_getty1124862052.png\")
<\/p>\nGreat Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado<\/h3>\n
![\"Dog-Friendly](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Cuyahoga-Valley_Getty1204531523.png\")
<\/p>\nCuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Padre-Island_Getty145158531.png\")
<\/p>\nPadre Island National Seashore, Texas<\/h3>\n
Follow these rules to make sure dogs can continue to visit our national parks for years to come:<\/h3>\n
\n\u27bc Respect wildlife. Even on-leash, don\u2019t let your dog dig or otherwise disturb nests, holes or habitats.
\n\u27bc Always pick up your dog\u2019s waste and properly dispose of it.
\n\u27bc Never leave your dog in the car. Cars heat up much faster than the outdoors, so make sure your dog is allowed to hit the trails before you go to the park to avoid any issues.
\n\u27bc Never tie your dog up at the campsite.
\n\u27bc Get a GPS tracker for your dog\u2019s collar<\/a>. If your dog happens to get loose, a GPS tracker can help you find him.
\n\u27bc Train your dog to follow basic cues, like Stay, Come and Heel. Not only is it good manners, but it will help keep everyone safe.<\/p>\nAcadia National Park, Maine<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nGrand Canyon National Park, Arizona<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nOlympic National Park, Washington<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nHarpers Ferry National Historical Park, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nGreat Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nCuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nPadre Island National Seashore, Texas<\/h3>\n
Follow these rules to make sure dogs can continue to visit our national parks for years to come:<\/h3>\n
\n\u27bc Respect wildlife. Even on-leash, don\u2019t let your dog dig or otherwise disturb nests, holes or habitats.
\n\u27bc Always pick up your dog\u2019s waste and properly dispose of it.
\n\u27bc Never leave your dog in the car. Cars heat up much faster than the outdoors, so make sure your dog is allowed to hit the trails before you go to the park to avoid any issues.
\n\u27bc Never tie your dog up at the campsite.
\n\u27bc Get a GPS tracker for your dog\u2019s collar<\/a>. If your dog happens to get loose, a GPS tracker can help you find him.
\n\u27bc Train your dog to follow basic cues, like Stay, Come and Heel. Not only is it good manners, but it will help keep everyone safe.<\/p>\n