If you are like us then you will want to bring your dogs with you everywhere and especially to beautiful U.S. National Parks, but not all of our parks are dog friendly and have strict pet policies. Some National Parks are super dog friendly and some are not at all. We love taking Hana with us to as many dog-friendly national parks as possible, but when she is not allowed then we have some planning to do. So we wanted to make your planning to U.S. National Parks a bit easier for you and your four-legged friends.
*Also see Hana’s favorite dog parks and her favorite dog beaches from around the U.S.
What is the U.S. National Park Pet Policy?
In general, U.S. National Parks welcome pets in the developed area, on trails and campgrounds, and in limited lodging facilities. Pets must be restrained either on a leash that doesn’t exceed 6 feet in length. But with that said, a majority of National Parks are not dog-friendly. There are some really awesome dog-friendly parks out there that have an awesome program even for your pets called the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program.
What is the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program?
The B.A.R.K. Ranger Program is a U.S. National Parks program that only a couple of parks have in place. It helps you and your pet know what and where you can go either on the trails or within the park. When you see a B.A.R.K. program, you know that it is an extremely dog-friendly national park.
Top B.A.R.K. Ranger Program National Parks
Not all National Parks participate in the B.A.R.K. Ranger program and honestly, most National Parks are not really dog-friendly. Below are the National Parks, Monuments, and Preserves that participates in the program.
Chiricahua (National Monument) – Willcox, AZ
Glen Canyon (National Reserve) – Page, AZ
Montezuma Castle (National Monument) – Camp Verde, AZ
Petrified Forest National Park – Petrified Forest, AZ
Tonto (National Monument) – Roosevelt, AZ
Tuzigoot (National Monument) – Camp Verde, AZ
Death Valley National Park – Death Valley, CA
Redwoods National Park – Crescent City, CA
Big Cypress (National Preserve) – Ochopee, FL
Catoctin Mountain (National Park) – Thurmont, MD
Fort McHenry (National Monument) – Baltimore, MD
Pictured Rocks (National Lakeshore) – Munising, MI
Natchez Trace (Parkway) – Tupelo, MS
Sagamore Hill (National Historic Site) – Oyster Bay, NY
Fort Vancouver (National Historic Site) – Vancouver, WA
Ebay’s Landing (National Preserve) – Coupeville, WA
Mount Rainier (National Park) – Ashford, WA
Olympic National Park – Port Angeles, WA
San Juan Island National Historic Park – Friday Harbor, WA
Top U.S. National Parks for Pets
Even though some parks may not promote the B.A.R.K. Ranger Program, but they are dog-friendly National Parks. There may be some restrictions like staying on hiking trails, but you can still at least bring your dog with you hiking through the National Park. Below are National Parks, Trails, and Preserves.
*If you do not see the U.S. National Park listed below then more than likely you can not bring your pet to the park, but you can call and double-check before arriving.
Alaska
Denali National Park – Denali Park, AK
Glacier Bay National Park – Gustavus, AK
Kenai Fjords National Park – Seward, AK
Lake Clark (National Park and Preserve) – Port Alsworth, AK
Sitka (National Historic Park) – Sitka, AK
Arizona
Casa Grande Ruins (National Monument) – Coolidge, AZ
Chiricahua (National Monument) – Willcox, AZ
Coronado (National Monument) – Hereford, AZ
Glen Canyon (National Recreation) – Page, AZ
Grand Canyon – Grand Canyon, AZ
Montezuma Castle (National Monument) – Camp Verde, AZ
Organ Pipe Cactus (National Monument) – Ajo, AZ
Petrified Forest (National Park) – Petrified Forest, AZ
Tonto (National Monument) – Roosevelt, AZ
Tumacácori (National Historic Park) – Tumacacori, AZ
Tuzigoot (National Monument) – Camp Verde, AZ
Walnut Canyon (National Monument) – Flagstaff, AZ
Arkansas
Hot Springs (National Park) – Hot Springs, AR
Pea Ridge (National Military Park) – Garfield, AR
California
Cabrillo (National Monument) – San Diego, CA
Devils Postpile (National Monument) – Mammoth Lakes, CA
Eugene O’Neill (National Historic Site) – Danville, CA
Golden Gate (National Recreation Area) – San Francisco, CA
John Muir (National Historic Site) – Martinez, CA
Pinnacles (National Park) – Paicines, CA
Point Reyes (National Seashore) – Point Reyes Station, CA
Redwoods (National Park) – Crescent City, CA
San Francisco Maritime (National Historic Park) – San Francisco, CA
Santa Monica Mountains (National Recreation Area) – Calabasas, CA
Colorado
Black Canyon of the Gunnison (National Park) – Gunnison, CO
Colorado (National Monument) – Fruita, CO
Dinosaur (National Monument) – Dinosaur, CO
Florissant Fossil Beds (National Monument) – Florissant, CO
Great Sand Dunes (National Park & Preserve) – Mosca, CO
Rocky Mountain (National Park) – Estes Park, CO
Washington DC
Capital Hill Parks – Washington DC
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (National Park) – Washington DC
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Garden Park – Washington DC
Rock Creek Park – Washington DC
Florida
Big Cypress (National Preserve) – Ochopee, FL
Biscayne (National Park) – Homestead, FL
Canaveral (National Seashore) – Titusville, FL
Castillo de San Marcos (National Monument) – Saint Augustine, FL
De Soto (National Memorial) – Bradenton, FL
Dry Tortugas (National Park) – Homestead, FL
Everglades (National Park) – Homestead, FL
Fort Matanzas (National Monument) – Saint Augustine, FL
Gulf Islands (National Seashore) – Gulf Breeze, FL
Georgia
Andersonville (National Historic Site) – Andersonville, GA
Appalachian Trail – Georgia
Chattahoochee (NRA) – Sandy Springs, GA
Chickamauga & Chattanooga (National Military Park) – Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Cumberland Island (National Seashore) – St. Marys, GA
Fort Frederica (National Monument) – St. Simons Island, GA
Fort Pulaski (National Monument) – Savannah, GA
Jimmy Carter (National Historic Site) – Plains, GA
Martin Luther King, Jr. (National Historic Park) – Atlanta, GA
Ocmulgee (National Monument) – Macon, GA
Hawaii
Ala Kahakai (National Historic Trail) – Kailua-Kona, HI
Hawaii Volcanoes (National Park) – Hawaii National Park, HI
Kaloko-Honokōhau (National Historic Park) – Kailua-Kona, HI
Puuhonua O Hōnauanau (National Historic Park) – Honaunau, HI
Idaho
City of Rocks (National Park) – Almo, ID
Hagerman Fossil Beds (National Monument) – Hagerman, ID
Illinois
Lincoln Home (National Historic Site) – Springfield, IL
Indiana
George Rogers Clark (National Historic Site) – Vincennes, IN
Indiana Dunes (National Lakeshore) – Porter, IN
Lincoln Boyhood (National Monument) – Lincoln City, IN
Kansas
Fort Larned (National Historic Site) – Larned, KS
Tallgrass Praire (National Park) – Strong City, KS
Kentucky
Cumberland Gap (National Historic Park) – Middlesboro, KY
Louisiana
Jean Laffitte (National Historic Park & Preserve) – New Orleans, LA
Maine
Arcadia National Park – Bar Harbor, ME
Katahdin Woods and Waters (National Monument) – Patten, ME
Maryland
Assateague Island (National Seashore) – Berlin, MD
Catoctin Mountain (National Park) – Thurmont, MD
Forte Foote (National Park) – Fort Washington, MD
Fort McHenry (NM) – Baltimore, MD
Monocacy (National Battlefield) – Frederick, MD
Massachusettes
Cape Cod (National Seashore) – Wellfleet, MA
Longfellow House Washington’s HQ (NHS) – Cambridge, MA
New Bedford Whaling (NHP) – New Bedford, MA
Michigan
Pictured Rocks (National Lakeshore) – Munising, MI
River Raisin (National Battlefield Park) – Monroe, MI
Sleeping Bear Dunes (National Lakeshore) – Empire, MI
Minnesota
Grand Portage (National Monument) – Grand Portage, MN
Pipestone (National Monument) – Pipestone, MN
Voyageurs (National Park) – International Falls, MN
Montana
Big Hole (National Battlefield) – Wisdom, MT
Bighorn Canyon (National Recreation Area) – Fort Smith, MT
Glacier (National Park) – West Glacier, MT
Grant-Kohrs Ranch (National Historic Site) – Deer Lodge, MT
Little Bighorn Battlefield (National Monument) – Crow Agency, MT
Nevada
Great Basin (National Park) – Baker, NV
Tule Springs Fossil Beds (National Monument) – Boulder City, NV
New Jersey
Morristown (National Historic Site) – Morristown, NJ
Paterson Great Falls (National Historic Park) – Paterson, NJ
New Mexico
Capulin Volcano (National Monument) – Des Moines, NM
Chaco Culture (National Historic Park) – Nageezi, NM
El Morro (National Monument) – Ramah, NM
Fort Union (National Monument) – Watrous, NM
Pecos (National Historic Park) – Pecos, NM
Petroglyph (National Monument) – Albuquerque, NM
Salinas Pueblo Missions (National Monument) – Mountainair, NM
White Sands (National Monument) – Holloman AFB, NM
New York
Fire Island (National Seashore) – Patchogue, NY
Fort Stanwix (National Monument) – Rome, NY
Martin Van Buren (National Historic Site) – Kinderhook, NY
Sagamore Hill (National Historic Site) – Oyster Bay, NY
Saratoga (National Historic Site) – Stillwater, NY
Women’s Right (National Historic Park) – Seneca Falls, NY
North Carolina
Cape Lookout (National Seashore) – Harkers Island, NC
Fort Raleigh (National Historic Site) – Manteo, NC
Guilford Courthouse (National Military Park) – Greensboro, NC
Wright Brothers (National Monument) – Manteo, NC
North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt (National Park) – Medora, ND
Fort Union Trading Post (National Historic Site) – Williston, ND
Ohio
Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers (National Monument) – Wilberforce, OH
Cuyahoga Valley (National Park) – Brecksville, OH
Dayton Aviation Heritage (National Historic Park) – Dayton, OH
Hopewell Culture (National Historic Park) – Chillicothe, OH
Perry’s Victory & International Peace (National Memorial) – Put-in-Bay, OH
William Howard Taft (National Historic Site) – Cincinnati, OH
Oregon
Crater Lake (National Park) – Crater Lake, OR
John Day Fossil Beds (National Monument) – Kimberly, OR
Lewis and Clark (National Historic Park) – Astoria, OR
Oregon Caves (National Monument) – Cave Junction, OR
Pennsylvania
Fort Necessity (National Battlefield) – Farmington, PA
Friendship Hill (National Historic Site) – Farmington, PA
Gettysburg (National Military Park) – Gettysburg, PA
Hopewell Furnace (National Historic Site) – Elverson, PA
Steamtown (National Historic Site) – Scranton, PA
Valley Forge (National Historic Park) – King of Prussia, PA
South Carolina
Charles Pinckney (National Historic Site) – Sullivan’s Island, SC
Congaree (National Park) – Hopkins, SC
Cowpens (National Battlefield) – Gaffney, SC
Fort Sumter (National Monument) – Sullivan’s Island, SC
Ninety Six (National Historic Site) – Ninety Six, SC
South Dakota
Jewel Cave (National Monument) – Custer, SD
Minuteman Missile (National Historic Site) – Philip, SD
Mount Rushmore (National Monument) – Keystone, SD
Wind Cave (National Park) – Hot Springs, SD
Tennessee
Big South Fork (NRA) – Oneida, TN
Great Smokey Mountains (National Park) – Gatlinburg, TN
Obed (Wild & Scenic River) – Wartburg, TN
Stones River (National Battlefield) – Murfreesboro, TN
Texas
Amistad (National Recreation Area) – Del Rio, TX
Chamizal (National Memorial) – El Paso, TX
Fort Davis (National Historic Site) – Fort Davis, TX
Lyndon B Johnson (National Historic Park) – Johnson City, TX
Padre Island (National Seashore) – Corpus Christi, TX
San Antonio Missions (National Historic Park) – San Antonio, TX
Waco Mammoth (National Monument) – Waco, TX
Utah
Arches (National Park) – Moab, UT
Bryce Canyon (National Park) – Bryce, UT
Canyonlands (National Park) – Moab, UT
Capitol Reef (National Park) – Torrey, UT
Cedar Breaks (N Monument) – Cedar City, UT
Natural Bridges (National Monument) – Lake Powell, UT
Zion (National Park) – Springdale, UT
Vermont
Marsh – Billings – Rockefeller (National Historic Park) – Woodstock, VT
Virginia
Booker T Washington (National Monument) – Hardy, VA
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania (N Military Park) – Fredericksburg, VA
Great Falls (National Park) – McLean, VA
Historic Jamestowne (National Historical Park) – Yorktown, VA
Peterburg (National Battlefield) – Petersburg, VA
Appomattox Court House (National Historic Park) – Appomattox, VA
Prince William Forest – Triangle, VA
Richmond (National Battlefield) – Richmond, VA
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania (National Military Park) – Fredericksburg, VA
Shenandoah (National Park) – Luray, VA
Yorktown Battlefield – Yorktown, VA
Washington
Ebay’s Landing (National Preserve) – Coupeville, WA
Lake Roosevelt (National Recreation) – Coulee Dam, WA
North Cascades (National Park) – Sedro-Woolley, WA
Whitman Mission (National Historic Site) – Walla Walla, WA
West Virginia
New River Gorge (National River) – Glen Jean, WV
Wyoming
Fort Laramie (National Historic Site) – Fort Laramie, WY
Fossil Butte (National Monument) – Kemmerer, WY
Grand Teton (National Park) – Moose, WY
Know the National Park Pet Policy Before You Visit
It is so important to know the National Parks Pet Policy before you go. It would really put a damper on the trip to drive for hours and finally make it to the National Park just to realize that it is not pet-friendly. So hopefully this list of dog-friendly parks and quick reference links to the National Park pet policy pages will help you when you are planning for your next trip.
