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Feature Article: September
2002
In
Search of the Best National Parks for Dogs
by Tara Kain
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Photo at the Grand Canyon
National Park, Arizona
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National parks are one of the most visited destination spots
in the United States for vacation travelers. Every year, millions
of people visit their favorite national parks. But have you ever
tried to bring your best friend along? The majority of national
parks are not very welcoming to pets. But fortunately there are
some exceptions, and some nearby dog-friendly national forests.
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The general policy for national parks is that dogs must
be on a 6 foot or less leash at all times, are only allowed in parking
lots, in your car, or within 50 to 100 feet of the road. Most of the
parks allow dogs in campgrounds and in developed areas, but there can
be exceptions to these rules. The majority of national parks do not
allow dogs on any hiking or walking trails, any backcountry trails,
any beaches or inside buildings. There are even a few lesser known national
parks that do not even allow you to drive into the park if you have
a pet in your car. This does not sound like a fun vacation to most dogs
and dog owners.
But before ruling out a vacation to a national park, it is important
to note that some national parks have exceptions to these stringent
pet rules. Parks like the Grand Canyon National Park and Acadia National
Park, allow dogs on some trails and are well worth a visit even with
your pooch. For the majority of national parks that do not allow dogs
on any trails, a fair amount of sightseeing can still be done. Keep
in mind that the majority of visitors to national parks do not venture
too far from their cars. This means there are typically many sites and
points of interest to see right from the comfort of your own car (where
dogs are welcome). But for people who actually want to go on a hike,
dog-friendly national forests are adjacent to or located nearby many
national parks.
So how much can you really see at our national parks when bringing
your pet along? Below is a list of the Top 10 National Parks from the
National Park Service. These parks are rated based on the number of
visitors per year, NOT based on dog-friendliness. To give you a flavor
of what to expect at these top ten parks, under each park name are rules
regarding dogs, exceptions to these rules, and if necessary, mention
of a nearby dog-friendly national forest. DogFriendly.com also offers
a Top 5 National Park list which highlights the best national parks
in the United States to bring a dog, based on sights to see and places
to walk with your best friend.
Top 10 National Parks
(Ratings based on number of visitors per year, NOT based on dog-friendliness.)
Look here for park names AND where dogs are
allowed.
DogFriendly.com's Top 5 National Parks
(Ratings based on sights to see and places to walk or hike with dogs)
Look here for park names AND where dogs
are welcome.
Myths and Misunderstandings about Dogs on the Trail
Here are some claims by park systems and
responses to those claims.
To voice your opinion on this article or
subject, please fill out our
form. We will include some of the comments or letters in next month's
Letters to the Editor section.
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DogFriendly.com's
Top 5 National Parks
(Ratings are based on sights to see and places
to walk or hike with dogs)
1. Grand Canyon, AZ
2. Acadia, ME
3. Shenandoah, VA
4. Yosemite, CA
5. North Cascades, WA
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