Dogs love to explore the outdoors, and a national park can seem like the perfect place to take your pup on an adventure. While most national parks do allow dogs, it’s important to know which ones and to what extent. Some parks only allow dogs on certain trails or at the campgrounds. Camping with dogs is a lot of fun, but if you want to explore the rest of the park, choose one with more dog-friendly access. Here are 10.
1. New River Gorge National Park
New River Gorge National Park is a paradise for pups! They are allowed on all trails and campgrounds throughout this national park in West Virginia. This 53-mile-wide park has over 40 trails to explore. You can hike through forests, along the river, to waterfalls, and up to the canyon rim for spectacular views of the gorge. Dogs can even hang out in the crag (rock climbing area), as long as they are kept secured and out of the way of belayers.
There are plenty dog-friendly lodging options and several restaurants that have dog-friendly patio seating. For adventures on the water, you can rent a kayak or paddleboard and paddle with your pup on the river.
2. Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is a prehistoric wonderland of fossils, crystals, and a vast area of petrified wood that was once a forest over 200 million years ago. You can explore this petrified forest with your furry pal as all trails are dog-friendly!
You and your dog can hike through several unique geological landscapes, including the Blue Mesa Badlands, Crystal Forest, and the colorful Painted Desert. There are also architectural ruins and petroglyphs from the area’s earliest occupants, the Puebloans.
There is no official campground at Petrified Forest National Park, but it does allow overnight backpacking. A permit is required. Cars are not allowed off-road so be prepared to hike for at least a mile with all the gear necessary for you and your dog. There are dog-friendly hotels in nearby towns outside of the park.
3. Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in the U.S. and one of the most dog-friendly! Dogs can accompany their owners for a scenic stroll along all 13 miles of the Grand Canyon Rim Trail. Many of the park’s restaurants have dog-friendly outdoor seating. Dogs are also welcome in most of the campgrounds.
For safety reasons, dogs are not allowed to go down into the canyon. Canyon trails are rocky, strenuous, and home to predatory wildlife. The park does have a kennel service that can board your dog for the day if you wish to hike down into the canyon.
4. Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park may be known for its namesake cave system, but there is so much more to explore in this incredible park in Kentucky!
While dogs are not allowed to enter the caves, there are 78 miles of hiking trails to trek with your four-legged friend. These trails lead to scenic points like rivers, bluffs, valleys, sinkholes, and springs. If your dog likes the water, they can join you for a day of paddling on the gorgeous Green River that flows through the park.
Dogs can relax in one of the park’s pet-friendly cottages while their owners tour the caves. There are also pet-sitting services available for shorter visits or camping trips. Dogs are allowed in the campgrounds but are not to be left unattended. Dog-friendly outdoor tables are available at the cafe as well as in picnic areas throughout the park.
5. White Sands National Park
Dogs love running and playing in the soft sand dunes at White Sands National Park in New Mexico. They are allowed on all trails throughout the park including the dunes, boardwalk, and backcountry. If your dog enjoys it, you can even take them for a ride on a sled. Sledding down the sand dunes is a popular activity at the park, and many dogs can be seen accompanying their owners on this adventure. Although the massive sparkling sand dunes may look like snow, they are much less slippery, so sleds go down at a slower pace.
While there is no lodging or restaurants on-site (the park does have a small convenience store for quick bites), the nearby town of Alamogordo has several dog-friendly hotels and restaurants.
6. Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park is full of lush green forests and picturesque waterfalls for you and your dog to enjoy. Over 125 miles of trails run through this national park, most of which are dog friendly.
There are no dog-friendly campgrounds, hotels, or restaurants on-site but the park’s proximity to major cities, Akron and Cleveland, make finding pet-friendly accommodations easy. The park does have picnic tables throughout and two convenience stores for snacks.
7. Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas has over 26 miles of dog-friendly trails with stunning mountain and water views. Dogs can play in the creek at Gulpha Gorge but are not allowed to swim or enter any of the thermal springs. Scenic drives up the mountain also offer plenty of overlooks to stop and explore, picnic, or catch the sunset.
In the historic section of the park, the Grand Promenade is a row of 1800s buildings and shops connected by a brick path. It’s the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll with your pup and admire the historic buildings. Dogs are welcome in the campgrounds as well as the park’s on-site restaurant and brewery.
8. Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park is one of the newest and dog-friendliest National Parks in the U.S. While local dog owners have been enjoying these beaches of Lake Michigan for years, the area was just established as a national park in 2019. Since then, the park has seen an increase in both two-legged and four-legged visitors.
There are several areas of beaches for dogs to swim and play as well as over 50 miles of hiking trails. Dogs are allowed on most trails, except for the equestrian ones. There are multiple different types of trails offering a change of scenery ranging from dunes, woods, marshes, and prairies. Dogs are allowed at the park’s campground, but there is no hotel on-site.
9. Shenandoah National Park: Endless Hiking Trails
Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is one of the most dog-friendly national parks. There are 480 miles of trails, scenic drives, sweeping valley views, and campsites that can be shared with your furry friend.
There’s no shortage of trails to choose from and each one has its own unique features. From the forest trails to the waterfalls or the rocky cliffs, part of the famous Appalachian Trail even runs through Shenandoah National Park.
The popular Skyline Drive is 105 miles of scenic roads that wind through the Blue Ridge Mountains with overlooks and trailheads along the way. The low-speed rate and fresh mountain air make this a perfect spot to let your dog enjoy road tripping along the scenic views.
There are several options for dog-friendly camping and lodging within the park. Most restaurants also have outdoor seating to accommodate visitors with pets.
10. Acadia National Park: Last But Not Least
Acadia National Park in Maine consistently ranks high on all the travel and dog websites and for good reason, dogs are allowed almost everywhere in this national park, including on the bus!
There are over 100 miles of trails to trek at Acadia and endless views from mountains to the sea. Although the waters of Acadia may look tempting, neither humans nor dogs are allowed to swim in them. If your pup can’t resist the water, just outside the park you’ll find Long Pond. Long Pond is on a private preserve that does allow dogs to swim and has the same beautiful blue waters.
There are no hotels inside Acadia National Park, but the surrounding areas do offer pet-friendly accommodations. Dogs are permitted in two of the campgrounds. There is also a restaurant with dog-friendly patio seating as well as numerous picnic areas throughout the park.
The surrounding towns of Bar Harbor and Mt Desert have even more dog-friendly things to do. In addition to regular hotels, there are numerous cabin and beach house rentals. The downtown areas have shops, restaurants, and breweries that all welcome dogs.
