After seeing a surprising number of guides geared towards pet parents suggesting Yosemite or Zion as good options, we decided to pull together our own recommendations. Our main criteria was pretty simple – do everyday dogs and pets have access to the majority of hiking trails?
(Technically this list leaves off some parks like the Virgin Islands and some of the parks in Alaska, which have some caveats that we might cover in a future post.)
We’ve visited five of the 10 national parks on our list and look forward to checking out the remaining five!
We hand-researched the information below (current as of August 2024), but you should verify with the National Park Service (NPS) site.
Our Recommendations for the Most Dog-Friendly National Parks
New River Gorge National Park
Situated in southeast West Virginia among the Appalachian Mountains, New River Gorge is America’s newest national park and boasts 70,000 acres and over 40 trails. Charleston, WV and Beckley, WV are the two closest cities to this national park, and make great central spots if you don’t plan to camp.
What makes New River Gorge so dog-friendly?
All (yes, all!) of New River Gorge’s hiking trails are dog-friendly! Plus we like that the trails range in distance from very short (0.25 mile) to quite long (7 miles), which offers a lot of flexibility depending on weather, season, level of fitness, and terrain preference.
Allowed on trails? Yes, all trails
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Yes
Open year-round? Yes
Entrance fee? $0
Petrified Forest National Park
With about 800,000 visitors every year1, Petrified Forest National Park is a great spot if you’re using Flagstaff, AZ as a home base and are looking for a cool national park experience that doesn’t get too crowded. Located right off I-40, it’s an easy drive to see some of the strangest looking fallen trees and colorful desert formations.
What makes Petrified Forest so dog-friendly?
You can bring your dog anywhere in Petrified Forest National Park (except its buildings, since under federal law pets aren’t allowed inside national park buildings). This includes not just the developed, mapped hiking trails but also backcountry areas, and designated wilderness areas. Dogs can also join you for backpack camping, but Petrified Forest does not allow for car camping or dispersed camping.
One thing to mention, there isn’t much shade at Petrified Forest and summer temperatures regularly get to 100º or hotter, so plan to go during cooler months or in the mornings before temperatures rise.
We also learned that there’s a fenced-in dog park near the Painted Desert Visitor Center, with separate sections for big and small dogs.
Allowed on trails? Yes, all trails and wilderness areas
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Yes
Open year-round? Yes
Entrance fee? $25 per private vehicle
Congaree National Park
Just 30 minutes from Columbia, SC, Congaree National Park is known for its “old-growth bottomland hardwood forest.”2 (We had to look it up; this refers to a of evergreen forest that grows in swamps and floodplains, and Congaree has largest remaining one in North America!)
What makes Congaree so dog-friendly?
Dogs can go on any trail in Congaree National Park, as well as its boardwalk and campgrounds. You can even take your dog on a guided canoe tour through Palmetto Outdoor (and possibly others).
However, if your dog doesn’t do well with other people or pets (or tight spaces), you may want to avoid the northern and eastern boardwalk sections as there isn’t a way for your pet to get some breathing room.3
We haven’t been to Congaree yet, but thought this dog-friendly review was helpful, especially for recommended trails, caveats for predators, and suggested nearby accommodations.
Allowed on trails? Yes, all trails
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Yes
Open year-round? Yes (and 24 hours a day)
Entrance fee? $0
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley is not quite in our backyard, but about as close as it gets these days! Just 30 minutes from Cleveland, 2 hours from Columbus, and 1.5 hours from Pittsburgh, it’s a natural refuge from busier urban areas. Fortunately its proximity to more developed areas helps, since camping is no longer permitted here; if you’re looking to camp, there are many state park or privately-owned campgrounds nearby.
What makes Cuyahoga Valley so dog-friendly?
Dogs and their humans can enjoy the Towpath Trail, which offers a glimpse into the historic Ohio and Erie Canal, plus over 100 miles of hiking trails. The only areas where dogs are prohibited are the East Rim mountain bike trails and, during sledding, Virginia Kendall Hills.
You can find recommended short and long hikes for your pup on Cuyahoga Valley’s NPS website.
We love that Cuyahoga Valley is so location-accessible for the lower Midwest and plan to swing by here come springtime.
Allowed on trails? Yes, most trails (see the exceptions above)
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Unknown
Open year-round? Yes
Entrance fee? $0
Acadia National Park
With roughly 4 million visitors annually, Acadia is a popular spot but a gem nonetheless. This one takes a bit of planning if you don’t happen to live in the New England area as even getting from Portland, ME to the national park takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. (We visited in 2019 from Utah in a rather unconventional way, and it was wonderful.) Given this park’s popularity, we’d suggest planning to visit just outside of peak summer season. We went in early September (after Labor Day) and that was perfect, as the weather was still warm but we missed out on the crowds.
What makes Acadia so dog-friendly?
Dogs can explore 45 miles of carriage roads, 100 miles of hiking trails, three campgrounds, and Isle au Haut with their families.
Off the top of our heads, a couple of things to note:
- There are some trails that are closed to pets, and others that are not recommended at all. You can read more about this on Acadia’s NPS site. We’ll be sharing more about our experience hiking and camping in Acadia with our pup in a full review.
- The lakes are a key water source for the area so neither pets nor humans are permitted to swim in them.
We really liked Bark Harbor in Bar Harbor if you’re looking for something to do on your way in or out of town.
Allowed on trails? Yes, most trails though we suggest checking out Acadia’s site for further details (see above)
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Yes
Open year-round? Yes, though some parts of the park are seasonal
Entrance fee? $35 per private vehicle
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah is just a quick jaunt from D.C. (just under 2.5 hours, though that probably depends on traffic) and Charlottesville, VA (1.5 hours), and its location just north of the Blue Ridge Parkway means visitors are in for some stunning views of beautiful cool-hued mountains and forests. It’s also a surprisingly big park, which we didn’t quite realize until we were driving around!
What makes Shenandoah so dog-friendly?
Dogs are allowed on over 450 miles of hiking trails in the park, as well as campgrounds. (For more details on trails where dogs aren’t permitted, check out Shenandoah’s NPS site.) It gets pretty hot and humid in the summertime so take that into consideration when planning routes, etc. When we visited, we popped into the visitor center to inquire about shaded trails with water features so we could get a break from the humidity!
Allowed on trails? Yes
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Unsure – we can’t recall from our trip, and there isn’t anything posted on the NPS site about it
Open year-round? Yes
Entrance fee? $30 per private vehicle
Grand Canyon National Park
What can be said about the Grand Canyon that hasn’t already been said? It has a near-magnetic pull for travelers around the world, and its size, scope, and complexity have to be seen in real life to do it justice. We experienced such a sense of calm, a smallness that humbled us as a speck in human history.
What makes Grand Canyon so dog-friendly?
This one might seem out of left field since dogs aren’t allowed on any trails below the rim, but we think it’s worth including because the views from the South Rim Trail are truly incredible, and it makes for just an easy and accessible walk while you gaze out at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Dogs can also explore the less-frequented North Rim Trail but only between the greenway that connects the North Kaibab Trail and a section of the Arizona Trail.
The Grand Canyon also has a kennel located on the South Rim, and you can find more details about that on their NPS site. While we’ve never used this ourselves, it might be a good option if you plan to visit during the height of summer when the trail is far too hot for paws.
Our final note about the Grand Canyon – if you use Flagstaff as a home base, you can visit both Petrified Forest National Park and the Grand Canyon in a single trip, though you’ll want to break those out into at least two separate days.
Allowed on trails? Yes, though only above the rim
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? No
Open year-round? The South Rim is, but not the North Rim (it closes for the winter)
Entrance fee? $35 per private vehicle
Hot Springs National Park
Just 1.5 hours from Little Rock, AR, Hot Springs National Park is well known for, well, its hot springs. (While the actual bathhouses are private, you can touch the thermal springs in a few places – though you’ll want to be careful with your pup given that temperatures can get to 147º F.)
What makes Hot Springs so dog-friendly?
Dogs can accompany you on every hiking trail in Hot Springs, and can also join in for biking so long as they’re leashed.
Hot Springs is pretty urban for a national park (and relatively small, with just 26 miles of hiking trails) so it’s a good stopover to explore but probably won’t involve a multi-day excursion.
Allowed on trails? Yes
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Yes
Open year-round? Yes
Entrance fee? $0
White Sands National Park
With miles and miles of white sand dunes, the only downside to this park is that you have to follow federal regulations and keep your pet on leash. White Sands National Park is located about 1.5 hours from El Paso, TX and 3.5 hours from Albuquerque, NM, and offers stunning views of beautiful, stark white sand and lots of opportunities for adventure.
What makes White Sands so dog-friendly?
You can hike, picnic, and backcountry camp throughout the park with your dog, and as far as its stated on the NPS site, there aren’t any limitations on where dogs can go (besides the visitor center). If you have a dog who enjoys off-trail trekking and forging ahead, this is an ideal setup.
We haven’t been to this national park yet but enjoyed The Dog Is Driving’s review! They visited with their three dogs, so it’s a great point of reference if you’re planning a trip.
Given the climate, you can expect extremely high summer temperatures that are likely to be unsafe for dog paws. Plan accordingly! Also given how reflective the sand is, you may want to try out dog sunglasses/goggles. (Our first dog never took to her Rex Specs but we think they work well if you can train your dog to stop taking them off.)
Allowed on trails? Yes
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? No
Open year-round? Yes, though certain activities are seasonal
Entrance fee? $25 per private vehicle
Gateway Arch National Park
Did you know that there’s a national park right in the heart of St. Louis?
This one is a bit unusual and we were a little surprised to see The Arch as a national park and not a national historic site or national monument (more on all of the park designations if you’re interested). Commemorating westward expansion in the 19th century, this park and the arch itself represent a period of significant change within the U.S. Gateway Arch is a bit of a dark horse to include, but we like that it’s right in the heart of a city while providing a refuge from the hustle and bustle plus a learning opportunity all in one.
What makes Gateway Arch so dog-friendly?
Dogs can go anywhere outdoors in the park except the pools and gardens. What stood out to us is the slew of B.A.R.K. Ranger events that Gateway Arch hosts throughout the year4, ranging from a landscape walk to a dog first aid event. It just seems like a great spot to enjoy without the added complexity of having to go way off the interstate.
Allowed on trails? Yes
B.A.R.K. Ranger program offered? Yes
Open year-round? Yes
Entrance fee? $0
