TrailPaws
↓ Sourced from NPS & state park agencies

Dog trail rules,
park by park.

Which parks allow dogs, which trails they're banned from, the leash rule, and the seasonal closures. One clean answer per park, straight from the agency that sets it.

Most dog-friendly:AcadiaShenandoahCuyahoga ValleyBanned on trails:YellowstoneGlacier
63 national parks17 dog-friendlySourced & date-stampedWhere to go instead on every “no”
01 · The database

Browse national parks.

Every park gets one page in the same format: the quick yes / no / limited up top, then the trails, leash rule, closures, and where dogs are banned.

Dog-friendly

Acadia

100+ miles of trails & carriage roads · 6 ft leash
Limited access

Yosemite

Paved paths & developed areas only
Banned on trails

Yellowstone

Within 100 ft of roads only · try the nearby forests
Shenandoah National ParkSHENDog-friendly

Shenandoah

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
Leash · 6 ft max
Cuyahoga Valley National ParkCUVADog-friendly

Cuyahoga Valley

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
Leash · 6 ft max
Hot Springs National ParkHOSPDog-friendly

Hot Springs

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
Leash · 6 ft max
Grand Canyon National ParkGRCALimited access

Grand Canyon

Partly. Leashed dogs are allowed above the rim, but not below.
Leash · 6 ft max
Zion National ParkZIONLimited access

Zion

One trail only.
Leash · 6 ft max
Mammoth Cave National ParkMACADog-friendly

Mammoth Cave

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
Leash · 6 ft max
Petrified Forest National ParkPEFODog-friendly

Petrified Forest

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
Leash · 6 ft max
Glacier National ParkGLACBanned on trails

Glacier

Developed areas only. No dogs on trails.
Leash · 6 ft max
Grand Teton National ParkGRTEBanned on trails

Grand Teton

Developed areas only. No dogs on trails.
Leash · 6 ft max
See all 63 national parks →
02 · By state

Then the state parks.

State parks flip the script. Most welcome leashed dogs on most trails, but a few systems are stricter. All 50 are covered.

CaliforniaTexasFloridaNew YorkOhioPennsylvaniaMichiganWashingtonOregonColorado
See all 50 states →
03 · Gear guides

Pack for the trail.

Honest picks for hiking with a dog. What actually holds up, who it's for, and where to buy it.

The gear that earns its spot.

No “we tested 47 harnesses” theater. Straight recommendations for trail leashes, hiking harnesses, dog packs, booties, and hot-weather gear, cross-checked and kept current.

Hiking harnessesTrail leashesDog packsTrail bootiesCooling gearCollapsible bowls
All gear guides →
Trail-tested picks
Best overall harness day hikes
Best hands-free leash trail running
Best booties hot rock & snow
Best cooling vest desert parks
04 · Know before you go

Trail safety with a dog.

The stuff the rules pages skip. Short, practical, and specific.

Hot pavement & paws

The 7-second rule, when to turn back, and which parks bake in summer.

Leash laws & wildlife

Why the 6-foot rule exists, and where a retractable will get you fined.

What “dog-friendly” means

It's not one thing. Paved-only, leashed-only, and banned all get called it.

All trail-safety guides →

Trip planning a park? Get the rule first.

A short seasonal note when leash rules, closures, or access change at the big parks. No spam.

  • Seasonal closure alerts
  • New park pages
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