Colorado · National Park

Dogs in Mesa Verde National Park

Can I bring my dog, and on which trails?
Limited accessLeash: 6 feet maximum, at all times.

Wetherill Mesa trails, plus paved areas at Mesa Top Loop and Park Point.

Leashed pets are allowed on all Wetherill Mesa trails except those into Step House and Long House, plus the paved areas at Mesa Top Loop and Park Point, and roads and parking lots.
Photo: NPS Photo · NPS

Where dogs are allowed

Leashed pets are allowed on all Wetherill Mesa trails except those into Step House and Long House, plus the paved areas at Mesa Top Loop and Park Point, and roads and parking lots.

Where dogs are banned

The Step House and Long House trails, all other mesa-top trails, the cliff dwellings and ancestral sites, and buildings.

Leash rule

6 feet maximum, at all times.

Service animals

Service animals are allowed where pets are not, under the ADA. A leash is still required.

Where to go instead

Nearby San Juan National Forest allows leashed dogs on trails.

Official source
National Park Service
View the official NPS page →
Last verified 2026-07-09
Park code
MEVE

Common questions

Can I bring my dog to Mesa Verde National Park?

Wetherill Mesa trails, plus paved areas at Mesa Top Loop and Park Point. Leashed pets are allowed on all Wetherill Mesa trails except those into Step House and Long House, plus the paved areas at Mesa Top Loop and Park Point, and roads and parking lots.

What is the leash rule at Mesa Verde?

6 feet maximum, at all times.

Where can I hike with my dog near Mesa Verde?

Nearby San Juan National Forest allows leashed dogs on trails.

Are service animals allowed at Mesa Verde?

Service animals are allowed where pets are not, under the ADA. A leash is still required.