The Top 100 Most Popular National Parks – Dog Rules

1. Blue Ridge Parkway (21,646,864 visitors)

Dogs are allowed on most trails and in all 9 campgrounds.

2. Golden Gate National Recreation Area (13,806,766)

Dogs are welcome on most of the nearly two dozen parcels of Federal land. No dogs are permitted in Tennessee Valley, China Beach, Muir Woods, Alcatraz and the Phleger Estate.

3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (9,215,806)

Dogs are prohibited from all park trails except the 2-mile trail from Park Headquarters to Gatlinburg and the 2-mile trail between Cherokee and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Dogs are allowed in the picnic areas and campgrounds.

4. Gateway National Recreation Area (8,955,609)

At Sandy Hook dogs are allowed on the beach from Labor Day to March 15 and

throughout other areas of the park at any time; no dogs are allowed on Jacob Riis Park from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and no dogs are allowed at the Breezy Point Tip from March 15 through August.

5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area (7,627,906)

Dogs are allowed on trails but not on the beaches.

6. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (5,248,958)

Dogs are welcome on trails and most locations within the recreation area. No dogs are allowed at Milford Beach, Hidden Lake Beach, Smithfield Beach or on the mowed areas at Kittatinny Point Visitor Center, Bushkill Visitor Center, Watergate Recreation Site or Hialeah Picnic Area.

7. Gulf Islands National Seashore  (4,572,364)

Dogs are not permitted on the beaches or in the picnic pavilions.

8. Cape Cod National Seashore (4,431,059)

Dogs are prohibited from nature trails, shorebird nesting areas and all lifeguard protected beaches. In addition to non-protected beaches, canine hikers can use seashore fire roads and the West and Sunset horse trails in the Province Lands. Dogs are welcome at the seashore fresh water ponds from October 16 through May 14.

9. Grand Canyon National Park (3,936,823)

Dogs are allowed on trails throughout developed areas of the South Rim but never below the rim. On the North Rim, dogs are allowed only on the bridle trails that connects the lodge with the North Kaibab Trail.

10. Olympic National Park (3,654,022)

Dogs are not permitted on park trails or meadows. Dogs are not allowed on any beaches except Rialto Beach north to Ellen Creek and on the Kalaloch beach strip between the Hoh and Quinault Indian reservation. Dogs are allowed in the campgrounds.   

11. Cape Hatteras National Seashore (3,651,066)

Dogs are allowed throughout the park except on designated swimming beaches.

12. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (3,477,090)

Dogs are allowed along the towpath and on most trails. No dogs are permitted on the boardwalk trails on the Olmsted Island Bridges and on the Billy Goat “A” Trail around Bear Island.

13. Colonial National Historical Park (3,320,873)

Dogs are allowed to walk the battlefield at Yorktown and play on the beach at Cape

Henry. Dogs are also welcome in Colonial Williamsburg.

14. Yosemite National Park (3,305,631)

Dogs are not allowed on any park trail or in any picnic area. Dogs are permitted anywhere on the Yosemite Valley floor between the Happy Isles Nature Center or Mirror Lake parking lot and the Pohona bridge. Dogs are not permitted on any slope above the Valley floor. Several campgrounds allow dogs.

15. Cuyahoga Valley National Park (3,191,359)

Dogs are allowed on all park lands.

16. Rocky Mountain National Park (3,005,524)

Dogs are not allowed on any park trail. Dogs are allowed in parking areas, picnic areas and campgrounds.

17. Yellowstone National Park (2,969,868)

Dogs are not allowed on trails or boardwalks. Dogs are permitted within 100 feet of

roads, parking areas and campgrounds.

18. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (2,712,783)

Dogs are permitted across park lands.

19. Grand Teton National Park (2,606,492)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails; dogs can walk on roads and road shoulders, parking lots, picnic areas and campgrounds.

20. Acadia National Park (2,550,586)

Dogs are allowed everywhere in the park except Sand Beach, Echo Lake Beach, the Isle au Haut campground and the “ladder” trails.

21. Zion National Park (2,510,627)

Dogs are allowed on only one trail: the Pa’rus Trail. Dogs are allowed in campgrounds and along roadways.

22. Point Reyes National Seashore (2,254,465)

Dogs are not permitted on trails or in campgrounds. Dogs are allowed on the south end of Limantour Beach, Point Reyes Beach North and Point Reyes Beach South.

23. Mount Rushmore National Memorial (2,159,189)

Dogs are not allowed anywhere in the park except in the pet exercise area at the end of the upper parking ramp.

24. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (2,127,265)

Dogs are allowed in the park.

25. Assateague Island National Seashore (2,107,032)

In Maryland, dogs are allowed on the beach and in campgrounds, but not on the trails. In Virginia, dogs are not allowed in the park - even in a car.

26. Rock Creek Park (2,099,504)

Dogs are allowed on trails throughout the park.

27. Mammoth Cave National Park (1,898,817)

Dogs are allowed on the above-ground trails in the park.

28. Glacier National Park (1,864,822)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails but can stay in drive-in campgrounds and visit picnic areas.

29. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (1,834,435)

Dogs are allowed on most park trails.

30. Gettysburg National Military Park (1,829,790)

Dogs are permitted outside park buildings.

31. Chickasaw National Recreation Area (1,511,522)

Dogs are allowed on park trails except on paths leading into the Environmental Study

Area (east of the Travertine Nature Center).

32. Hot Springs National Park (1,438,043)

Dogs are allowed on the trails and other areas outside buildings in the park.

33. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park (1,418,512)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails; dogs can visit the picnic areas and campgrounds.

34. Mount Rainier National Park (1,267,044)

Dogs are allowed on no trails except a small portion of the Pacific Crest Trail near the

park’s eastern boundary.

35. Valley Forge National Historical Park (1,190,893)

Dogs are allowed on all park trails.

35. Valley Forge National Historical Park

(1,190,893)

Dogs are allowed on all park trails.

36. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (1,190,748)

Dogs are allowed on most park trails but cannot make the Dune Climb. Dogs are not

allowed on North or South Manitou Island.

37. Joshua Tree National Park (1,174,142)

Dogs are not allowed on the trails but can be in the campgrounds.

38. Vicksburg National Military Park (1,067,130)

Dogs are allowed in the park.

39. Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (1,043,380)

Dogs are permitted throughout the park.

40. Canaveral National Seashore (1,042,090)

Dogs are not allowed on the beach or beyond the parking lots.

41. Amistad National Recreation Area (952,096)

Dogs are allowed on trails and in most areas of the park.

42. Everglades National Park (940,482)

Dogs are allowed in parking lots and campgrounds but not on trails.

43. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (928,596)

Dogs are allowed on park trails.

44. Badlands National Park (906,868)

Dogs are allowed only in developed areas such as campgrounds, parking areas and

along roads - not on any trails.

45. Big South Fork National Recreation Area (901,419)

Dogs are allowed on most park trails.

46. Bryce National Park (899,408)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails; dogs can visit the picnic areas and campgrounds.

47. Curecanti National Recreation Area (892,408)

Dogs are allowed on the trails.

48. Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park (845,037)

Dogs are allowed in the park.

49. Manassas National Battlefield (790,086)

Dogs are allowed throughout the park.

50. Fire Island National Seashore (779,241)

Dogs are prohibited from swimming beaches and other posted areas.

49. Manassas National Battlefield (790,086)

Dogs are allowed throughout the park.

50. Fire Island National Seashore (779,241)

Dogs are prohibited from swimming beaches and other posted areas.

51. Canyon de Chelly National Monument (764,186)

Dogs are allowed on overlook trails but not below the rim.

52. Arches National Park (761,861)

Dogs are not allowed on any hiking trails but are permitted in campgrounds.

53. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (757,267)

Dogs are allowed on park trails.

54. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (704,747)

Dogs are allowed on most park trails.

55. Wind Cave National Park (696,402)

Two trails allow dogs within the park: the Elk Mountain Nature Trail takes off around

the campground and the Prairie Valley Trail near the Visitor Center.

56. Cape Lookout National Seashore (643,507)

Dogs are permitted in the park year-round.

57. Saguaro National Park (642,457)

Dogs are not allowed on unpaved trails.

58. Petrified Forest National Park (575,650)

Dogs are not allowed on unpaved trails in the park.

59. Cedar Breaks National Monument (558,454)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails.

60. Padre Island National Seashore (534,484)

Dogs are allowed anywhere except on the deck at Malaquite Beach and in front of
the Visitor Center at the swimming beach.

61. Capitol Reef National Park (516,379)

Dogs are not allowed on any park trails.

62. White Sands National Monument (509,480)

Dogs are allowed on trails throughout the park.

63. Carlsbad Caverns National Park(472,670)
Dogs are not permitted on park trails above or below ground.

64. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (471,210)

Dogs are prohibited on all park trails.

63. Carlsbad Caverns National Park (472,670)

Dogs are not permitted on park trails above or below ground.

64. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (471,210)

Dogs are prohibited on all park trails.

65. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (468,977)

Dogs are allowed on many park trails; dogs are not permitted on trails that run into state park land.

66. Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (455,826)

Dogs are not allowed in most areas of the park.

67. Crater Lake National Park (455,648)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails but are permitted in the picnic areas.

68. Catoctin Mountain Park (453,302)

Dogs are allowed on park trails.

69. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (428,390)

Dogs are welcome in designated developed areas and on most primary front country

trails but not in the backcountry or selected posted lakeshore trails.

70. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Memorial (418,755)

Dogs are allowed to explore the park.

71. Mesa Verde National Park (411,399)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails.

72. Devil’s Tower National Monument (407,688)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails.

73. Redwoods National Park (398,973)

Dogs are not allowed on any trails but are allowed at Crescent and Gold Bluffs beaches. Dogs are permitted in picnic areas, campgrounds and at the Freshwater Lagoon Spit.

74. North Cascades National Park (390,277)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails.

75. Lassen Volcanic National Park (387,480)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails.

76. Morristown National Historical Park (384,303)

Dogs are permitted to hike on park trails.

77. Canyonlands National Park (366,861)

Dogs are banned from all trails.

78. Big Bend National Park (322,329)

Dogs are not allowed on trails, off roads, or on the Rio Grande River. Dogs can stay in campgrounds.

78. White Sands National Monument (509,480)

Dogs are allowed on trails throughout the park.

79. Antietam National Battlefield (313,201)

Dogs are not allowed on trails across the park.

80. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (310,489)

Dogs are allowed on park trails in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

81. Bandelier National Monument (300,760)

Dogs are not allowed on park trails but can stay in campgrounds.

82. Dinosaur National Monument (299,622)

Dogs are allowed on most of the park trails.

83. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (295,080)

Dogs are allowed on two trails: the Palo Verde Trail and the Campground Perimeter

Trail. Dogs are allowed in the campground.

84. San Juan Island National Historical Park (276,018)

Dogs are allowed on park trails and mutt mitts are provided at trailheads.

85. Kings Mountain National Military Park (265,673)

Dogs are allowed on park trails.

86. Fort Donelson National Battlefield (237,063)

Dogs are allowed on park trails.

87. Great Sand Dunes National Monument (235,535)

Dogs are welcome outdoors anywhere in the park.

88. Voyageurs National Park (233,825)

Dogs are not allowed on any park trails but can stay in campgrounds on the four main lakes. Dogs can also visit picnic areas and boat launch ramps.

89. Guadalupe Mountains National Park (216,095)

Dogs are allowed only on the trail between the campground and the Visitor Center and the Pinery Trail at the Visitor Center. Dogs are also permitted in the campgrounds.

90. Cowpens National Battlefield (213,629)

Dogs are allowed on park trails.

91. Craters of the Moon National Memorial (182,789)

Dogs are not allowed off the pavement onto trails.

92. Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (177,441)

Dogs are allowed on most park trails.

92. Petersburg National Battlefield (176,311)

Dogs are allowed throughout the park.

93. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (174,346)

Dogs are allowed on overlook trails, some of which are nearly a mile, but are not

permitted below the rim. Dogs are also prohibited from the Warner Nature Trail.

94. Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (172,871)

Dogs are allowed on the islands.

95. Pinnacles National Monument (165,011)

Dogs are allowed only on roads and in parking and picnic areas.

96. Saratoga National Historical Park (148,490)

Dogs are permitted on trails throughout the park.

97. Jewel Cave National Monument (131,481)

Dogs are allowed on above-ground trails in the park.

98. Lava Beds National Monument (114,418)

Dogs are not allowed in the wilderness area.

99. Scotts Bluff National Monument (113,885)

Dogs are allowed on park trails.

100. Congaree Swamp National Monument (110, 182)Dogs are allowed to hike in the park but not on any boardwalk trails.