Terms & Privacy
Last updated: March 2026
National Barks is a free, independent resource for dog owners who love exploring the outdoors. By using this site, you agree to the following terms.
Accuracy of Information
Trail and pet policy data on National Barks is sourced from the National Park Service API, and temperature data is sourced from NOAA’s Climate Data Online. All data is provided for general informational purposes only. We make no guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information on this site. Park policies, trail conditions, and pet restrictions can change without notice. Always verify current regulations directly with the relevant national park before your visit.
No Liability
National Barks and its creators are not responsible for any loss, injury, fine, or damage arising from reliance on information presented on this site. Use of this site and any decisions made based on its content are entirely at your own risk.
Third-Party Links
This site links to external websites, including NPS.gov. We are not responsible for the content or accuracy of any third-party sites.
Data Sources
Trail and activity data is retrieved from the National Park Service API. Monthly temperature normals are sourced from NOAA’s U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020, via the Climate Data Online API). National Barks is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service, NOAA, or the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Analytics
We use Umami Analytics to collect anonymized, aggregate data about site usage — including page views, general location (country/region), browser type, and device type. Umami does not use cookies and does not collect personally identifiable information.
Contact & Communications
If you email us at suggestions@nationalbarks.org, we receive your email address and message. We use this only to respond to your inquiry and do not share it with third parties. Questions or concerns about these terms are also welcome at this address.
Children
This site is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect data from them.
Changes
We may update these terms at any time. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
Trail Tips
Hiking with your dog in a national park is one of life's great joys — but it comes with responsibilities. These tips will help keep your pup safe, other visitors happy, and the parks beautiful for everyone.
⚠️ A Note on Accuracy
These tips reflect general NPS pet policies, but rules vary by park and can change. Always verify current regulations on the official NPS pets page or your specific park's website before your trip. When in doubt, call the park directly.
🐕 Respect Leash Rules
Most national parks require dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times on trails. Even if your dog is well-behaved off-leash, leash rules exist to protect wildlife, other hikers, and your dog. Always check the specific rules for each park before you go.
🗺️ Stay on Designated Trails
Dogs are often only permitted on paved roads, campgrounds, and designated pet-friendly trails — not all backcountry trails. Off-trail hiking with dogs can disturb nesting wildlife and damage fragile ecosystems. Use this site to identify which trails are pet-friendly before you head out.
💧 Pack Enough Water
Dogs dehydrate faster than humans on the trail. Bring extra water and a collapsible bowl for your dog, and never let them drink from natural water sources — giardia and other parasites are a real risk. On hot days, plan shorter outings and stick to shaded routes.
🧹 Pack Out Waste
Always pick up after your dog — even off-trail and in remote areas. Dog waste carries bacteria and parasites that can harm wildlife and contaminate water sources. Bring more bags than you think you need, and pack them out completely: do not leave filled bags on the trail to pick up later.
🦅 Protect Wildlife
Even a leashed dog can stress wildlife. Keep your dog calm and quiet around animals, and give wildlife plenty of space. If you encounter birds nesting on or near the trail, give them a wide berth. Some parks may close certain trails seasonally to protect nesting species.
🤝 Be Considerate of Others
Not everyone loves dogs. Yield to other hikers, keep your dog from jumping on strangers, and make sure your dog isn't blocking narrow sections of trail. A well-behaved dog makes a great case for expanded dog access in parks — an unruly one does the opposite.
🔖 Know Before You Go
Pet policies vary widely across parks and can change seasonally. Always check the official NPS page for your destination before your trip. Rules about permits, restricted areas, and seasonal closures are updated regularly and this site may not reflect the most recent changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dogs allowed in all national parks?
Dogs are permitted in most national parks, but access is limited. They're generally allowed on paved roads, campgrounds, and designated pet-friendly trails — but not in most backcountry areas, on ranger-led programs, or inside buildings. Trail policies change, and individual parks may have rules that aren't reflected in national databases. Before you go, check the park's official NPS page or call the visitor center.
Do dogs have to be on a leash?
Yes. In virtually all national parks, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. This applies on all pet-friendly trails, in campgrounds, and on paved roads. Off-leash dogs — even well-trained ones — are generally not permitted.
Can I bring my dog on any trail listed on this site?
National Barks pulls trail data from the NPS API and makes every effort to show only pet-friendly trails, but data accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Trail conditions, seasonal restrictions, and pet policies can change. Always verify with the park directly before your visit.
What should I bring for my dog on a trail?
At minimum: extra water and a collapsible bowl, waste bags (more than you think you'll need), a leash no longer than 6 feet, and a basic pet first aid kit. On longer or more remote trails, also consider food, a cooling towel for hot days, and tick prevention.
What do I do if my dog encounters wildlife?
Stay calm, keep your dog close on a short leash, and back away slowly without turning your back on the animal. Do not let your dog chase or bark at wildlife. In bear country, make noise on the trail to avoid surprise encounters, and know how to respond if you see a bear.
Changelog
Significant updates and additions to National Barks.
March 2026
30-year temperature averages — Each park detail page now shows a color-coded monthly temperature bar sourced from NOAA’s 30-year climate normals (1991–2020), with the current month highlighted.
Live park alerts — Active NPS alerts (closures, hazards, conditions) now appear at the top of each park’s trail page, fetched live from the National Park Service.
NPS hiking page links — A link to each park’s full hiking overview on NPS.gov now appears below the trail list, so you can explore trails that may not allow pets.
State names on park pages — Parks spanning fewer than four states now display full state names instead of abbreviations.
Park photos — NPS photos now appear on both the park list and each park’s detail page, sourced nightly from the National Park Service.
Optimized image delivery — Park photos are resized and served via Netlify’s image CDN, keeping page load fast even with photos across all listed parks.
Park-specific FAQs — Each park detail page now includes a Frequently Asked Questions section covering pet policies, dog-friendly trails, seasonal access, and leash rules — dynamically generated for each park and marked up with structured schema data for AI and search engines.
Polish & fixes — Trail count now shown on park detail pages, back button arrow alignment fixed, scroll-to-top on park open, and various copy and accessibility improvements.
February 2026
Shareable trail links — Each park's trail page now has its own URL (e.g. /trails/acad) that can be copied and shared directly.
Copy link button — Added a "Copy link" button to park detail pages.
Trail Tips — New tab with guidance on hiking with dogs in national parks, including leash rules, waste, wildlife, and trail etiquette.
Improved trail filtering — Results are now limited to activities that are genuinely trails or trail-based, filtering out unrelated "things to do."
Search by trail name — The filter now searches individual trail titles, not just park names.
Sort by most trails — Added a sort dropdown to order parks by trail count.
Back button support — Browser back/forward navigation now works correctly within the app.