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Great Basin National ParkPinyon Pine after storm
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Great Basin National Park
Pets

Please be aware that having a pet with you will limit your activities in Great Basin National Park.  Kennel services are not available in or around the park.

Be aware of the following regulations before deciding to bring your pet:

  • Pets must be kept on a leash 6 feet in length or shorter at all times. This is for the protection of the pet, wildlife, and other visitors.
      
  • Pets are not permitted in Lehman Caves or at evening programs.
     
  • Pets are not permitted on trails or in the backcountry of the park (except leashed pets on the Lexington Arch Trail). 

  • Leashed pets can only be exercised in the campgrounds, in front of the visitor centers, and along roads.

  • Pet owners are required to immediately remove and properly dispose of fecal matter deposited by their pets. Deposit bags of fecal matter in a dumpster.

  • Pets may not be left unattended at campsites or tied to trees or other fixtures. 

Why are there restrictions on pets in National Parks?
A national park is a refuge for native wildlife.  Restrictions are intended to prevent stress and molestation of wildilfe, to protect pets from wildlife that may attack or harm them, and to provide an enjoyable experience for those visitors without pets.  Domestic animals can also spread diseases to other wildlife through feces and other bodily fluids. 

No water in the Great Basin Desert ever reaches an ocean.  

Did You Know?
The Hydrographic Great Basin is a 200,000 square mile area that drains internally. All precipitation in this region evaporates, sinks underground, or flows into lakes. No water reaches the ocean.

Last Updated: December 26, 2008 at 19:15 EST