Visiting With Pets

 

Quigley and his human companion explore trails around Jordan Pond in October 2016. (Photo courtesy Briana Moore. Used with permission.)

Enjoying Acadia With Your Pet

Exploring Acadia with your pet can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Natural areas pose unique challenges and risks. Please take a moment to review these guidelines to keep your pet, other visitors, and wildlife safe.

• Become an Acadia Bark Ranger.
• Federal law requires that all pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet (2 m) at all times. Wildlife, including porcupines and those with infectious diseases, can harm even well-trained pets. Unleashed pets also disturb and even threaten wildlife. Please protect your pet, other visitors, and the park by keeping your pet on a leash.
• Collect and dispose properly of animal waste in designated trash receptacles. Pet waste can leech into groundwater and pass diseases to wildlife.
• Do not leave your pet unattended, including at campsites or in cars. Summer sunshine poses a threat to pets in vehicles.
• Remember to check yourself and your pet for ticks.
• Planning a hike? Be sure to avoid ladder and rung trails, and bring plenty of water.

Service Animals

Service animals may accompany their owners to all park locations and programs.

 

Where to Go (and Where Not To)

There are 100 miles (161 km) of hiking trails and 45 miles (72 km) of carriage roads in the park where pets are permitted. Some places, though, are not safe for dogs to go.

Pet-Friendly Areas

There are 100 miles (161 km) of hiking trails and 45 miles (72 km) of carriage roads in the park where pets are permitted.

• Carriage roads
• Most trails
• Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods campgrounds permit pets.
• On Isle au Haut, pets are permitted for day hiking only.

Pet Restricted Areas

• Most lakes in the park are public water supplies. Pets and people may not swim in them.

• Sand Beach (June 15-Sept 8) and Echo Lake (May 15-Sept 15) are off-limits to pets.

• Public buildings

• Ranger-led programs

• Wild Gardens of Acadia (Sieur de Monts)

• Duck Harbor Campground

Park Trails Closed to Pets

• Precipice

• Beehive

• Ladder Trail to Dorr Mountain

• Beech Cliffs Trail

• Perpendicular Trail (Mansell Mountain)

• Jordan Cliffs Trail between Penobscot East Trail and the carriage road

Park Trails Not Recommended for Pets

• Acadia Mountain

• Flying Mountain

• Giant Slide

• Cadillac Mountain- west face

• Bubble and Jordan Ponds Path, between the carriage road and The Featherbed pond

• Norembega Goat Trail

• Bubbles-Pemetic Trail

• Penobscot Mountain (Spring) Trail

• Upper Beachcroft Trail

• Upper Gorge Trail

 

Keep the park clean by collecting and disposing of all dog waste. Do not leave it behind at a trailhead or next to garbage cans.

Dispose of Pet Waste Properly

Help keep Acadia clean by collecting and disposing of all pet waste properly. Be sure to carry the poop bag off the trail. Public garbage cans are located throughout the park.

• Do not throw them into the woods or hang from trees.
• Do not leave bags next to full or wrapped garbage cans.
• Do not rely on park staff to pick up bags after your visit.

 

Learn Best Practices

 

Duration:

1 minute, 15 seconds

Acadia National Park is one of the few national parks across America that allows dogs. Learn why it's so very important for your furry friend to stay on leash, whether this is your first visit, or you come here together every day for years and years.

Learn more about our Bark Ranger Program