Pet-Friendly Hiking Trails

BARK Ranger Ginny, a very good girl on a leash, pauses for a photo and a little pant while taking a walk with her humans along the gravel road at Steel Creek Campground.

David Jones

So you want to visit Buffalo National River with your furry friend. Great! Thank you for being a responsible pet owner and researching the pet-friendly areas and activities in the park. Nice work!

Pets are welcome at Buffalo National River, but there are many restrictions in place for the protection of park resources, wildlife, and other visitors:

• Leashed pets are permitted in the campgrounds and on gravel bars up to 100' from the water's edge.
• Pets are not allowed in any government buildings, caves, or on most park trails.
• Pets are not allowed within designated wilderness areas with the exception of gravel bars along the river corridor.
• Pets may not be left unattended. Unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can disturb even the calmest, friendliest, and best-trained dog, causing them to behave unpredictably or bark excessively.
• Pet excrement must be collected by pet owners, and disposed of in trash receptacles.
• Chase for pleasure and dog training are not allowed.

If you want to go hiking with your pet, there are 6 trails at Buffalo National River where you can go.

• Tyler Bend Campground trails (Spring Hollow, Buck Ridge, and Rock Wall in the Middle District)
• Buffalo Point Campground trails (Forest Trail, Overlook Trail, and Campground Trail in the Lower District)

For your visit to the Upper District (near Ponca/Jasper), there are several pet-friendly hiking trails just outside of Buffalo National River's boundaries:

• Whitaker Point/Hawksbill Crag Trail (U.S. Forest Service)
• Glory Hole Waterfall (U.S. Forest Service)
• Alum Cove Natural Bridge Geological Area (U.S Forest Service)
• Sam's Throne Recreation Area (U.S. Forest Service)
• Pedestal Rock Scenic Area (U.S. Forest Service)
• Smith Creek Preserve (The Nature Conservancy)
• Sweden Creek Falls Natural Area (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission)

To get the most out of your adventure with your favorite four-legged floof, be sure to check out the Pets page of our park website before you go: https://www.nps.gov/buff/planyourvisit/pets.htm

Also, practice these 4 easy #BARKRanger principles anytime you're at Buffalo National River:
B - Bag your pet's waste.
A - Always use a leash.
R - Respect wildlife.
K - Know where you can go.

Thank you for your stewardship of Buffalo National River! Next time you stop by one of our visitor centers, ask about how your pet can earn a BARK Ranger bandana!