PLAN VISIT: Things to Know

NPS Photo

 

Pets are permitted in most areas of the park and must be on a 6-foot leash at all times. Pets may not be tied to an object and left unattended or left in a vehicle. Please clean up after your pet. Report lost pets to the park communication center at [phone].

Pets are NOT permitted at the following sites:

In Pennsylvania:

• Smithfield and Milford Beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day
• Raymondskill Falls and Dingmans Falls
• George W. Childs Park
• Valley View Group Campsites
• Hidden Lake
• Hialeah Picnic Area
• McDade Trail from milepost 1.0 to milepost 2.5 (from June 1 to September 8)

In New Jersey:

• Turtle Beach
• Rivers Bend Group Campsites
• Watergate Recreation Site
• Kittatinny Point (picnic areas and visitor center area)

Service Animals

National Park Service regulations exempt service animals, such as guide dogs for the blind and signal dogs for the hearing-impaired, from pet prohibitions.


Frequently Asked Questions About Service Animals

What is the definition of a service animal?

NPS policy defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The task(s) performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Where are service dogs allowed to go?
Service dogs are legally permitted anywhere that visitors can go. They must be allowed wherever visitors are allowed.

Why are service animals allowed to go anywhere a visitor can go?
Individuals with disabilities rely on their service animals to remain independent and safe. Service animals are not pets. For many individuals with disabilities, separation from a service animal has the same effect as having a wheelchair or communication device taken away. For others, separation from a service animal can put the individual in danger.

Are service dogs required to be professionally trained or certified?

No. People with disabilities have the right to train the animal themselves and are not required to use a professional service animal training program.

Are emotional support, therapy, comfort or companion animals considered service animals?

No. Provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of what is defined as a service animal in the NPS policy. The presence of these animals provides a calming effect for many people, but they do not qualify as service animals because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task. Therefore, a park can treat an emotional support animal as a pet in accordance with its pet policy.

Additional information about NPS service animal policy can be found at Service Animals in the National Parks.