This leashed BARK! Ranger enjoyed a walk under redwood trees along Cal Barrel Road.
Photo: Redwood Parks Conservancy
Enjoy the Park Responsibly with Your Pets
Pets are wonderful companions that bring joy, comfort, and love to our lives. At Redwood National and State Parks, we understand how much you value your furry friends and want to ensure both their safety and yours during your visit.
Important Safety Reminder: Redwood parks are home to wildlife such as bears, coyotes, mountain lions, and herds of protective Roosevelt elk. Wildlife encounters can be dangerous for both pets and people. The scent or sound of a pet, even just one bark, can provoke wild animals and lead to harmful situations.
Park Rules for Pets:
No Pets on Park Trails: For the safety of your pet and the preservation of park wildlife, pets are not permitted on trails.
Ranger-Led Programs: To ensure an optimal experience for visitors and wildlife, pets are not allowed during ranger-led activities.
Rangers' Tip: Pet-Friendly Redwood Walks
For a walk through old-growth redwoods with your leashed pet, visit Cal Barrel Road in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park or Walker Road in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
A BARK Ranger receiving their tag!
NPS
Become a BARK! Ranger
Are you ready to make your pet a proud BARK! Ranger? Visit one of our visitor centers to learn about the rules of the BARK! Ranger program. You and your dog can enjoy a walk through the majestic redwoods, take the BARK! Ranger pledge, and receive a special certificate stamped to commemorate the occasion. For an extra special keepsake, BARK! Rangers can purchase an exclusive dog collar tag from our Redwood Parks Conservancy bookstores!For details on the BARK! Ranger program, be sure to check out our brochure.
Guidelines for pet owners visiting the redwoods:
Bag your pet’s poop – Be responsible by picking up and properly disposing of pet waste in all areas of the park.
Always use a leash – Your pet must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet (1.8 meters).
Respect wildlife – Help protect park wildlife by not allowing pets to make noises or approach animals.
Know where you can go – Pets are permitted in developed campgrounds, on beaches, in picnic areas, and on roads.
Becoming a BARK! Ranger helps ensure that you and your pet have a safe and enjoyable visit while preserving the natural beauty and wildlife of the redwoods.
Places to Go With a Leashed Pet
Parking Areas: Fern Canyon, Lady Bird Johnson, Tall Trees Trail, and Stout Grove parking lots only. Elk Meadow Day Use Area parking lot.
Scenic Viewpoints: Klamath River Overlook, Redwood Creek Overlook.
Developed Campgrounds: Elk Prairie Campground, Gold Bluffs Beach, Mill Creek Campground, and Jedediah Smith Campground.
Beaches: Freshwater Beach, Gold Bluffs Beach, and Crescent Beach.
Gravel Roads: Cal Barrel Road and Walker Road.
These areas provide great opportunities for you and your leashed pet to safely enjoy the beauty of Redwood National and State Pa
What's the Harm With Pets in Wild Places?
Predator Risks: Predators such as bears, mountain lions, and coyotes may perceive pets as prey, endangering both the pet and its owner.
Territorial Marking and Disease: Pets can mark territory with their scent or spread domestic diseases, disrupting natural patterns and potentially harming wildlife.
Stress and Safety: Even well-behaved pets can become stressed in unfamiliar environments, which may lead to threatening interactions with visitors or wildlife, especially on park trails.
Toxic Hazards: Dead salmon, which can be found along riverbanks in the parks, can be highly toxic to dogs.
Where Are Close-by Alternatives?
For those seeking pet-friendly areas, here are nearby locations where pets under your control are allowed (check locally for regulations):
Smith River National Recreation Area: Pets are permitted on all campgrounds and trails (must be leashed). Located east of Crescent City, Calif. via U.S. 199.
Public Beaches in Crescent City, Calif.
Moonstone Beach: Accessible via the Westhaven Drive exit off U.S. 101, just south of Trinidad, Calif.
Clam Beach County Park: Accessible via the Clam Beach exit off U.S. 101, near McKinleyville, Calif.
Arcata Community Forest: Located in Arcata, Calif.
These alternatives provide opportunities to enjoy outdoor time with your pet in a safe and responsible manner.
A service animal on the park trail.
S. Olson
Service Animals
Service animals are allowed in all facilities and on all trails unless an area has been closed by the superintendent to protect park resources.
The 2010 revision to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 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.
Dogs that are not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including dogs that are used purely to provide comfort or emotional support ("therapy animals"), are considered pets. Falsely portraying a pet as a service animal is considered fraud and is subject to federal prosecution.
