Pets

Leashed pets are permitted on all the trails at Scotts Bluff National Monument. Be sure to clean up all pet waste.

NPS/Eric Grunwald

Leashed pets are welcome on all paved trails and developed areas of the park. Pet walkers are required to clean up after their pets and waste disposal bags are available at the Saddle Rock Trailhead near the visitor center, at the Summit parking lot, and near the pedestrian crosswalk where the Oregon Trail Pathway crosses the Summit Road.

Trained service animals of visitors with a disability are permitted throughout Scotts Bluff National Monument, including inside the monument Visitor Center. Service animals are required to follow the same guidelines for leashing, bagging pet waste, and respecting wildlife. Emotional support/therapy animals are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act and are not permitted inside the visitor center. If needed, read a definition of service animal.

 

Dog waste bags can be found at several locations throughout the monument.

NPS/Eric Grunwald

Why must my dog be on a leash?

• For the safety of you and your dog - Your dog may be injured while jumping, digging, or running, or may be bitten by a rattlesnake.
• For the safety of other people - Some people, particularly children, are afraid of dogs, even friendly ones.
• For the safety of wildlife - Animals may be flushed out of nesting sites and burrows by roaming dogs. Just a quick dig by a dog can destroy animal's home.
• It's the law - Federal laws require pets to be on leash. (36 CFR 2.15)

 

Where can my pet be off-leash?

While there is not a location at Scotts Bluff National Monument where pets can be off-leash, the nearby Monument Dog Park contains five, fenced-in acres where pets can get their exercise.

 

Remember the rules of B.A.R.K.

B = Bag your poop

• Help keep our park a clean and healthy place to visit by disposing of all pet waste in a proper garbage receptacle. Pet waste bags can be found in several convenient locations throughout the monument.

• Dog feces is not a natural fertilizer. Dogs can carry disease such as parvovirus, giardia and roundworms into the monument's wildlife populations. Water sources may also be polluted by dog feces.

A = Always wear a leash

• Leashes protect dogs from becoming lost and from hazards such as sharp cactus spines.

• Not everyone is a dog person no matter how friendly and well behaved your dog may be. Many people, especially children, are frightened by dogs, even small ones. Uncontrolled dogs can present a danger to other visitors. Leashes also protect the experience of other visitors who may be afraid, allergic, or who do not want a dog approaching them.

• Unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells can disturb even the calmest, friendliest, and best-trained dog, causing them to behave unpredictably or bark excessively.

R = Respect wildlife

• Dogs can chase and threaten wildlife, scaring birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding, and resting sites.

• The scent left behind by a dog can signal the presence of a predator, disrupting or altering the behavior of park wildlife. Small animals may hide in their burrow the entire day after smelling a dog and may not venture out to feed.

• Please keep your dog at a respectful distance from any animals you may encounter.

K = Know where you can go

• Leashed pets are permitted on all hiking trails in the monument.

• Except for service animals, no pets are permitted in the Visitor Center.

• Pets should not be left unattended. Summer sunshine poses a threat to pets in vehicles. Don't leave pets alone in a car or tied to trees or other objects while visiting.