Before You Bring Your Pooch to Yosemite, Know These 5 Important Rules

It’s only natural to want to bring your dog with you on your travels, especially to beautiful outdoor locations such as Yosemite National Park. With endless hiking trails, wildlife exploration opportunities, and camping options, Yosemite is a paradise for humans and dogs alike. But are dogs allowed in Yosemite?

Here’s everything you need to know before you pack your bags and Fido’s favorite toys to bring with you on your national park road trip.

Dogs Are Allowed in Yosemite, to an Extent

According to the National Park Service guidelines for Yosemite National Park, dogs are allowed in certain locations within Yosemite. However, there are many rules you must follow in order to maintain the safety of your pet, the parks, and local wildlife populations.

Regardless of how well-behaved your pooch might be, the National Park Service has rules and regulations in place for pets, especially dogs. Some of the most important rules you need to follow when bringing a dog into Yosemite include:

• Always clean up after your dog and bring proper waste disposal bags
• Never leave your dog unattended, whether on a leash or in a vehicle
• Dogs must always be restrained, either on a leash or otherwise physically restrained
• Leashes must be no more than 6 feet long for the safety of guests and animals

While these rules apply to everywhere inside Yosemite National Park, there are places in the park your dog can’t go. Let’s discuss those places now.

Places in Yosemite that Don’t Allow Dogs

All paved and developed areas in Yosemite, including standard campgrounds, allow dogs. However, certain places within this national park don’t allow Fido to come along, including:

• Most hiking trails
• Wilderness areas or unmaintained areas, such as plow zones
• In the buildings in developed areas, including bathrooms and lodging
• On shuttles or buses within Yosemite
• In hike-in campsites, including larger group camp areas
• Any location with a sign mentioning “no dogs allowed”!

While many of these rules may seem strict, there are multiple reasons why these rules exist. Dogs can be extremely disruptive to natural areas such as national parks, especially when considering the delicate animal species found in Yosemite.

5 Important Rules to Consider When Bringing Dogs to Yosemite

Besides keeping your dog on a leash at all times within Yosemite National Park, what else should you consider? Here are five important rules to keep in mind.

1. You Can’t Carry Your Dog in Restricted Areas

Even if you have your dog secured in your arms or a backpack, you still can’t bring them into restricted areas. This includes most interior buildings, hiking trails, and wilderness areas.

2. Bears Want Your Dog’s Food, Too

Yosemite is an active bear area. If you’re camping in a dog-approved campground, be sure to take all precautions with your food as well as your dog’s food so bears don’t come snooping!

3. Yosemite Can Get Hot for Fido

You should always make sure your pup has plenty of water and comfort. Summertime temperatures can be deadly in Yosemite, just one reason why you can’t leave your dog unattended.

4. Pet Waste Can Harm the Environment

If you travel with your dog and don’t pick up after them, you’re not just upsetting other humans trying to enjoy the beauty of national parks. Pet waste can be devastating to wildlife and delicate natural areas.

5. Leashes Are for Everyone’s Safety

It doesn’t matter if your dog is a good listener or well-trained. Yosemite is a wilderness area full of unpredictability, including unknown humans, prey, and predators. Keep your dog on a leash at all times, for their safety and everyone else’s!