There’s nothing like a national park adventure with your dog, but some parks are more dog-friendly than others. If you’re wondering whether dogs are allowed in Yellowstone National Park, we’ve got the answers you’re looking for to plan your Yellowstone adventure with your pup.
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Are Dogs Allowed in Yellowstone?
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Are Dogs Allowed in Yellowstone?
Yes, dogs are welcome in Yellowstone National Park but are subject to some important rules and restrictions that you must follow. They can accompany you in your car, designated front country campgrounds, and up to 100 feet from roads and parking areas. It's crucial to clean up after your pet and ensure they are on a leash at all times.
Rules for Dogs in Yellowstone
Dogs are allowed in Yellowstone National Park, but there are a few rules in place to protect them, the people, and the environment. Dogs visiting Yellowstone need to be under control at all times and remain in cars or on a leash no more than six feet long. Owners are expected to bag and dispose of their dog’s waste, and dogs should never be left unattended.
When visiting any national park with your dog, always remember the rules of B.A.R.K.!
- Bag your pet’s waste
- Always leash your pet
- Respect wildlife
- Know where you can go
Are Service Dogs Allowed in Yellowstone?
Yellowstone National Park welcomes all service dogs that meet the requirements for being a service animal. Qualified service animals who are assisting people with disabilities must be leashed, but are allowed throughout the park and in all park facilities.
Psychiatric Service Dogs
Psychiatric service dogs are a type of service animal specifically trained to support an individual with a mental disability or mental health condition. Some of the disabilities service dogs support include autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Service dogs perform a range of tasks that directly support people with these conditions and help them enjoy a better quality of life.
Where are Dogs Allowed in Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone National Park’s pet policy states that pets may accompany their humans in developed areas and must remain within 100 feet of roads, parking lots, and campgrounds. Dogs are other pets aren’t permitted in park buildings, on boardwalks, nature trails, backcountry areas, or in thermal areas.
Qualified service dogs are allowed to accompany their handlers in the backcountry and thermal areas of Yellowstone, but park officials warn individuals that bringing a service animal into these areas comes with risks.
Having a service animal in the backcountry can increase the chance of a wildlife encounter, so it’s important to keep your service dog on a leash at all times and sleep with them in your tent. Thermal areas can be harmful if dogs take a drink or touch the water in any way, so a tight leash and paying close attention are essential in these areas too.
Are Dogs Allowed in Yellowstone Campgrounds?
Dogs are welcome in Yellowstone National Park Campgrounds as long as they adhere to the same regulations set forth for the rest of the park. They must be on a leash, in a crate, or contained in a vehicle at all times, but are allowed to walk along roadways and a few short paths within the campgrounds. There are also some cabins in the park that also allow dogs to stay.
Safe food storage is also important for bringing your dog camping in Yellowstone. Since wildlife is everywhere in the wilderness of this park, all human and dog food (including water bowls) should be stored in vehicles or in the provided bear proof storage boxes. If camping in the backcountry, food should be hung by rope 10 feet above the ground and away from tree trunks. As always sure to bag and dispose of your dog’s waste when camping as you would in any area of the park.
Why Bring a Dog to Yellowstone?
Any outdoor adventure with your dog is a special bonding opportunity for you both, but there are a few exceptional reasons to bring your dog to Yellowstone. Explore dog-friendly hiking trails in the national forests just outside the park’s boundaries where your dog can hike along with you and enjoy the beautiful views.
You’ll love driving the park’s scenic roadways with your dog, taking in the sights on routes like the Grand Loop Road or the Beartooth Highway reaching a shocking 10,947 feet above sea level. Book a campsite or a dog-friendly cabin to spend a night under the stars in the peaceful wilderness of Yellowstone with your dog by your side.
How to Get an ESA Letter
With Pettable the steps for getting an emotional support animal (ESA) letter are simple. Start by taking our 3-minute assessment to determine your eligibility, then get matched with one of our qualified health professionals to map out your specific needs.
Pettable will provide you with a legitimate emotional support animal letter for housing, travel, and to gain access to some public places. Start your journey certifying your emotional support animal today.
Meet the author:
April Brightman is a freelance writer and outdoor enthusiast with a passion for traveling and hiking with her rescue pup, Marley. She's written for pet-centered sites like Outward Hound, as well as outdoorsy adventure brands like BearVault, Hipcamp, and Explorer Chick.
