Olympic Dog Policy

Olympic National Park is Somewhat Dog Friendly

Trails

Dogs Limited

^[]

Campground

Dogs Allowed

with 6' Leash & Exceptions ^[]

Beach

Dogs Allowed

with 6' Leash & Exceptions ^[]

Roads

Dogs Allowed

with 6' Leash & Exceptions ^[]

This park on the Olympic Peninsula includes a wide range of ecosystems from Pacific shoreline to temperate rainforests to the glaciated alpine peaks of the Olympic Mountains, the tallest of which is Mount Olympus. The Hoh and Quinault Rainforests are the wettest areas in the contiguous United States, with the Hoh receiving an average of almost 12 ft (3.7 m) of rain every year.^[1]

Olympic National Park is a somewhat dog friendly national park. Dogs are allowed on some trails (though far from all), on several beaches, and in campgrounds accessible by road.

Olympic National Park also runs the BARK Ranger program where you can get a special dog tag for your dog by following best practices (see the BARK Ranger section below).

Website: https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm
Pet Policy Details: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/pets.htm
BARK Ranger: Yes ^[]
Area: 1442 mi²
Annual Visitors: 2,499,177

Trail Policy

Dogs are allowed on the following trails while on a leash no longer than 6':

Peabody Creek Trail (Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles)
Rialto Beach parking lot to Ellen Creek (1/2 mile)
The beaches between the Hoh and Quinault Reservations (Kalaloch area)
Madison Falls Trail (Elwha)
Spruce Railroad Trail (North shore of Lake Crescent)
July Creek Loop Trail (North shore of Lake Quinault)

Dogs are not allowed on any other trails, and they're not allowed in the back-country.

Campground Policy

Campgrounds that are accessible by road allow dogs while they're on a leash no longer than 6'.

Beach Policy

Dogs are allowed on the beaches between the Hoh and Quinault Reservations (Kalaloch area). Please do not allow your dog on rocks below the high tide line, as the rocks as well as barnacles and other growth, can cut your dog's paws.

Road Policy

Dogs are allowed along both paved and dirt roads.

BARK Ranger

Bark Ranger is a really great program that some National Park Service destinations run. The Bark Ranger program teaches dog owners responsible behaviors with their dogs, and in return you get a special dog tag that’s different for each park (note: some parks require you to purchase the tag at the end). You start the program by going to a park office and picking up a checklist. When you complete the checklist (see the link below for more details), you can get your special dog tag.

B.A.R.K. is an acronym for:

B: Bag your poop: Help keep the park clean by bagging and picking up your dog poop, and properly disposing of it. Don’t leave your bagged poop on the side of the trail, hanging from branches, or throw it into the woods. Please note dog poop is not a natural fertilizer — it can carry disease that can spread to wildlife or other dogs.
A: Always wear a leash: Dogs must be restrained on a leash no longer than 6'. Retractable leashes that extend beyond 6' are not allowed. Not everyone appreciates a dog running up to them, and many people are scared or allergic to dogs — a leash prevents uncomfortable situations between your dog and others. Leashes also help protect your dog from running off if anything spooks them.
R: Respect wildlife: Dogs can chase or scare wildlife such as birds and turtles. They can also damage nesting areas. Some parks have wildlife, such as bears, coyotes, or wolves, that can threaten your dog. Please be respectful of wildlife with your dog, and if you do encounter wildlife, keep dog at distance to protect both your dog and the wildlife.
K: Know where to go: Know which trails allow dogs, and which don’t. Don’t leave dogs unattended in vehicles while you go off to hike. See the link below for more details.

For more information on the Bark Ranger program, please see: https://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/pets.htm

We also have a list of all parks that run the BARK Ranger program.

Location & Map

State

Washington

Locality

Port Angeles

Have a photo of your dog here?

Note: Policies can change -- please make sure to check official dog/pet policies prior to making plans or booking travel.

Please tell us if you think there’s anything we should add or change on this page.

Credits

[1] Overview text from the Wikipedia article List of national parks of the United States, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.