Is Redwood National Park Dog Friendly?

Name: Redwood National Park
Address: CA

Redwood National & State Parks B.A.R.K. Ranger Tag

Sandy Collison

Redwood National & State Parks B.A.R.K. Ranger Tag #2

Sandy Collison

National Park

Redwood Dog Policy

Redwood National Park is Somewhat Dog Friendly

Trails

Dogs Not Allowed

^[]

Campground

Dogs Allowed

with 6' Leash & Exceptions ^[]

Beach

Dogs Allowed

with 6' Leash & Exceptions ^[]

Roads

Dogs Allowed

with 6' Leash & Exceptions ^[]

This park and the co-managed state parks protect almost half of all remaining coastal redwoods, the tallest trees on earth. There are three large river systems in this very seismically active area, and 37 miles (60 km) of protected coastline reveal tide pools and seastacks. The prairie, estuary, coast, river, and forest ecosystems contain a wide variety of animal and plant species.^[1]

Redwoods National Park is a somewhat dog friendly national park. While dogs are not allowed on trails, they are allowed at front-country campgrounds and along roads, including a few roads with views of the redwoods. They are also allowed on several beaches.

Redwoods National Park also runs the BARK Ranger Program, where you can earn a special dog tag by learning and following responsible practices (see the BARK Ranger section below).

Website: https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm
Pet Policy Details: https://www.nps.gov/redw/planyourvisit/pets.htm
BARK Ranger: Yes ^[]
Area: 217 mi²
Annual Visitors: 265,177

Trail Policy

Dogs are not allowed on trails at Redwood National Park.

Campground Policy

Dogs are allowed at front-country campgrounds while on a leash of up to 6'.

Beach Policy

Dogs are allowed on the following beaches:

Freshwater Beach
Gold Bluffs Beach
Crescent Beach

Road Policy

Dogs are alloweed along roads while on a leash of up to 6', including gravel roads. The NPS staff at Redwoods National Park recommends walking your dog along Cal Barrel Road (Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park), or Walker Road (Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park) if you want to see a view of redwoods.

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/redw/planyourvisit/upload/BARK-Ranger-Brochure-FINAL-508-2.pdf

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

Location & Map

State

California

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.

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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.