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Best Dog Friendly Hikes Yosemite – American national parks are generally not friendly to dogs or other pets, but did you know that Yosemite National Park is one of the best parks where you can bring your four-legged friend? it’s the truth! Yosemite National Park is unique in its ability to offer stunning views without leaving the valley. This means you (and your best furry friend) can enjoy America’s best national parks together!
Yosemite is known for its powerful, lush waterfalls, historic granite boulders, giant sequoias, and some of the best camping in California. Although there are many epic trails in Yosemite (find our recommendations here), Yosemite is so accessible that you can get out of your car and enjoy the incredible views, without having to set foot on a trail! Read on to find out everything you need to know about visiting Yosemite with a dog (or any pet)!
Best Dog Friendly Hikes Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is located in east-central California and is known as one of the best parks in the United States. Yosemite attracts visitors from all over the world!
Dog-friendly Yosemite Itinerary
If you are coming from San Francisco, the trip to Yosemite takes between 3 and 4 hours. From Los Angeles, your flight will take another 5 to 6 hours. You can also fly into the nearest airport and rent a car at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, located just an hour away. For us, we traveled from Reno, Nevada after visiting Lake Tahoe on our 7-day Northern California tour. Whichever route you take, you’ll be on your way to a beautiful scenic drive in Yosemite National Park!
I may be biased, but I think everyone needs to experience camping in Yosemite National Park. Yosemite has some of the best camping in all of California and reservations sell out as soon as they sell out. If you’re lucky like us, you’ll find last-minute cancellations on the Recreation.gov website. Camps will be available 5 months in advance, on the 15th of each month. More information is available at Recreation.gov. We stayed at Lower Pines and North Pines campgrounds and loved them both!
During peak seasons in Yosemite, reservations are required to use a daytime vehicle to visit the park between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. I. and 4 p.m. I. This means that between April 13 and October 27, you will need to book for peak times if you visit the park. Read here about limited entry to Yosemite National Park. Pro tip: try to arrive before 5am!
Additionally, you’ll also want to make sure you have the America the Great Parks Pass. You can also choose to purchase a 3-day or 12-month Yosemite National Park pass at the park gates.
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It is very important to note that US national parks do not allow dogs! As pet owners, we must do our best to follow National Park rules when bringing our pets to Yosemite. The general rule is that pets can only be walked on paved spaces, which is allowed in most campsites, and must be leashed.
Although the list above may seem like a lot of places where dogs cannot visit in Yosemite, remember that this is still one of the best national parks in the United States where you can take your dog. You can camp with your dog in Yosemite and find accommodations that allow pets. I have come up with the best scenic and dog-friendly hikes in Yosemite that you can bring your dog to share with you after our first trip in May 2024!
Tunnel View is the most popular viewpoint in Yosemite National Park. Made famous by artist Ansel Adams, this famous overlook gives you a stunning view of Yosemite Valley and El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls. This place is special for a reason and it is easy to access just steps from the large parking lot.
My favorite spot in Yosemite is just over an hour’s drive from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point. This is one of the best places to watch the sunset, as the alpine glow of Half Dome is incredible when the sun goes down. It is a popular place so we visited twice to see the sunset and sunrise, but it is worth it! Be sure to visit the Geology Hut and hike the trails around Glacier Point with your dog.
Yosemite National Park
Another of my favorite places in Yosemite is located in the valley! Cooks Meadow is a two mile trail that takes you through a meadow with beautiful walks. This iconic view with Yosemite behind you makes you feel like you’re in heaven. You can follow this loop trail to Sentinel Bridge.
Lower Yosemite Falls is a beautiful short 1.25 mile trail that leads to one of the most beautiful parks in the park. The paved walk is dog-friendly, so you can take your dog to see the falls nearby. Experience Yosemite Falls and see how powerful they are incredible.
Sentinel Bridge is part of the Cooks Meadow Trail, and this is where we saw the alpine glow as the sun fell over Half Dome. You should know that dogs are not allowed to swim in the water in Yosemite, so neither is Sentinel Beach. Pro tip: Ask your ranger on a hot day if your dog can cool off in the river – safety first on a hot day!
We watched the sunrise at Valley View across the valley, and can you believe this photo was taken in a parking lot? Valley View is one of the best and easiest views and is also a dog friendly place.
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The places above are places we unfortunately didn’t have enough time to visit, but we know they are all dog-friendly too! Mirror Lake is a 5 mile loop trail that takes you through beautiful views of the lake and calm reflecting water. Dogs can walk with you in the lake, but not around the lake. Wawona Meadows is located on a 3 mile forest trail that takes you through a picturesque valley meadow. El Capitan Meadows is also a great stop along the way.
Yosemite National Park is truly one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the US, with stunning views and the best camping in California. You don’t have to leave your dog at home when planning your visit to Yosemite and we encourage you to bring your furry friend along for the adventure! Our dog, Rosie, had a great time and we made some great memories!
I hope we have inspired you to take this adventure to explore the incredible Yosemite National Park! Be sure to check out highlights from our trip on Instagram and TikTok and watch us on YouTube on this iconic California adventure!
Looking for more road trip inspiration? Read our blog on the best 7-day Northern California adventure itineraries. Check out our popular 8-day Utah tour or our popular 10-day Washington and Oregon coast tour! Many people think that national parks are off-limits to pets, but many of them allow dogs. A handful of parks across the West allow pets on select trails and offer safe pet accommodations for owners who want to explore without their pets.
Tips For Visiting Yosemite With A Dog — Have Dog, Will Drive
It may come as a surprise, but dogs are allowed on many trails and campgrounds in one of the most visited parks in the United States. Specifically, you can walk your four-legged friends in built-up areas, as well as paved roads, sidewalks and bike paths. Dog camping can be found throughout the park, except for campsites and group camps. Don’t forget to wear your child on a leather leash, pick him up and never leave him in the car.
The Grand Canyon offers many options for travelers with pets. On the South Rim, leashed dogs can walk any trail above the Rim. The North Rim is more challenging, with dog access limited to the greenway that connects the North Kaibab Trail to part of the Arizona Trail. If you want to explore the dog-free zone, you can park your pup at the Grand Canyon Kennel all day (cats are also accepted). The park offers many great pet-friendly hotels. Pets are welcome at Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, Trailer Village, and Yavapai Lodge.
Enjoy one of the most beautiful sections of the Pacific Crest Trail with your pup. Dog-friendly hikes are available on an 18-mile section of the PCT through North Cascades National Park. Pets are also welcome in many of the recreational areas surrounding the park, including Lake Ross and Lake Chelan.
Zion National Park offers a great dog-friendly hiking trail, the 3.5-mile Paros Trail. Dogs are also allowed in all developed areas of the park, including paved trails, campgrounds, and picnic areas. If you want to explore the park without your pet, animals are allowed to stay in your campsite if they are properly leashed (and if the weather conditions are safe). Remember, Zion is incredibly hot, so always make sure to keep your pet cool and hydrated.
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Almost all areas of the Great Sand Dunes are open to pets and their owners. The only places you can’t take your four-legged friends are remote areas, backpacking sites, and outdoor areas. The park has a number of hazards, such as hot sand, cacti, and wild animals, so be careful.
Dog visitors