Ultimate Guide to Dog Friendly National Parks in California

Byangelalingy

Summer is almost here! Which means it’s time to start planning some summer road trips to visit national parks! We’re continuing to celebrate this year’s National Park Week (April 22-30, 2023) theme of “Your Park Story” by sharing our special connections with national parks since adopting Kona. While it seems natural to allow dogs to explore the outdoors with you, national parks have strict dog policies. Our goal is to show you which ones in California are dog-friendly and why they are still worth visiting with your dog – even with some inevitable pawrent compromises. We hope this inspires you to explore the sights and experiences of our national parks together with your best friend!

Yosemite Falls

Reasons why dogs are not allowed in national parks:

  • Their mere presence alters the natural behaviors of native wildlife. Frightened wildlife can be aggressive towards you or your dog. Your dog could also react to wildlife and create a dangerous situation.
  • Odors left behind by dogs initiate a fear response in wildlife that a predator is near, preventing them from returning to their natural habits. 
  • Predators like coyotes, bears and mountain lions can kill dogs, even in the daylight.
  • Dogs may inadvertently disturb and destroy irreplaceable archeological sites, historical structures and sacred grounds.
  • Dangerous trails with cactus spines, rattlesnakes, sharp rocks, etc. can harm your dog.

General dog rules to follow in national parks:

Wherever you bring your dog, never leave them unattended inside a vehicle and always abide by the following National Park Service BARK Ranger Principles:

  • Bag your dog’s waste
  • Always leash your dog (with one no longer than 6 feet)
  • Respect wildlife
  • Know where you can go

Additionally, always check the NPS website for the latest park conditions and pet regulations before visiting any national park. Note that dogs are also not allowed inside visitor centers or other park buildings/facilities (with the exception of service animals). Dogs may only be off-leash in designated areas of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) when under voice and eye control.

At a Glance: Level of Dog Friendliness at National Parks in California

We’ve categorized all national parks, monuments, historic sites, historical parks, recreation areas, preserves, seashores and memorials in California into the following dog-friendly buckets:

  • No – Dogs not allowed anywhere inside the park.
  • Low – Dogs only allowed in developed areas wherever a car can go (parking lots, picnic areas, paved/dirt roads, viewpoints, some campgrounds), but prohibited on all or most official park trails. 
  • High – Dogs allowed throughout the park, including some official park hiking trails. Plus, “low” as described above, but with many miles of dog-accessible developed areas worth exploring.
Northern California
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park – Low. Dogs not allowed on trails. Can drive to a few roadside attractions, then hike in the neighboring Lassen National Forest.
  • Lava Beds National Monument – Low. Dogs not allowed on trails or inside any of the 24+ caves. Very limited experience, so consider skipping altogether or boarding your dog.
  • Redwood National & State Parks – High! Dogs not allowed on trails, but can explore beaches, 7+ miles of gravel road, and redwood groves via scenic drives.
  • Tule Lake National Monument – Low. Dogs allowed only on the external grounds, but not much to explore outside.
  • Whiskeytown National Recreation Area – High! Dogs allowed on all hiking trails and campgrounds, and most of the lakeshore. 50+ miles of hiking trails.
Bay Area
San Joaquin Valley
  • Cesar E. Chavez National Monument – Low. Dogs limited to 1+ miles of paved roads around the property, and cannot enter the Memorial Garden.
  • Devils Postpile National Monument – High! Dogs allowed on all 6+ miles of hiking trails and can even ride on the shuttle bus into the park (but must wear leash and muzzle).
  • Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park – Low. Dogs limited to paved roads and scenic drives, but none get close enough to the two largest sequoia trees in the world. Can explore 5+ miles of hiking trails in the neighboring Sequoia National Forest.
  • Manzanar National Historic Site – High! Dogs are allowed at most external areas (2.5+ miles) and even inside the Block 14 exhibits.
  • Pinnacles National Park – Low. Dogs limited to the paved Pinnacles Hwy and Pinnacles Campground road (<2 miles). Very limited experience, so consider skipping altogether or boarding your dog.
  • Yosemite National Park – High! Dogs not allowed on trails, but most popular sights can be viewed from paved roads, sidewalks, parking areas and bicycle paths. 25+ miles of dog-friendly roads.
Southern California

Complete Ranking of CA’s Most Dog-Friendly National Parks: #1-27

Below is our complete ranking of every national park in California according to how dog-friendly each one is. The title links will direct you to the official NPS pet guidelines page of each national park:

1. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (Los Angeles & Ventura Counties)
Balanced Rock along the Mishe Mokwa Trail Source: National Park Service

Established in 1978, SMMNRA is not only the largest urban national park in the U.S. at 158,000 acres, but in the world! The National Park Service jointly manages this patchwork of many individual parks and open spaces with partners like California State Parks, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority. The Santa Monica Mountains offer year-round recreation with mild Mediterranean climate, 500+ miles of trails, beaches, and historical and cultural sites.

Dogs must stay on leash at all times, and are not allowed on backcountry trails of the following state parks: Topanga, Malibu Creek, Leo Carrill, and Point Mugu.

dog friendly solstice canyon
Keller House ruins
Hollywood sign nestled within hills
night hike with city view
2. Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Marin, SF & San Mateo Counties)
Muir Woods Source: National Park Service

Established in 1972, GGNRA is one of the world’s largest national parks in an urban setting with 80,000 acres stretching across Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties. It is the most visited national park in the US with 19+ million annual visitors coming to enjoy its 37 distinct park sites, 130+ miles of trails, thousands of historic structures, and 2,000+ plant and animal species. The park includes many sites of regional and national importance like:

  • Alcatraz Island – This small island was once a fort, military prison, and  maximum security federal penitentiary. Dogs are not allowed.
  • Muir Woods National Monument – Enjoy the last remaining ancient redwood forests in the Bay Area. Dogs are not allowed.
  • Marin Headlands – Known for its dramatic cliffs of oceanic rock, fog-swept coastal prairie ecosystem and views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • The Presidio – Former Army post that is now home to Crissy Field, museums, restaurants, recreational destinations, art installations, trails, and views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Fort Funston – One of the premier hang-gliding spots in the country that features 200-foot high sandy bluffs.
  • Lands End – Windy trail at the northwestern corner of San Francisco with stunning views at every turn. Stop by the ruins of Sutro Baths along the way.
  • Ocean Beach – 3.5 mile stretch of white beach
  • Rancho Corral de Tierra – 4,000 acres of undeveloped land with panoramic coastal vistas, miles of public trails, and important watersheds.
  • Mori Point – Coastal promontory just south of Pacifica with sweeping views from Point Reyes to Pedro Point

GGNRA is the only national park with designated areas for off-leash dogs when under voice and sight control. Dogs must be on a leash in all parking lots and picnic areas. Dogs are not allowed in park buildings, shuttle buses, public fishing piers, campgrounds, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Muir Woods, and Point Bonita Lighthouse.

golden gate bridge sunset from beach
labyrinth near ocean
sutro baths
Golden Gate Bridge Postcard Viewpoint
Golden Gate Bridge Overlook
Palace of Fine Arts
Painted Ladies on sunny clear day
couple in urban city view
dog hiking through pampas forest
Family and dog walking along the coastal trail in Half Moon Bay
dog on cliff looking at ocean during hike in Pacifica
3. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (Whiskeytown)
Whiskeytown – Lower Whiskey Creek Falls Source: National Park Service

While the most recognized feature of this 42,000-acre All Season Park is the crystal-clear Whiskeytown Lake, there is so much more to do than just water-based recreation here. This is a hiker’s paradise with trails to waterfalls, along the lakeshore, in Clear Creek Gorge and more – all dog-friendly!

Dogs are allowed on all hiking trails and campgrounds, as well as most of the lakeshore. To protect wildlife and the Lake’s water quality, dogs are NOT allowed anywhere in Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area, Brandy Creek Beach, Oak Bottom Beach and East Beach – the beach, swim areas and adjacent picnic areas/grounds are off limits.

4. Yosemite National Park (Sierra Nevada)
Yosemite Valley Source: National Park Service

Yosemite was established in 1864 as the first state park in California, but then designated as the country’s third national park by 1890. Each year 5+ million visitors come to this 750,000-acre park to explore its giant sequoias, exceptionally tall waterfalls, stunning valleys, granite peaks and domes, high meadows, lakes, and spectacular mountain views. Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, plunging 2,425 feet to the Merced River. Other major attractions include Half Dome, El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and three giant sequoia groves. We visited this park multiple times before Kona’s homecoming, and of course wanted Yosemite to be her first national park experience. We were pleasantly surprised by how much of the park we could still explore despite being limited to paved roads. The following is a breakdown of the major regions of Yosemite, which all have dog-friendly hikes or sights to explore:

  1. Yosemite Valley – World famous for its impressive waterfalls, meadows, and unusual rock formations (Half Dome, El Capitan). Accessible by car year-round.
  2. Crane Flat & Tuolumne Grove – Crane Flat is a pleasant forest and meadow area. Plus, the home to two smaller sequoia groves north of Yosemite Valley. 
  3. Mariposa Grove & Wawona – Southern portion of Yosemite. Mariposa Grove has 500+ giant sequoias, but dogs are not allowed on any trails or roads there. Wawona is home to the historic Wawona Hotel, Pioneer Village, and Yosemite History Center.
  4. Glacier Point – An overlook with a commanding view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemite’s high country. Open late-May (or early-June) to sometime in November.
  5. Tuolumne Meadows & Tioga Road – Large, open sub-alpine meadow surrounded by majestic peaks and domes.
  6. Hetch Hetchy – In the less-visited northwestern corner of the park. Hetch Hetchy Valley was Yosemite’s twin valley before it was dammed and flooded. The 117-billion-gallon reservoir supplies drinking water and hydro-electric power to San Francisco.

Leashed dogs are allowed on most fully paved roads, sidewalks, parking areas and bicycle paths unless there is a sign that specifically forbids them. Dogs are not allowed on trails, unplowed roads covered in snow, buildings, lodging areas, and Camp 4 walk-in campground.

5. Mojave National Preserve (Mojave Desert)
Kelso Dunes Source: National Park Service

At 1.6 million acres, Mojave National Preserve is the third largest National Park in the country, as well as home to the world’s largest concentration of Joshua Trees – even more than Joshua Tree National Park! While 1.3 million Joshua Trees were destroyed in the August 2020 Dome wildfire, you can still observe them along Cima Road as well as other landscapes throughout the preserve like lava tubes, cinder cones and some of the largest dunes in the country. Come prepared as this is a desert with rugged terrain and the nearest gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores are a half-day drive away.

Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the preserve and all trails. The desert can be deadly for pets. Watch for signs of heat exhaustion, predators like coyotes and mountain lions, as well as cactus spines, rattlesnakes or scorpions.

6. Devils Postpile National Monument (Mammoth Lakes)
Devils Postpile Source: National Park Service

This 800-acre national monument protects the Devils Postpile, a rare rock formation that ranks as one of the world’s finest examples of columnar basalt and towers up to 60 feet. The monument also preserves Rainbow Falls, a 101-foot high waterfall on the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River. With ~8 miles of trails that you can explore together with your dog, Devils Postpile is a must-see for us whenever we visit Mammoth Lakes. The monument is typically open between mid-June and mid-October. Through mid-September, visitors must also ride a mandatory shuttle bus to reach the monument. The shuttle was not operating during our first visit in late-September 2021, so we conveniently got to drive into the Valley ourselves.

Dogs are allowed throughout the park including day use areas, trails and campgrounds, but must be on a leash at all times. Dogs can even ride on the shuttle buses, but must also wear muzzles.

7. Joshua Tree National Park (Twentynine Palms)
Covington Crest Trail Source: National Park Service

This park protects nearly 800,000-acres of desert landscape, where the two distinct desert ecosystems of the Mojave and Colorado deserts converge:

  1. Western half of the park (Mojave) – Elevations above 3,000 feet. Full of the eponymous, wild-armed Joshua trees, which aren’t trees but a species of yucca that can grow 40+ feet tall.
  2. Eastern half of the park (Colorado) – Below 3,000 feet above sea level. Home to the spidery Ocotillo shrub and jumping cholla cactus. You’ll want to be careful that your dog does not get stuck by cactus thorns on the ground here.

Each year, ~2.8 million visitors come to enjoy activities such as hiking, camping, photography, and rock climbing. Plus, as a designated International Dark Sky Park with some of the darkest nights in Southern California, you can stargaze and admire the Milky Way here too. The West Entrance near Joshua Tree Visitor Center is by far the most popular one and can easily be gridlocked for 20 min to 1+ hours – come in the early-morning or late-afternoon to avoid waiting. We recommend accessing the park via the North Entrance near Oasis Visitor Center to avoid any delays. Dress up in layers as the weather can change from warm and sunny to freezing winds very quickly.

Dogs are ONLY allowed on designated trails or remain within 100 feet of developed areas wherever a car can go (roads, picnic areas, campgrounds). Dogs are NOT allowed on hiking trails or in the backcountry.

giant marilyn monroe statue
peaceful water ripples at the shore
Tracks and footprints on sand dunes
8. Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Source: National Park Service

Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth with average summer temperatures over 100°F, but often exceeding 120°F. Badwater Basin features the lowest elevation in North America at -282 feet. Together, these conditions make this the driest national park in the country. It is also the largest national park in the country outside of Alaska with 3.2 million acres of federally designated Wilderness. Nearly 1,000 miles of paved and dirt roads provide access to locations both popular and remote. Experience rolling sand dunes, barren salt flats, badlands, twisted slot canyons, spring-fed oases, and rocky peaks. Plus, as a designated International Dark Sky Park with night skies virtually free of light pollution (Gold Tier rating), you can see thousands of stars here without a telescope.

Dogs are ONLY allowed on roads and in developed areas wherever a car can go (parking lots, paved roads, campgrounds, picnic areas). Dogs are prohibited in Wilderness, in buildings, and on all trails (including boardwalks at Badwater and Salt Creek, and paved trails at Zabriskie Point and Harmony Borax Works).

9. Redwood National and State Parks (Crescent City)
Source: National Park Service

Home of the world’s tallest trees, this World Heritage Site protects nearly half of all remaining old-growth coastal redwoods on earth. The California Department of Parks and Recreation and National Park Service jointly manage this four-park area for maximum resource protection. The three state parks (Jedediah Smith Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, Prairie Creek Redwoods) were created in the 1920s, then the adjacent lands were protected with the creation of Redwood National Park in 1968. Visitors will find not only old-growth redwood groves here, but also open prairie lands, two major rivers and 37 miles of pristine California coastline.

Dogs are allowed at developed campgrounds, picnic areas, public roads, parking areas and beaches with road access, but prohibited on park trails, ranger-guided programs and in park buildings. Walker Road and Cal Barrel Road are great places to walk through old-growth redwoods with your dog – both are gravel roads not frequented by cars and thus look and feel just like wide trails.

10. John Muir National Historic Site (Martinez)
Mt Wanda Trail Source: National Park Service

This historic site preserves the historic Victorian house that John Muir lived in for the last 24 years of his life. As America’s most famous naturalist and conservationist, John Muir is also known as the “Father of the National Park Service” – his writings convinced the government to protect Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier as national parks. Freely explore the grounds and historic orchards, as well as the trails on Mount Wanda, the 326-acres of oak woods, grasslands and hills where John Muir hiked with his daughters Wanda and Helen. Additionally, located on the western edge of the park is the Martinez Adobe, which features exhibits on the 1775 Anza Expedition led by Spanish Lt. Colonel Juan Bautista de Anza up the California coast.

Dogs are NOT allowed in the Historic Strentzel-Muir House or Martinez Adobe, but leashed dogs are welcome on the grounds or while hiking on Mount Wanda.

11. Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site (Danville)
Eugene O’Neill Tao Home Source: National Park Service

This 13-acre site preserves the home of the famous Nobel Prize winning playwright, Eugene O’Neill, who lived in these hills from 1937-1944 at the height of his writing career. It’s where he wrote his final and most famous plays: The Iceman Cometh, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. Other preserved features include the courtyard, 19th century barn (now a performance venue), swimming pool, historic pathways, orchards and hiking trails. While you can hike the grounds without a tour, advanced reservations are required to tour the inside of the Tao House and courtyard on Wed-Fri and Sun at 10am or 2pm – reservations are not necessary on Saturdays. As the site is part of a private gated community, the only options to visit are to either board a complimentary shuttle in downtown Danville, or hike in from the neighboring Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.

Dogs are NOT allowed inside the Tao House or theater performance spaces, but leashed dogs are welcome on the grounds.

12. Manzanar National Historic Site (Independence)
Source: National Park Service

Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in Owens Valley, Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten remote, military-style camps where 110,000+ Japanese Americans citizens and Japanese immigrants ineligible for citizenship were incarcerated during WWII. It is the best preserved of the former camp sites. Manzanar means “apple orchard” in Spanish. Outside of the exhibits in the visitor center, you can also explore the original sentry posts, Block 14 exhibits, uncovered foundations of the Children’s Village orphanage, rock gardens, the cemetery monument, rock gardens, and more.

Dogs are allowed at most external areas at this park, but are not permitted in the visitor center or within the fenced area of the cemetery. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the rest of the site, even including the inside of the Block 14 exhibits.

13. Point Reyes National Seashore (Point Reyes Station)
Cross Marin Trail Source: National Park Service

Located in Marin County, this 71,000-acre park was established in 1972 and is full of forests, coastal scrub and grasslands, dunes, beaches, wilderness, historic buildings, and stunning landscapes. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse was built in 1870 and served for 105 years helping ships that traveled between San Francisco Bay and northern locations navigate around the hazardous Point Reyes peninsula, which sticks out 10 miles into the Pacific Ocean. Plus, whales can be spotted off the shores of Point Reyes almost year-round! Other wildlife that can be seen here include elephant seals and tule elk.

This map provides an overview of where dogs are permitted. Unfortunately, dogs are prohibited on almost all trails within the national seashore itself, but are allowed on the neighboring Golden Gate NRA trails that are managed by Point Reyes National Seashore. Dogs are permitted in parking lots, along public roads, and ONLY the specific hiking trails and beaches mentioned below. All other areas are off-limits (e.g., Marshall Beach Trail, Hog Island, Duck Island, Pelican Point, Tomales Point Elk Reserve, beaches within Tomales Bay State Park, hike-in campgrounds).

14. Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Park (Southern Sierra Nevada)
General Sherman Tree Source: National Park Service

Sequoia and Kings Canyon adjoin each other and are managed as one national park. Together they are a large part of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and are composed of the following five areas with their own unique climates, features and highlights: Foothills, Mineral King, Giant Forest & Lodgepole, Grant Grove, and Cedar Grove. This is the home of the largest sequoia groves, including the world’s largest tree (General Sherman at 275 feet tall) and second largest tree (General Grant). Other diverse landscapes here include Mount Whitney, Moro Rock, 200+ marble caves, granite canyons, high mountain meadows, and swift-flowing rivers.

Dogs are allowed ONLY in developed areas wherever a car can go (parking lots, paved roads, campgrounds, picnic areas) and are prohibited on all trails, including paved trails such as General Sherman Tree Trail, Big Trees Trail and Grant Tree Trail. Unfortunately your experience will be pretty limited to only scenic drives and viewpoints if visiting with your dog, so consider boarding your pup in Fresno (1 hour away) in order to see the world’s two largest trees up close, hike to waterfalls, and take a tour of Boyden Cavern. Or consider camping and exploring together with your dog in the neighboring national forests instead.

15. Fort Point National Historic Site (San Francisco)
View from the roof of Fort Point Source: National Park Service

Fort Point stands beneath the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge and was built by the U.S. Army Engineers at the height of the Gold Rush in 1853 to protect San Francisco Bay against foreign attack. While called the “Pride of the Pacific” for being the only fort of its kind on the West Coast, Fort Point never actually saw battle during the Civil War, WWI, or WWII. In the late 1930s, chief engineer Joseph Strauss fortunately designed a special arch to save Fort Point from being demolished during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a distinct park site within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Dogs are not allowed inside of Fort Point, but are allowed outside on the grounds. While you won’t be able to interact with the tours, exhibits and interpretive panels inside the fort, you and your pup can explore the Presidio nearby with its dog-friendly hiking trails, beaches, historic structures and picnic sites. Parking is limited near the fort – alternate parking is available near the Warming Hut Park Store.

Palace of Fine Arts
Golden Gate Bridge Overlook
Golden Gate Bridge Postcard Viewpoint
16. Lassen Volcanic National Park (Mineral)
Manzanita Lake Source: National Park Service

Lassen Peak is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range and the largest plug dome on earth. Its last eruptions were between 1914-1921, with the largest in 1915 prompting the creation of the national park in 1916 to preserve the affected areas, monitor the landscape, and prevent anyone from settling too close to the volcano. As one of the few areas in the world where all four types of volcanoes exist (shield, cinder dome, composite, plug), the park also has many hydrothermal features like boiling mud pots, steaming ground and roaring fumaroles that are heated by molten rock deep underground.

Dogs are ONLY allowed in developed areas wherever a car can go (roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, parking lots) and are not permitted on hiking trails, in the backcountry, in bodies of water, or inside park buildings. While you may not be able to enjoy all that Lassen Volcanic National Park has to offer with your dog, you can both still explore the park by driving to roadside attractions and parking lots/campgrounds for scenic views, then complete the experience with dog-friendly hikes in the surrounding Lassen National Forest.

17. Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (Richmond)
SS Red Oak Victory Ship Source: National Park Service

Explore many surviving sites and structures from the WWII years that tell diverse stories of American civilians on the home front. The Richmond shipyards played a significant part in the WWII home front, producing more ships (747) than any other shipyard complex in the country. The city was also home to 56+ different war industries. The Rosie the Riveter Memorial in Marina Park is the first in the nation to honor the importance of American Women’s Labor during WWII.

Dogs are not allowed inside the Visitor Education Center where the main exhibits are, but can walk on the paved trails along the Richmond waterfront to see quick historical sites like the Rosie Memorial, SS Red Oak Victory Ship and Shipyard No. 3.

18. Cabrillo National Monument (San Diego)
Tidepools Source: National Park Service

This monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay in 1542 – the first time a European expedition set foot on the West Coast of the U.S. While visitors have access to the Visitor Center, Kelp Forest, Whale Overlook, Bayside Trail and the lighthouse, dogs are ONLY allowed on the Coastal Trail and prohibited in all other areas (including Cabrillo Road and the Point Loma Tidepools).

19. Pinnacles National Park (Paicines)
Bear Gulch Reservoir Source: National Park Service

Located just west of the San Andreas Fault, the unique geologic formations here were formed from volcanoes that erupted ~23 million years ago, along with erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Visitors can explore 30+ miles of trails through flat grasslands, chaparral, oak woodlands, canyon bottoms, and talus caves. The park’s towering rock formations and spires are a popular destination for rock climbing. Pinnacles is also a nesting place for the critically endangered California condor, the largest North American land bird with a wingspan of 9.5 feet.

Dogs are only allowed in developed areas like picnic areas, the campground, parking lots, and on paved roads. Dogs are prohibited on all park trails, park buildings, and cannot go on the shuttle. Unfortunately your experience will be pretty limited if visiting with your dog, so consider boarding your dog for a couple hours to participate in the hiking, caving and birdwatching that this park is most known for.

20. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (San Francisco)
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Source: National Park Service

Located in the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood, this park includes a fleet of historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, a visitor center, museum, research center, and the Aquatic Park Historic District. The Maritime Museum is located in the historic Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building and showcases the skills of the sailors’ trade. The Maritime Research Center is located in Fort Mason Center and not only has the largest maritime collection on the West Coast, but is also the largest museum and research collection in the entire National Park Service.

Dogs are not allowed in park buildings, Hyde Street Pier, or on the historic ships. While you and your dog won’t be able to explore the historical sites at this park, leashed dogs are welcome in the Aquatic Park (but NOT allowed on the beach), which has breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito.

21. Tule Lake National Monument (Tulelake)
Tule Lake Historical Landmark Plaque Source: National Park Service

This monument includes the Tule Lake Segregation Center, the largest and most controversial of ten concentration camps that incarcerated Japanese Americans during WWII – nearly 30,000 individuals were incarcerated between 1942-1946. The monument also includes Camp Tulelake, a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp established in the 1930s that was discontinued during WWII and then used to imprison Japanese American protestors and house strikebreakers brought in from other camps. The camp then housed German and Italian prisoners of war between 1944-1946. To access the sites, ranger-guided tours are offered between Memorial Day and Labor Day from Thurs-Sun.

Dogs are allowed on the grounds and open spaces of the monument, but prohibited inside any buildings or in the fenced area of the cemetery.

22. César E. Chávez National Monument (Keene)

Recognized as the most important Latino leader in the U.S. during the 20th century, César E. Chávez led a movement of farmworkers and supporters during the 1960s as they created the country’s first permanent agricultural labor union (United Farm Workers). His leadership helped farm workers secure higher wages and safer working conditions, as well as funded healthcare, pension plans and community service programs. Located 30 miles southeast of Bakersfield, the monument is a part of a property known as Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz (Our Lady Queen of Peace), which has continued to serve as the home of the Chávez family and headquarters for the movement since the 1970s. The site was designated a National Monument by President Obama in 2012 and encompasses the visitor center, the Memorial Garden where Chávez is buried, and the Desert Garden. All other areas are privately owned and operated by the César Chávez Foundation.

Dogs are permitted on paved surfaces, including footpaths, parking lots and roads, but not allowed in the visitor center and Memorial Garden.

23. Lava Beds National Monument (Tulelake)
East Wildlife Overlook Source: National Park Service

The rugged landscape of cinder cones, spatter cones, lava flows, pit craters and lava tubes in this monument was created by eruptions of the Medicine Lake Shield Volcano over the last half-million years. The two main attractions are the historical Modoc War sites (northern end) and hundreds of lava tube caves (southern end).

Dogs are ONLY allowed in developed areas, and not allowed on trails, in caves or in the visitor center. Unfortunately your experience will be pretty limited if visiting with your dog, so consider boarding your pup in Klamath Falls (45 mins away) in order to explore the 24+ lava tube caves with developed entrances/trails, 12 hiking trails, unique geologic features and rock art that this monument has to offer.

24. Muir Woods National Monument (Mill Valley)
Main Trail Source: National Park Service

Tucked away just a few miles north of San Francisco is this 558-acre monument, which preserves one of the last remaining ancient redwood forests in the Bay Area – some nearly 1,000 years old! The Redwood Creek meanders beneath the towering redwoods and is home to Coho salmon and steelhead trout. As of 2018, reservations are now required for all vehicles and shuttle riders visiting Muir Woods. Dogs are NOT allowed.

25. Channel Islands National Park (Santa Barbara)

Off the coast of Santa Barbara, this national park encompasses five isolated islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa) that have animals, plants and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth. There are no services such as stores or gear rental shops on the islands. In order to protect island foxes from diseases and parasites, dogs are NOT allowed.

26. Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (Concord)

Located on an active military base, this memorial honors the 320 sailors and civilians who were killed in the 1944 Port Chicago disaster – the worst WWII home front disaster – when two ships being loaded with ammunition and bombs exploded. Reservations are required and must be made at least two weeks prior to your visit. Dogs are NOT allowed.

27. Castle Mountains National Monument (Barstow)

Nestled between the Nevada state line and Mojave National Preserve, this 21,000-acre monument is a remote and unique desert landscape that boasts some of the most unique elements of the Mojave Desert. Most roads require a heavy-duty 4WD vehicle to travel. While there are no facilities in the Monument, there are visitor centers in the neighboring Mojave National Preserve. Dogs are NOT allowed.

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