Visiting National Parks with dog

If you are ever in the east, we had a great experience with our dogs at Big South Fork NP (or National Recreation Area?) , and we understand Hot Springs NP also tends to be more dog friendly.

We were blown away by the courtesy and welcome to our dogs in Big South Fork. Surprisingly the staff even invited them into the visitor buildings. The most fun we had was taking them on the train (open cars) down into the park from Stearns KY. Took them swimming in the river too!

Can't wait to take them again soon- they loved Big South Fork.

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How much do you want to be out and about in the parks? Are you planning on being gone from morning to dark? Or do you plan on only leaving for an hour or two?

For me, if I'm going to be out and about all day long doing things the dog can't do, then it doesn't make sense to bring the dog along. I'll just worry about them the entire time and end up coming back to the RV early OR not going out in the first place. The dogs end up bored and I end up dissatisfied with the trip.

Instead, leaving the dog with your family member means you can make a phone call to see how she's going and then go enjoy yourselves without worry, guilt, etc.

At age 13, your doggie may not feel like heavy-duty hiking anyway. Old bones just don't cooperate that much any more! Just being away from home in the RV is a fun adventure, though, so make it comfortable for the doggie!

:)
Lynn

Had our dog with us at Arches and Canyonlands because we were in the midst of a cross country move. It was a horrible experience. Wife and I had to keep sitting by the car in the heat while the other made event the short hikes to the various arches. Never again. I've been to a dozen national parks and can't remember a single one that allows dogs on the trails unless its a service dog.

Not sure how much UT will cool by the fall but daytime heat may still be a factor depending on how late in fall you go.

Your dog hikes will consist of parking lots, road shoulders and the campground loop. Dog will enjoy it more than the humans. Other problems keeping cool, American National Parks offer no electricity, Canadian do. Dog and I have visited many National Parks in US and Canada, always a good time. Never the desert though, late fall this year hopefully.

I've done many years with pets and the difficulty has always been what to do with them while I'm away from the RV for an extended length of time. Most parks will not allow them on a trail. If the weather is mild and you have a large RV they would certainly be OK for a few hours with the windows open and water bowls. But are they quiet? Campgrounds (and your neighbors) often have rules about unaccompanied animals and noise. In warm weather I've left them in the RV with the A/C running, but had the park transformer blow. So you can't rely on that approach. Since you have someone to care for the dog while you're on a trip, that would certainly be the best solution. You will enjoy the trip so much more if you don't have the worry of how your dog is doing while you're on a long hike.

We have visited a bunch of National Parks..most all have not allowed dogs on the trails within park boundaries.

have a good trip