Travel is always better with your pet! In 2019, I was preparing to move cross-country with my Patterdale terrier, Charlie. I love visiting national parks and wanted to see as many as possible on my drive. This required extensive research since dogs aren’t allowed in most US national parks. I hate leaving Charlie behind when I travel, so I’m always looking for ways to bring her along but still see what I want to see.
In general, the US National Parks are not pet-friendly. This is to protect both the park and your pet, so please always follow the posted rules. Note that the rules may change since this post was created, so always check the park’s NPS page for the most up-to-date guidelines.
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park was pretty high on the list of most dog-friendly national parks that we visited on our 2019 cross-country road trip. We weren’t doing any serious hiking on the day we visited, but there were many dog-friendly trails to choose from.
Out of over 500 miles of trails in the park, dogs are only forbidden on less than 20 miles of trail. Leashed pets are allowed on most trails in the park, provided they follow the park’s rules.
Pets are prohibited on the following trails:
- Fox Hollow Trail (mile 4.6)
- Stony Man Trail (mile 41.7) except for portion that follows the Appalachian Trail
- Limberlost Trail (mile 43)
- Post Office Junction to Old Rag Shelter
- Old Rag Ridge Trail
- Old Rag Saddle Trail
- Old Rag Access Trail
- Ridge Access Trail (Old Rag area)
- Dark Hollow Falls Trail (mile 50.7)
- Story of the Forest Trail (mile 51)
- Bearfence Mountain Trail (mile 56.4)
- Frazier Discovery Trail (mile 79.5)
Our Visit
We chose to hike the Rose River Falls trail with Charlie. My first choice was the South River Falls trail, but traffic got us to the park too late to finish it before dark.
Rose River Falls is a four-mile loop trail, starting from the Fishers Gap parking area. As we were pulling into the parking lot, we saw bears cross the road and head down towards the trailhead, so we waited a while for them to clear off the trail before we started.
- From the Fishers Gap parking area (mile 49.4), cross Skyline Drive and start down the fire road.
- Just after the chain, take a left onto the Skyland-Big Meadows Horse Trail (yellow-blazed).
In about 0.6-mile take the blue-blazed Rose River Loop Trail. - Follow it past the 67-foot falls.
- Continue to the bridge, where you begin hiking up a steep, rocky section past beautiful cascades.
At the fire road (yellow-blazed), turn right across bridge. - For an added treat (and about .25-mile more hiking), you can take the Dark Hollow Falls Trail to the base of the falls and back.
- Then continue uphill about one mile back to Skyline Drive.
We finished the hike in just under two hours, including a quick jog up to see Dark Hollow Falls. Charlie wasn’t allowed on this portion, so my hiking partner waited with her while I ran up to see the view.
We loved Rose River Falls!
In general, you can’t go wrong with your dog in Shenandoah. With pets allowed on so many trails, it’s down to your hiking preference and your dog’s abilities. We really enjoyed our visit, and wished we had more time to spend exploring!
The rules regarding pets in national parks can change at any time. Make sure you check Shenandoah’s NPS page for the most current information. The regulations covering pets and their owners are put in place to allow you and your pet to share a Park experience while protecting Park resources, as well as other visitors. As always, you’re responsible for your dog’s safety on the trail, so make sure you come prepared.
Looking for more guides for bringing your dog to other parks? Check out the full list here, or any of these related posts:
