Dogs & pets
Dogs in Death Valley: where they can go
Last verified No trails6 ft leash maxB.A.R.K. Ranger park
Not on the trails. Leashed pets are allowed in developed areas (paved and unpaved roads, parking lots, campgrounds); not on trails, in designated wilderness, or inside federal buildings, even when carried.
Where pets are allowed
Areas
- • Paved roads
- • Unpaved roads
- • Parking lots
- • Campgrounds
- • Outside of federal buildings
Off-limits
- • Trails
- • Designated wilderness areas
- • Inside federal buildings (even when carried in backpacks, purses, or strollers)
- • Badwater Basin boardwalk and trail
- • Zabriskie Point paved trail
- • Harmony Borax Works loop trail
- • Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes beyond the parking lot
- • Inside the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station
Backcountry: not stated
Rules & services
- Leash
- 6 ft or shorter, at all times
- Kennels
- Not mentioned
- B.A.R.K. Ranger
- Yes
In the park's own words
What Death Valley says about pets
Sentences quoted from the park’s nps.gov pets page, last updated July 10, 2025, captured 2026-10-05.
“Badwater Basin boardwalk and trail Zabriskie Point paved trail Harmony Borax Works loop trail Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes beyond the parking lot Inside the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station” nps.gov
“Pets are not permitted on trails, in designated wilderness areas, or inside of federal buildings, even when carried in backpacks, purses, or strollers.” nps.gov
“Leashed pets are permitted in developed areas, such as paved roads, unpaved roads, parking lots, campgrounds, and outside of federal buildings.” nps.gov
“Learn from Bark Ranger Frosty where you can take your pet for a safe and fun visit.” nps.gov
“Pets must be restrained on a leash no longer than 6 feet.” nps.gov
“For a Safe Visit, Follow the B.A.R.K. Ranger Code” nps.gov
Worth knowing
- The page says it is not advised to bring pets to Death Valley from late spring through early fall, and not to leave pets in your vehicle.
- Roads the page suggests for walking a pet near attractions: Devil's Golf Course Road, Artists Drive and West Side Road (Badwater Basin); 20 Mule Team Canyon (Zabriskie Point); Cottonwood-Marble Access Road (Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes); Greenwater Valley Road (Dantes View); Mustard Canyon (Harmony Borax Works); Racetrack Road (Ubehebe Crater); Upper Wildrose Road (Charcoal Kilns); Father Crowley Point road to Padre Point (Father Crowley Vista Point).
- Backcountry is left unknown: the page bars designated wilderness areas but allows unpaved roads, and does not use the word backcountry.
- The page features Bark Ranger Frosty and a 'B.A.R.K. Ranger Code'; it does not describe a sign-up.
How we read the rules
Every statement on this page was taken from the park’s own pets page on nps.gov and the quoted sentences are re-checked against our saved copy of that page each time the site is built. Parks change pet rules for wildlife, heat and trail conditions, and superintendents can close areas at short notice, so treat the park’s pets page and the ranger at the entrance as the final word. Service animals are covered by different rules. Compare all 63 parks.
Sources · 2
- 1.Death Valley National Park — Pets (nps.gov), last updated July 10, 2025 · National Park Service
- 2.Pets pages of each park on nps.gov (62 park units), read and quoted · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
FAQ
Death Valley pet questions
- Are dogs allowed in Death Valley National Park?
- Leashed pets are allowed in developed areas (paved and unpaved roads, parking lots, campgrounds); not on trails, in designated wilderness, or inside federal buildings, even when carried. Leashes must be 6 feet or shorter. (From the park's nps.gov pets page, updated July 10, 2025.)
- Can dogs go on trails in Death Valley?
- No. Death Valley does not allow pets on its hiking trails; they can go in paved roads, unpaved roads, parking lots and campgrounds.
- Does Death Valley have a B.A.R.K. Ranger program?
- Yes. Death Valley takes part in the B.A.R.K. Ranger program (Bag your waste, Always leash, Respect wildlife, Know where you can go); ask at a visitor center about tags.
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