Dogs & pets
Dogs in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: where they can go
Last verified No trails6 ft leash maxB.A.R.K. Ranger park
Not on the trails. Leashed dogs are allowed in listed developed areas (parking areas, certain roads, Nāmakanipaio Campground and others); all undeveloped areas, wilderness and every trail are off-limits.
Where pets are allowed
Areas
- • All parking areas and surrounding curbs (excluding Hilina Pali Road and Kulanaokuaiki Campground)
- • Crater Rim Drive in areas open to vehicles
- • Chain of Craters Road down to Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
- • Nāmakanipaio Campground
- • Mauna Loa Road
- • Highway 11
- • Kīlauea Military Camp: paved roads and parking areas, and the picnic area up to the park ball field gate (not including the ball field)
- • Kahuku Unit: developed areas (open fields adjacent to the Visitor Contact Station and other park buildings, up to the boundary of the forested areas but not including Puʻu o Lokuana)
- • Kahuku Unit: Kahuku Road from Highway 11 to the cross fence gate, including the airstrip near the Puʻu o Lokuana / Old Mamalahoa Highway spur road intersection
Off-limits
- • All undeveloped areas of the park
- • All designated wilderness
- • All frontcountry and backcountry trails
- • Hilina Pali Road and Kulanaokuaiki Campground (excluded from the parking-area allowance)
Backcountry: no pets
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 Hawaiʻi Volcanoes says about pets
Sentences quoted from the park’s nps.gov pets page, last updated October 15, 2024, captured 2026-10-05.
“Here’s a list of some of the locations you may visit with your pet at the park: All parking areas and surrounding curbs (excluding Hilina Pali Road and Kulanaokuaiki Campground) On Crater Rim Drive in areas open to vehicles On Chain of Craters Road down to Puʻuloa Petroglyphs At Nāmakanipaio Campground On Mauna Loa Road, occasionally referred to as “The Strip Road” On Highway 11 At Kīlauea Military Camp: on paved roads and parking areas; and at the picnic area, up to the park ball field gate, not including the ball field” nps.gov
“wants dogs and their humans to have a positive experience in the park, while keeping people, pets and wildlife safe through its new Bark Ranger program.” nps.gov
“Pets are prohibited in all of the undeveloped areas of the park. This includes all designated wilderness and all frontcountry and backcountry trails.” nps.gov
“Keep your dog on a six-foot leash and under control at all times.” nps.gov
Worth knowing
- The page introduces its list as 'some of the locations' you may visit with your pet, so the list may not be exhaustive; it separately says pets are prohibited in all undeveloped areas.
- Page refers readers to the Superintendent's Compendium for more information.
- Bark Ranger program is self-guided: take the BARK pledge, fill out the certificate, and get it stamped at Kīlauea Visitor Center; tags and bandanas are sold at the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store.
- Page does not mention kennels or service animals.
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.Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park — Pets (nps.gov), last updated October 15, 2024 · 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
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes pet questions
- Are dogs allowed in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
- Leashed dogs are allowed in listed developed areas (parking areas, certain roads, Nāmakanipaio Campground and others); all undeveloped areas, wilderness and every trail are off-limits. Leashes must be 6 feet or shorter. (From the park's nps.gov pets page, updated October 15, 2024.)
- Can dogs go on trails in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
- No. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes does not allow pets on its hiking trails; they can go in all parking areas and surrounding curbs (excluding hilina pali road and kulanaokuaiki campground), crater rim drive in areas open to vehicles, chain of craters road down to puʻuloa petroglyphs and nāmakanipaio campground.
- Can I take my dog backpacking in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
- No. Pets are not allowed in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes's backcountry.
- Does Hawaiʻi Volcanoes have a B.A.R.K. Ranger program?
- Yes. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 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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