Dogs & pets
Dogs in Petrified Forest: where they can go
Last verified Most trails6 ft leash maxB.A.R.K. Ranger park
Yes — on most trails. Leashed pets (6 ft) are allowed on any paved road or trail and in all designated wilderness; only service animals may enter buildings. A fenced Bark Park is by the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Where pets are allowed
Areas
- • Any paved road
- • Any trail
- • All designated wilderness areas
- • Petrified Forest Bark Park (fenced dog park with small-dog and big-dog sections, next to the Painted Desert Visitor Center parking lot)
Off-limits
- • Park buildings (only service animals are allowed)
Backcountry: pets allowed under leash rules
Rules & services
- Leash
- 6 ft or shorter, at all times
- Kennels
- Not mentioned
- B.A.R.K. Ranger
- Yes
- Service animals
- Only service animals are allowed in park buildings; the page points to a separate Service Animals page for details.
In the park's own words
What Petrified Forest says about pets
Sentences quoted from the park’s nps.gov pets page, last updated September 19, 2024, captured 2026-10-05.
“There is a fenced dog park with sections for small dogs and big dogs next to the parking lot for the Painted Desert Visitor Center.” nps.gov
“Sign up for the park’s Bark Ranger program to properly enjoy Petrified Forest National Park with your pet.” nps.gov
“Pets are allowed on any paved road or trail as well as all designated wilderness area in the park.” nps.gov
“Please, only service animals are allowed in park buildings.” nps.gov
“keep your pet dogs on a leash six feet or less in length” nps.gov
“as well as all designated wilderness area in the park” nps.gov
Worth knowing
- The page's wording is 'any paved road or trail as well as all designated wilderness area', which could be read as paved roads/trails only, but it separately allows all designated wilderness, so trails is recorded as 'most'. The page also says 'Pets of all types are welcome in the park'.
- Bark Ranger sign-up is at any park entrance booth or visitor center; four-footed participants get a treat and Bark Ranger pet tags are sold at visitor centers.
- The page asks owners not to leave pets unattended in vehicles because of heat.
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.Petrified Forest National Park — Pets (nps.gov), last updated September 19, 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
Petrified Forest pet questions
- Are dogs allowed in Petrified Forest National Park?
- Leashed pets (6 ft) are allowed on any paved road or trail and in all designated wilderness; only service animals may enter buildings. A fenced Bark Park is by the Painted Desert Visitor Center. Leashes must be 6 feet or shorter. (From the park's nps.gov pets page, updated September 19, 2024.)
- Can dogs go on trails in Petrified Forest?
- Yes — pets are allowed on most trails, with exceptions such as Park buildings (only service animals are allowed).
- Can I take my dog backpacking in Petrified Forest?
- Yes, the park allows pets in the backcountry under its leash rules — confirm with the wilderness office when you get your permit.
- Does Petrified Forest have a B.A.R.K. Ranger program?
- Yes. Petrified Forest 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.
Park'd · free on iPhone & Android
Plan the dog-friendly parks first.
Park'd keeps the parks you've done and the ones you're planning in one map — with notes for who's coming along.
