Dogs & pets
Dogs in Theodore Roosevelt: where they can go
Last verified No trails6 ft leash max
Not on the trails. Dogs are not permitted on trails inside the park; leashed pets (6 ft or shorter) may be walked along roads and shoulders, sidewalks, parking areas, campgrounds and picnic areas.
Where pets are allowed
Areas
- • Roads and road shoulders
- • Sidewalks (including the sidewalk at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center)
- • Parking areas
- • Campgrounds
- • Picnic areas
Off-limits
- • Trails within the park
- • Sections of the Maah Daah Hey Trail that lie within the national park (pets and bikes not permitted)
Backcountry: not stated
Rules & services
- Leash
- 6 ft or shorter, at all times
- Kennels
- Not mentioned
- B.A.R.K. Ranger
- Principles listed; no program described
In the park's own words
What Theodore Roosevelt says about pets
Sentences quoted from the park’s nps.gov pets page, last updated September 4, 2024, captured 2026-10-05.
“While dogs are not permitted on trails within the park, there are nearby trails where you can take your dogs for some exercise.” nps.gov
“Leashed pets may be walked along roads and road shoulders, sidewalks, parking areas, and in campgrounds and picnic areas.” nps.gov
“The sidewalk at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center (I-94, exit 32) is a good place to walk dogs” nps.gov
“Pets and bikes are not permitted on sections of the MDHT that lie within the national park.” nps.gov
“To maintain proper control, leashes should be 6 feet or shorter.” nps.gov
“While dogs are not permitted on trails within the park” nps.gov
Worth knowing
- The page recommends walking pets at campgrounds and picnic areas on hot days because they offer shade, and asks visitors to keep extra distance from bison, horses and other wildlife.
- Outside the park the page names the paved path from Medora to the Maah Daah Hey Trail and trails near the North Unit (USFS CCC Campground, Long X Trail) as open to pets; these are not park areas.
- The leash sentence reads 'pets should always be leashed when not otherwise contained in a vehicle or tent ... leashes should be 6 feet or shorter'.
- The page does not mention pets in buildings, B.A.R.K. Ranger, 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.Theodore Roosevelt National Park — Pets (nps.gov), last updated September 4, 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
Theodore Roosevelt pet questions
- Are dogs allowed in Theodore Roosevelt National Park?
- Dogs are not permitted on trails inside the park; leashed pets (6 ft or shorter) may be walked along roads and shoulders, sidewalks, parking areas, campgrounds and picnic areas. Leashes must be 6 feet or shorter. (From the park's nps.gov pets page, updated September 4, 2024.)
- Can dogs go on trails in Theodore Roosevelt?
- No. Theodore Roosevelt does not allow pets on its hiking trails; they can go in roads and road shoulders, sidewalks (including the sidewalk at the painted canyon visitor center), parking areas and campgrounds.
- Does Theodore Roosevelt have a B.A.R.K. Ranger program?
- The park's pets page repeats the B.A.R.K. principles but does not describe a tag program; ask at the visitor center.
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