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#122497 - 10/16/09 03:59 PM Where to go with dogs?
HikesWithDogs Offline
newbie

Registered: 10/16/09
Posts: 1
Loc: San Francisco, CA, USA
Hi everyone. I'm embarking on a cross-country trip with my dog and looking to do some backpacking along the way. Since I'm not limited by state, this question goes out to all of you:

Where have you gone backpacking that allows dogs, and is a good, multi-day hike for people as well?

Thanks!!
Brenda

PS. If you know anywhere near the San Francisco Bay Area, that's my home base.

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#122498 - 10/16/09 04:14 PM Re: Where to go with dogs? [Re: HikesWithDogs]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Dogs are allowed in most areas here in the Ozarks except our National Parks (Buffalo River). They have to be on a leash unless your hunting with them and there are seasons and rules for that.

The Ozark Highlands Trail has many opportunities for multi-day hikes with your pooch as do most of our wilderness areas.

Have fun on your trip!

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#122501 - 10/16/09 04:59 PM Re: Where to go with dogs? [Re: billstephenson]
bigb Offline
member

Registered: 07/05/09
Posts: 124
Loc: Maryland
If you get to West Virginia the wilderness areas of Monongahela National Forest, Dolly Sods, Ottercreek, and Cranberry allow dogs off leash but under control and have many many trail miles. The backcountry areas allow dogs but on leash and also have more maintained and blazed trails depending on your taste. This website http://www.wvhighlands.org/index.html has free trail/topo maps of most areas in MNF and there printer friendly.
_________________________
"In the beginers mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."
Shunryu Suzuki

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#122506 - 10/16/09 06:36 PM Re: Where to go with dogs? [Re: HikesWithDogs]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
_________________________
If you only travel on sunny days you will never reach your destination.*

* May not apply at certain latitudes in Canada and elsewhere.

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#122617 - 10/19/09 01:08 PM Re: Where to go with dogs? [Re: HikesWithDogs]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
In Utah, I believe it is anywhere but National Parks. Don't quote me, I haven't look at the rules. I usually go to BLM with my dog.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

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#122625 - 10/19/09 04:25 PM Re: Where to go with dogs? [Re: finallyME]
OregonMouse Offline
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
As you probably already know, California is a very dog-unfriendly state--their state parks forbid dogs on trails.

Dogs are also forbidden on trails in US National Parks. There are a few rare exceptions (on the Pacific Crest Trail in Crater Lake, Mt. Rainier and North Cascades National Parks) but the dog must be on leash and stay on the trail. That isn't to say you can't take your dog to a national park, but you have to stay in the parking lot and campground areas and keep him on leash. I was very happy to find that I could take my dog on paved trails in Yosemite Valley (as long as we stayed on the pavement, said the ranger), but this is unusual, and that's not a backpacking area.

A few heavily used areas in US National Forests prohibit dogs--the Enchantment Lakes area of Washington State is one. For the most part, though, dogs are allowed on National Forest trails. In some areas they must be on leash and in all areas they must be under control. If your dog doesn't come when called no matter what the temptation (chipmunk right under his nose) then he's not under control and should be kept leashed. (My Hysson regards "come" as an optional command, but he comes right to my side when I tell him to "heel." On the other hand, he's a wimpy dog who is too scared of chipmunks to chase them.) You pretty much have to check the regulations for each National Forest you'll be in. I believe the US Bureau of Land Management (which manages the majority of public lands in the West) has looser regulations except in a few high-use areas.

Oregon and Washington state parks are dog friendly but require leashes. For other states, you'll have to check--each state is different. The same is true for state forests (more common back east).

When do you plan to go? Most prime backpacking areas in the western US are in the high mountains, where winter is already arriving. You won't be able to get there until next summer. Areas I've been that I recommend (but not until next July!) for outstanding scenery include Washington's Glacier Peak Wilderness and Wyoming's Wind River Mountains.

EDIT: I thought I'd seen and responded to this question before--I already answered your query on BPL. So if this post sounds like repetition, it is!



Edited by OregonMouse (10/19/09 10:13 PM)
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#122634 - 10/19/09 05:33 PM Re: Where to go with dogs? [Re: HikesWithDogs]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
In California I would check on the web page of each park or national forest. There's too much variation. In Sierra National Forest, you're a go - including Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Kaiser Wilderness. Most will say keep the dog under your control. You can't cross boundaries into National Parks but those are pretty well marked.

_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

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