Can You Hike With Dogs in Glacier National Park? (Explained)
Glacier National Park is undoubtedly one of the best places to experience memorable adventures in North America.
And, of course, most people like going hiking with their pets, for instance, dogs. However, it would be best to consider whether your hiking location is pet-friendly.
Hence, if you’re curious if hiking with dogs in Glacier National park is allowed and okay or not, you’re in the right place. So, can you hike with dogs in Glacier National Park?
No, you can’t hike with dogs in Glacier National Park because the park isn’t pet-friendly. However, there are a few places where you can take your dog with you, in Glacier National Park but not during hiking. Thus, the places include; parking lots, paved bike paths, campgrounds, picnic areas, scenic drives, and lakes that allow boats.
In this article, I will clarify whether it’s permissible or not to hike with dogs in Glacier National Park. Also, I will explain the pros and cons of hiking with dogs.
I will further disclose the dog daycares located around Glacier National Park. And by the end, you will discover if it’s okay or not to hike with your dogs.
Can You Hike With Your Dog in Glacier National Park?
No, you can’t go hiking with your dog in Glacier National park. Glacier National Park doesn’t allow hikers to bring along their dogs to their hike trails because the trails aren’t pet-friendly.
However, there are some exceptions, i.e., places in Glacier National Park where you can take your dogs alongside you, but one thing is sure, you can’t take the dogs with you during hiking.
Glacier National Park is well-known for its vast wilderness. Hence, your dogs can bring in new diseases and infect the wildlife inside the park.
To prevent such a situation, Glacier doesn’t allow dogs.
Therefore, one of the reasons why Glacier National Park doesn’t allow dogs is to protect wildlife.
In addition, numerous wildlife is on Glacier National Park’s hike trails, especially bears and wolves.
Unfortunately, this wildlife can attack your dogs, which is one reason the park doesn’t allow dogs.
Moreover, the hiking trails aren’t paved and pet-friendly, which can cause dog injuries.
Also, it would be best if you didn’t keep your dogs inside your vehicle while you go hiking, as it can cause harm to your precious dog.
Meanwhile, check out the table below to discover the pros and cons of hiking with your dogs:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It reduces boredom. | Unleashed dogs might wander and get lost. |
| It makes your dogs stay fit and healthy. | Uncalm/untrained dogs can give you extra stress. |
| Hiking helps to build endurance in dogs. | It can expose wildlife to new diseases |
| Hiking makes dogs more active and boosts their excitement for outdoor activities. | Wildlife may attack your dog |
| Hiking keeps dogs stronger. | Your dog may feed on toxic plants. |
Therefore, from the table above, you will find out that the main reason Glacier doesn’t allow dogs is to protect the wildlife inside the park and your dog itself.
Hence, it’s advisable to find a dog daycare center in Glacier National Park or somewhere close to the park where you can keep your dog till you finish hiking.
Where Are Dogs Allowed in Glacier National Park?
Though Glacier National Park doesn’t allow dogs in their hike trails, there are some places where the park allows dogs.
Hence, the places where dogs are allowed in Glacier National Park are as follows:
- Parking lots
- Campgrounds
- Scenic drives and paved bike paths
- Picnic areas
- Boats.
#1. Parking Lots
Parking lots are one of the places where dogs are allowed in Glacier National Park.
However, the dogs aren’t allowed to leave the place, meaning you must always be with the dog at the parking lots.
You are to be with your dog every time to prevent it from attacking people and finding its way to the hiking trails.
Hence, if you can’t keep to this instruction, finding a place to keep your dog before going to Glacier National Park is best.
#2. Campgrounds
Campgrounds are another places where dogs are allowed in Glacier National Park. There are about 13 campgrounds in Glacier National Park, and you can take your dogs to the campgrounds.
However, if you know that you will be taking your dog to any of the campgrounds, you must be ready to follow the instructions below:
- In addition, your dog must be on at least a 6-feet leash at all times.
- In addition, you must pick up after your dog to ensure that the campground stays neat and stunning at all times.
- Finally, your dog must be gentle and quiet to keep the environment calm and ensure that other customers aren’t disturbed.
- Finally, you must stay with your dog and avoid engaging in other activities. The dog must always be under your control.
#3. Scenic Drives and Paved Bike Paths
Glacier National Park allows you to take your dog to any of its scenic drives. The two scenic drives in the park are the famous going-to-sun road and Highway 2.
Also, dogs are allowed on paved bike paths in Glacier National Park. The bike paths include the Apgar and Fish Creek bike paths.
There is also one paved trail in Glacier National Park where dogs are allowed; McDonald Creek bike bath. However, you can only take your dog to the trails when it’s not snowing.
Meanwhile, cleaning up after your dog whenever you take it on scenic drives or bike paths would be best.
#4. Picnic Areas
You can take your dog to any picnic area in Glacier National Park.
There are about ten picnic areas in Glacier National Park, and they include:
- Sprague creek
- Rising sun
- Bowman lake
- Walton
- Two medicine
- Apgar
- Avalanche creek
- Fish creek
- Many Glacier
- Sun point
Like other areas, your dogs must always be on a leash; you must clean up and look after the dog and ensure that the dog isn’t noisy.
#5. Boats
Some lakes allow motorized boats in Glacier National Park. The lakes are:
- Saint Mary lake
- Bowman lake
- Swift current lake
- Lake McDonald
- Two Medicine lake
- Lake Sherburne
If you’re going to one of the listed lakes with your dog, ensure the dog stays inside the boat.
Moreover, ensure you clean up after your dog to keep the boat clean and comfortable.
Is Glacier Park Dog-Friendly?
Well, it depends on where you’re going in Glacier National Park.
If you’re going hiking, know that the hiking trails in Glacier National Park aren’t dog-friendly. Hence, Glacier doesn’t allow dogs on their hiking trail.
However, Glacier allows you to take your dog with you if you go to any parking lots, paved bike paths, scenic drives, boats, picnic areas, or campgrounds.
However, you must ensure that the dog is well-behaved and not aggressive. Moreover, the dog must always be under your control and on a 6-feet leash.
In addition, you must pick up after the dog to prevent any of the places from being messy.
Meanwhile, some park lodges in Glacier National Park allow dogs, such as the MT Red lion hotel Kalispell, Dancing Bears Inn, and the Best Western Plus Kalispell.
Motel 6 Missoula, Myplace hotel, and Super 8 by Wyndham Kalispell, among others, also allow dogs. Though, you should know that you will be paying additional fees.
Is there any Dog Daycare Near Glacier National Park?
Yes, there are many daycares near Glacier National Park. These daycares ensure that your dogs are safe and offer ultimate care for them at affordable prices.
Some of the daycares that you can find around Glacier National Park are:
- Glacier Bark Kennels, Columbia falls MT.
- Columbia Mountain Kennels, Columbia falls, MT.
- Glacier K9, Kalispell, MT.
- Three Dog Ranch, Whitefish, MT.
- Pawsitively Perfect, Kalispell, MT.
- All Dogs Aboard Inc. Big fork, MT.
- A Pet Boarding Retreat (PBR Kennels), Kalispell, MT.
- Happy Dog Grooming Parlor, Columbia falls, MT.
- The Dog Club, Kalispell, MT.
- A&A Dog Boarding, Columbia falls, MT.
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