Dog-Friendly Travel Guide to Yosemite National Park
When we were planning our trip to Yosemite, the first question I asked was: "Can I take our dog Holly with us?". It was a little tough finding the answer, but it turns out that you can actually bring dogs into Yosemite National Park.
It only seemed fitting to bring Holly with us, it's the perfect place for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors. While the park has rules about where you can take your dog, there's still plenty of spots for you and your Fido.
After a lot of research, I compiled this complete dog friendly guide to Yosemite. So pack up the car and get ready to hit the trails!
Park Rules & Tips About Bringing Your Dog to Yosemite
Keep Your Dog on a Leash at All Times
The park rangers will promptly give you a ticket for a loose off-leash dog. The leash needs to be 6 feet or shorter.
Keep Your Dog on Paved Trails
I've listed below the most popular dog-friendly trails. If there's a trail you really want to hike that is not dog friendly, you can board your dog in the kennel for the daytime.
Make Reservations to Book a Spot in the Kennel
If during your visit to Yosemite there are trails or areas of the park that you really want to explore but your pup is not allowed to enter, you can leave your dog in the Yosemite kennel during the daytime.
From May through September the daytime only kennel is available at the Yosemite Valley Stable. You must provide written proof of immunizations (rabies, distemper, parvo, and bordetella) from your veterinarian. No food is allowed due to wildlife management concerns. Because of limited kennel space, advanced reservations are highly recommended, please call 209.372.8326.
Always Clean Up After Your Dog
Please be responsible dog owners and bring doggie poop bags to clean up after your pet. Just because itβs nature it doesnβt give you a free pass to leave it behind.
Dog-Friendly Yosemite Campgrounds
I have seen mixed rules on whether dogs are allowed on campgrounds. From what I gather, it seems they are allowed on certain campgrounds as long as it's not a "walk-in campground". Dogs are not allowed in Tamarack Flat and Porcupine Flat campgrounds. Dog are allowed at Hodgdon Meadow Campground (except in group and horse sites; must be on a leash at all times).
Plan on Arriving Early into Yosemite Park
You may have heard rumblings about bad traffic in Yosemite and I'm sorry to tell you the rumors are true. I HIGHLY recommend getting up as early as you can to drive into the park. You can easily be stuck in traffic for over 3 hours just trying to get inside.
Pack Lunch, Snacks & Water
Food and drinking options are very limited inside the park. Be sure to pack food and lots of water for your dogs and for yourself.
Best Lookout Spots and Dog-Friendly Trails in Yosemite National Park
Wawona Meadow Loop Trail and Chowchilla Mountain roads in Wawona
Easy trail, 3.5 mile loop. Start this walk at the Wawona Hotel. Take the paved road across the Wawona golf course and take the first left onto an unpaved fire road. Follow the road around the meadow. If you're a fan of wildflower, this is an ideal trail to view them. 8308 Wawona Rd., Yosemite National Park, California 95389.
Bridalveil Fall
Easy trail, 0.5 mile loop. Bridalveil Fall is often the first waterfall youβll see when entering Yosemite Valley. The best time of the year to see Bridalveil Fall is in early spring when it is at peak flow. Other times of the year Bridalveil Fall may become dry, especially in the late fall. Find it just off State Highway 41 near the junction with State Highway 140, near Tunnel View.
Cookβs Meadow Loop
Easy trail, 1 mile loop. Begin at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. This short, easy walk offers stunning views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock. From the visitor center, walk west along the bicycle path toward Lower Yosemite Fall.
Glacier Point
Glacier Point is a lookout spot with stunning views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Yosemiteβs high country (see our photos in this blog post). It is accessible by car from approximately late May through October or November. This was one of our favorite spots from our trip. We pulled out our blanket and had a picnic with our dog Holly.
Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
Easy trail, 1 mile loop. This trail offers such amazing views of the waterfall that you can expect to get sprayed with water when standing on the footbridge near its base. This short, easy walk rewards with spectacular views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. This paved loop trail offers different vantage points of Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Creek.
If walking from the Valley Visitor center, follow the bicycle path to shuttle stop #6 and begin the trail. Consider walking the loop in a clockwise direction for best views of Yosemite Falls.
Mirror Lake Trail
Easy to moderate trail, leashed pets are allowed on the first paved mile of the trail. Beyond that, they are prohibited. The first mile of this trail is a paved service road that leads directly to Mirror Lake. Mirror Lake it is fullest in spring and early summer, when Tenaya Creek flows freely with fresh snowmelt. When water is calm, the lake offers beautiful reflections of surrounding cliffs.
Tunnel View
One of the most popular scenic overlooks in Yosemite National Park, spot offers that iconic Yosemite valley view we are all so used to seeing in posters and postcards. Perfect spot for that family portrait with the pooch!
One of the best places to stay when youβre visiting Yosemite with a dog is the Tenaya Lodge Resort. This huge property is very dog-friendly and they even have dog babysitting inside your hotel room and kenneling services on-site. So if you want to have Yosemite adventures that are not suitable for dogs, you can feel comfortable leaving them in good hands. They also have have dog beds and dog supplies available to rent.
Tenaya Lodge is especially good to know for dog owners of big dog breeds. Many hotels only allow small to medium dogs that weigh up to 40 pounds. As you can see from these photos our Black Labrador Holly is a big dog and she is too big to be considered a medium size. Tenaya Lodge welcomes dogs of all sizes.
See tons of photos from our stay at Tenaya Lodge in this blog post!
AutoCamp Yosemite
If youβre looking for trendy and modern dog-friendly hotel accommodations near Yosemite the I suggest you check out the AutoCamp location in Midpines. Located just outside the park entrance, this glamping inspired airstream camp allows up to two dogs at 80 pounds each. Another great option for big breed dog owners!
Check out these dog-friendly hotels near Yosemite:
Take your pup glamping inside a modern airstream or tent just outside the Yosemite Park.
Book a Yosemite tour for more adventure:
The US has dozens of sublime national parks and hundreds of national wildlife refuges, forests, grasslands, and public land sites. Rather than pay for admission at each one, get access all of them for a year with this America the Beautiful Pass. From Mount St. Helens to Acadia National Park and Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, your pass covers all entry and day use fees for yourself and up to three adults.
Walk to soaring cliffs and alpine meadows on a private, guided hiking tour of Yosemite National Park. Tailor this 5- or 6-hour trip to your interests and ability, then find your perfect trail into the wilderness.
Discover the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada on this full-day trip to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco.
Travel aboard a comfortable van through historic Gold Rush towns to reach the park, where youβll be amazed by supersized natural wonders like Yosemite Falls and the granite cliffs of Half Dome and El Capitan.
Take a hike among ancient sequoia trees, and enjoy several hours to explore the parkβs wonders on your own.
Explore some of the top destinations of the American West on a 6-night, 1-way tour from San Francisco to Las Vegas.
You'll travel through California, Nevada, and Arizona to visit Yosemite National Park, Las Vegas, Sedona, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend.
Attractions include a cruise on San Francisco Bay, an evening tour of the Las Vegas Strip, visiting Hoover Dam, and Jeep tour through Monument Valley.
