Which California national parks allow dogs?
14 verified: Cabrillo National Monument; Death Valley National Park; Devils Postpile National Monument; Joshua Tree National Park; Lassen Volcanic National Park; Lava Beds National Monument; Mojave National Preserve; Pinnacles National Park; Point Reyes National Seashore; Redwood National and State Parks; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks; Whiskeytown National Recreation Area; Yosemite National Park.
National Park Service units in California that allow pets somewhere, per each park's own pets page. Almost all keep pets off trails; each entry shows where dogs may go.
Checked October 26, 2026. Published when at least three verified places qualify; this list covers only places verified so far, sorted by town and name.
| Place | Type | Town | Dogs | Answer | Leash | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo National Monument | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Pets are allowed only along the Coastal Trail, on a leash of 6 feet or less. Pets are not allowed in the tidepools, on Cabrillo Road, at the lighthouse, Whale Watch Overlook, Event Bluff, statue, visitor center, Bayside Trail or surrounding areas. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Death Valley National Park | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Leashed pets are allowed in developed areas: paved and unpaved roads, parking lots, campgrounds and outside federal buildings. Pets are not allowed on trails, in designated wilderness or inside federal buildings, even when carried, including the Badwater Basin boardwalk, the Zabriskie Point paved trail and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes beyond the parking lot. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Devils Postpile National Monument | park | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Joshua Tree National Park | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Leashed pets are allowed within 100 feet (30.5 m) of roads, picnic areas and campgrounds. Pets are not allowed on hiking trails, in the backcountry or in park buildings, even in a backpack or carrier. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Pets may go where a car may go: roads and road shoulders (not snow-covered), campgrounds, picnic areas and parking lots. Pets are not permitted on any hiking trail, in the backcountry, in any body of water, or inside visitor centers and other park facilities. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Lava Beds National Monument | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Pets are allowed in developed areas only, on a 6-foot leash or in a vehicle or crate. Pets are not allowed on trails, in caves or in buildings. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Mojave National Preserve | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Pets are allowed on all trails, on a leash of 6 feet or less at all times (dogs used while hunting excepted). Pets are not allowed inside buildings, except service animals. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Pinnacles National Park | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Pets are allowed in picnic areas, the campground, parking lots and on paved roads. Pets are not allowed on any park trail, on shuttle buses or in park buildings. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Point Reyes National Seashore | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Leashed pets are allowed in parking lots, along public roads, on the Kehoe Beach Trail and the Niman Ranch/Commonweal area paths, and on sections of Kehoe Beach, Limantour Beach and Point Reyes (Great) Beach. All other trails, beaches and off-trail lands are closed to pets. Since May 30, 2023, pets are not permitted on National Seashore beaches on the west side of Tomales Bay or anywhere in the Tomales Point Elk Reserve. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Redwood National and State Parks | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Leashed pets are allowed in developed campgrounds, on beaches (including Freshwater Beach, Gold Bluffs Beach and Crescent Beach), in picnic areas, on roads (including Cal Barrel Road and Walker Road) and at some parking areas. Pets are not allowed on park trails or at ranger-led programs. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. At National Park Service sites, dogs on a leash of 6 feet or less are allowed on trails, roads and developed areas such as campgrounds and parking lots, but not in buildings or where posted. State park land inside the recreation area has stricter rules: pets are not allowed on backcountry trails of Topanga, Malibu Creek, Leo Carrillo and Point Mugu state parks. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Pets are allowed outside vehicles only in parking lots, on paved roads, in campgrounds and in picnic areas. Pets are prohibited on all trails, including paved trails such as the General Sherman Tree Trail, even in a carrier or stroller. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Whiskeytown National Recreation Area | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Leashed pets are allowed on roads, sidewalks, campgrounds, group campsites, hiking trails and along most of the lakeshore. Pets are not allowed inside public buildings or on the designated swim beaches, adjacent picnic areas and within swim buoys at Brandy Creek, Oak Bottom and East Beach, or at the Whiskey Creek Group Picnic Area swim beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 | |
| Yosemite National Park | park | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Leashed pets are allowed in developed areas; on fully paved roads, sidewalks and bike paths, including the Bridalveil Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall and Cook's Meadow paved trails and the paved road to Mirror Lake; on the Wawona Meadow Loop; and in campgrounds other than walk-in and group sites. Pets are not allowed on other trails (including the Vernal Fall trail), in wilderness, on meadows, beaches or waterways, in public buildings, on shuttle buses or in lodging areas, even if carried. | Required | October 26, 2026 |