Yes, you can bring your dog to Yosemite — and the trip can be genuinely great for both of you, as long as you know the rules. Most articles on the subject lead with “dogs aren’t allowed on most trails” and stop there. That’s the wrong starting point. The right one is: here’s exactly where you and your dog can go, what to see, where to stay and how to plan it. That’s what this guide is for. It’s written by and for DogTrekkers who’ve actually made the trip.

The 30-second rules

• Leash, 6 feet, always. No exceptions, even if your pet is well behaved.
• Paved paths, bike trails, roads, campgrounds — yes. Unpaved wilderness trails — no.
• Lodging inside the park — mostly no. The exceptions are Tenaya Lodge at the south entrance and privately owned vacation rentals at The Redwoods in Yosemite (Wawona).
• Shuttle buses, public buildings, Mariposa Grove trails — no.
• Never leave your dog unattended in the park, including tied up outside a building or alone in a vehicle.
• Stay at least 50 yards from bears, 25 yards from other wildlife. Dogs and black bears do not mix.

If all you needed was the quick answer, there it is. If you want the real plan — including the trails that are open to dogs, where to stay, what to do when the dog can’t come in, and how to make the trip feel less like a compromise — keep reading.

Where your dog can go inside Yosemite

Leashed dogs are welcome in Yosemite on most fully paved roads, sidewalks, parking areas, scenic vistas and bicycle paths unless otherwise posted. Most visitors are surprised by how much that covers. Here’s the specific list.

In Yosemite Valley

• Lower Yosemite Fall Trail — a half-mile paved loop with a front-row view of the waterfall. Peak flow is April through June.
• Bridalveil Fall Trail — another half-mile paved path to a classic Valley waterfall. Newly renovated, with wide paved viewing areas.
• Cook’s Meadow Loop — a flat boardwalk-and-paved loop through the meadow, with 360° views of El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock and Yosemite Falls. Our pick for the best dog-friendly walk in the Valley.
• Mirror Lake Trail (paved portion only) — walk the paved path to Mirror Lake. Dogs are not allowed on the unpaved loop around the lake itself, so turn back when the pavement ends.
• Valley bike paths and the Merced River banks — miles of paved path loop the Valley floor. Bring a water bowl and take your time.

At Glacier Point

Dogs are allowed on the paved 0.7-mile path from the Glacier Point parking lot to the overlook. From there you get the postcard view — Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Vernal and Nevada Falls, Clouds Rest. Glacier Point Road is seasonally closed in winter; check the current conditions page before you go.

In the Wawona area (south)

• Wawona Meadow Loop — 3.5 miles, nearly flat, circling one of Yosemite’s largest meadows. The trailhead is across from the Wawona Hotel. If you only have time for one dog-friendly hike inside the park, make it this one.
• Chowchilla Mountain Road — a quiet former stage road.
• Four Mile and Eleven Mile fire roads — unpaved but open to leashed dogs as fire roads (a narrow exception to the “no unpaved trails” rule).

In the Hodgdon Meadow area (Hwy 120 corridor)

• Carlon Road — from the trailhead to Hodgdon Meadow.
• Old Big Oak Flat Road — from Hodgdon Meadow to the Tuolumne Grove parking lot.

In campgrounds

Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome in most Yosemite campgrounds — but not Camp 4, not Tamarack Flat, and not Porcupine Flat. Campground sites book fast, especially in the high season; reserve at recreation.gov.

Where your dog can’t go — and why it matters

The big “no” list: wilderness trails, unpaved paths, meadows, beaches, waterways, public buildings, shuttle buses and — importantly — all trails within Mariposa Grove, where the giant sequoias live. The rules aren’t arbitrary. Yosemite’s fragile ecosystems have taken thousands of years to develop; even small disruptions from domestic animals can have lasting effects on native wildlife and sensitive terrain. The flip side of “dogs off most trails” is “space for Yosemite to stay wild.” That’s a trade worth making.

That said, the no-list inside the park is more than made up for by what’s available right next door — see “Adjacent public lands” below.

Become a B.A.R.K. Ranger

Yosemite participates in the National Park Service’s B.A.R.K. Ranger program. Stop in at any Yosemite visitor center, pick up the pledge card, complete a few activities and take the oath with your dog. Pick up the official B.A.R.K. Ranger badge at any Yosemite Conservancy bookstore. It’s a small thing that your dog will not understand in the slightest but that you will look back on fondly.

B.A.R.K. stands for: Bag your pet’s waste · Always leash your pet · Respect wildlife · Know where you can go.

Where to stay with your dog

Inside the park

Dogs are not allowed at Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village tent cabins or The Ahwahnee. The two ways to sleep with your dog inside park boundaries are:

• Tenaya at Yosemite — an award-winning, full-service resort two miles from the south entrance. Dog-friendly rooms across Tenaya Lodge, Explorer Cabins, and Cottages at Yosemite. Ask about the Deluxe Pampered Pet Package.
• The Redwoods in Yosemite — 130 privately owned vacation rentals inside park boundaries in the Wawona area. A number of individual homes in the community welcome dogs; confirm per-home policies at booking.

In Greater Yosemite Mariposa County (the smart move)

For most visitors, staying outside the park in Greater Yosemite Mariposa County is the better move. You get more lodging choice, better pet policies, and a short drive into the park each day. Our top regions:

• Mariposa town and Midpines — historic Gold Rush towns with walkable streets, dog-friendly patios and easy Highway 140 access to the Arch Rock entrance.
• Fish Camp and Oakhurst — south-entrance adjacent, near Bass Lake and Tenaya Lodge.
• El Portal — right on Highway 140, steps from the park boundary. Yosemite View Lodge and Yosemite Cedar Lodge both welcome dogs.
• Groveland and Buck Meadows — Highway 120 corridor; a good base for the Big Oak Flat entrance, Hodgdon Meadow hikes and the Tuolumne Grove of sequoias.
• Wawona — cabins and vacation rentals just outside the south entrance, including the Wawona Meadow Loop trailhead.

See the full list → A complete guide to dog-friendly lodging in Yosemite Mariposa County.

Where to eat with your dog

• The Village Grill — inside the park, at Yosemite Village. Outdoor tables welcome dogs; one of the very few in-park dining options that does.
• 1850 Restaurant and Brewery (Mariposa) — dog-friendly patio, craft beer, locally sourced menu.
• The Alley in Mariposa — casual, dog-friendly patio, great after a hike.
• June Bug Cafe at the Yosemite Bug (Midpines) — outdoor picnic tables and American comfort food. A DogTrekker staff favorite after a long day in the park.

Adjacent public lands — where dogs really get to run

Here’s the piece most Yosemite-with-dogs articles miss: National Park rules only cover the park itself. The moment you cross into the surrounding Sierra National Forest or Stanislaus National Forest, the rules relax dramatically. National Forest trails are generally pet-friendly, and dogs are permitted at every Sierra and Stanislaus campsite (leash required when around other visitors).

• Hite Cove Trail — 9-mile round trip in the Sierra NF, famous for spring wildflowers. Trailhead is on Highway 140 about seven miles west of El Portal.
• Carlon Falls — a moderate trail to a seasonal waterfall, dog-friendly on leash, off Evergreen Road near the Big Oak Flat entrance.
• Rainbow Pools — Tuolumne River swimming holes and shaded forest sections.
• Lewis Creek Trail — dog-friendly with two waterfalls (Corlieu Falls and Red Rock Falls), accessible from Highway 41.
• Bass Lake — a 25-minute drive from the south entrance and one of the best dog-friendly lake destinations near the park. Our Bass Lake guide is the single most popular Yosemite-area page on DogTrekker for a reason.

If you want to go somewhere dogs can’t

There are Yosemite experiences worth having even if your dog can’t share them — Mariposa Grove, Vernal Fall, the Mist Trail. For those, the park operates a small daytime dog kennel at the Yosemite Valley Stable, open summer 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Space is very limited and reservations are required. Dogs must be 6 months or older, and under-20-pound dogs must be crated. You’ll need written proof of rabies, distemper, parvo and bordetella vaccinations. Call (209) 372-8326 for reservations and current dates of operation.

Outside the park, Yosemite Kennel Club and other Mariposa County boarding services offer longer-term day care.

Plan a real trip

If you’re ready to stop reading and start planning, here are the three pieces most DogTrekkers use together:

• 📍 The Yosemite–Mariposa County road trip — our day-by-day dog-friendly itinerary. This is the page Google ranks us #3 for in the road-trip category for a reason.
• 🏨 Dog-friendly lodging in Yosemite Mariposa County — the full directory.
• 🥾 Dog-friendly adventures around Yosemite — trails, activities and what we call the “Leave Only Paw Prints” ethic.
• 🛏️ Bass Lake: the pet-friendly Yosemite-area lure — our most-read Yosemite-region page.

For the trip-planning side — park hours, road conditions, shuttle schedules, the full pets page and the Yosemite-Mariposa County activities calendar — bookmark Yosemite.com, the official tourism site of Yosemite Mariposa County. DogTrekker and Yosemite.com together cover the whole trip.

Frequently asked questions

Are dogs allowed in Yosemite National Park?

Yes. Leashed dogs (6-foot leash max) are allowed on paved roads, sidewalks, parking areas, bike paths, most campgrounds, and a handful of specific trails — see the full list above. They’re not allowed on wilderness trails, shuttle buses, or in most lodging or public buildings.

What trails inside Yosemite are open to dogs?

In the Valley: Lower Yosemite Fall, Bridalveil Fall, Cook’s Meadow Loop, the paved portion of Mirror Lake Trail, and all paved Valley bike paths. In Wawona: Wawona Meadow Loop, Chowchilla Mountain Road, Four Mile and Eleven Mile fire roads. Near Hodgdon Meadow: Carlon Road and the Old Big Oak Flat Road to Tuolumne Grove parking. At Glacier Point: the 0.7-mile paved overlook path.

Can my dog stay with me at Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village or The Ahwahnee?

No — none of the three major Valley lodging properties accept dogs. The only dog-friendly lodging inside park boundaries is Tenaya at Yosemite (south entrance) and privately owned, pet-welcoming rentals at The Redwoods in Yosemite (Wawona).

Are dogs allowed on the Yosemite shuttle buses?

No. Service animals are the only exception.

Is there a dog kennel in Yosemite?

Yes — the Yosemite Valley Stable operates a small daytime kennel in summer (8 a.m.–4 p.m.). Space is limited, reservations required. Dogs must be 6+ months, under 20 pounds must be crated, and written proof of rabies, distemper, parvo and bordetella vaccines is required. Call (209) 372-8326.

Can dogs go to Mariposa Grove?

No. All trails inside Mariposa Grove are off-limits to dogs to protect the fragile root systems and soil of the giant sequoias. If you want to see sequoias with your dog, the Tuolumne Grove (accessible from Old Big Oak Flat Road) has dog-friendly access roads.

Where can my dog run off-leash near Yosemite?

Nowhere inside the park — leashes are mandatory everywhere dogs are allowed. In the surrounding Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests, voice-control off-leash is permitted on many trails (though a leash is still required around other visitors). For a fenced dog park, head to Mariposa town.

What’s the B.A.R.K. Ranger program?

It’s the National Park Service’s official dog-visitor program. At any Yosemite visitor center, pick up a pledge card, complete a short set of activities, take the oath and collect the official B.A.R.K. Ranger badge from a Yosemite Conservancy bookstore. B.A.R.K. = Bag waste · Always leash · Respect wildlife · Know where you can go.

Last updated April 2026. Rules and programs are current as of publication — always confirm at a visitor center or on the official NPS Pets in Yosemite page before your trip.