| Wherever you travel for outdoor adventure chances | | | | vehicles,mountains bikes, and horses. These types of |
| are good that you will find yourself with your dog on | | | | trails will invariably be open to dogs aswell. You can |
| land owned by the federal government at some | | | | expect to find good canine hikes in almost any |
| point. Every state in the Union has at least one | | | | national recreationarea. Do your research, however, |
| national park or forest or shoreline or wildlife refuge | | | | as many national recreation areas are |
| beckoning summer adventurers. With that mind here | | | | developedprimarily for boating and fishing. |
| is a quick primer on what to expect when taking | | | | National Seashores and Lakeshores |
| your dog to our national lands. | | | | Dogs are seldom allowed on trails at a national |
| National Parks | | | | seashore but happily most (thesoutheastern national |
| As a general rule, dogs in national parks are welcome | | | | seashores are an exception) allow dogs on the beach |
| to go "anywhere a car can go." | | | | year-round. National lakeshores are good bets for |
| This means your dog can hike along roadways and | | | | canine hikers as dogs are allowed onmany trails in |
| walk around parking lots. Inmost parks dogs can also | | | | these parks along the Great Lakes. |
| go in picnic areas and stay in campgrounds. | | | | National Wildlife Refuges |
| Occasionallydogs will be permitted on short trails | | | | Although these lands are managed primarily for the |
| around a Visitor Center or a campground. | | | | protection of birds and animals,most have trail |
| Two of the best national parks to hike with your dog | | | | systems ideal for short day hikes. Expect your |
| are Acadia National Park in | | | | leashed dog to bewelcome at most of the more |
| Maine and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. If you | | | | than 500 national wildlife refuges in America. |
| are traveling in Canada thissummer, you will find most | | | | National Historical Parks |
| of their national parks extremely dog-friendly. | | | | These parks are hidden gems for canine hikers. |
| National Monuments | | | | There are few bans on dogs innational historical |
| These parks are a notch below national parks in | | | | parks. In addition to learning a thing or two about |
| terms of prestige and are a mixedbag for active dog | | | | Americanhistory, these parks often feature |
| owners. Some, like Dinosaur National Monument or | | | | interesting hiking: the rolling hills of eastern |
| White Sands | | | | Pennsylvania in Valley Forge Historical Park, the |
| National Monument, allow dogs on most trails while | | | | mountains of Harpers Ferry |
| others, Devil's Tower or Cedar | | | | Historical Park, the wild Potomac River of the |
| Breaks for instance, ban canine hikers from all trails. | | | | Chesapeake & Ohio National Historical |
| National Forests | | | | Park to name but a few. National Battlegrounds are |
| National forests, under the stewardship of the | | | | also good places to get out andexplore with your |
| Department of Agriculture and notthe Department of | | | | dog. |
| the Interior like national parks, offer the meatiest | | | | National Trail Systems |
| hikingopportunities for dog owners. Dogs are | | | | The United States Congress has designated more |
| permitted on most national forest trails,although | | | | than 900 trails as "National Trails." |
| access can sometimes be remote. Many times | | | | Such trails can be recognized as Historic Trails for |
| national forest landssurround national parks so you | | | | their significance to our heritage,as National |
| can get your dog on a trail after being cooped | | | | Recreation Trails or as National Scenic Trails. The |
| upwhen visiting there. | | | | most famous of the |
| National Grasslands | | | | National Scenic Trails, that must be 100 miles long, are |
| These parks are cousins of national forests and you | | | | the Appalachian Trail andthe Pacific Crest Trail that |
| can expect to have your dogaccompany you on | | | | crosses the spine of the Pacific Cascade Mountains |
| your hike. Hiking opportunities are limited, however, | | | | from |
| as theretypically aren't many trails in a national | | | | Canada to Mexico. National trails often include local |
| grassland. | | | | and even private land andwhile dogs are often |
| National Recreation Areas | | | | welcome throughout, check before setting off on a |
| As the name implies, these lands are managed to | | | | multi-dayadventure to make sure your dog can legally |
| maximize public use - for humansand dogs. Many trails | | | | complete the trek. |
| in national recreation areas are open to off-road | | | | |