Great North American Parks with a Dog
Have you ever dreamed of exploring the great North American parks with your dog? Which Canadian parks are worth visiting if you have a dog? What equipment do you need to enjoy these magical places with your dog? Elodie and Nana tell you everything in this article!
I've never had the chance to take Musher to explore the vast national parks of the United States and Canada . Yet, I know how many of you dream of traversing these wild lands and landscapes with your dog! So when Elodie suggested I share her incredible adventure with her dog Nana, I immediately agreed.
In this article, Elodie and Nana take us through North America's most iconic parks and share all their tips , gear , and travel anecdotes . Buckle up and get ready for an extraordinary journey, where every trail promises an unforgettable adventure! 🌲🏕️🐾
Summary
Elodie and her dog's journey across Canada and the USA
Who hasn't dreamed of the vast Canadian wilderness or the great parks of the American West ? Too complicated with a dog? Too many restrictions? Too many risks to the local wildlife? When we decided to travel to North America with Nana, we quickly encountered comments like, "You'll never be able to enjoy the parks with your dog." "It's a shame for you to have her with you for those moments"... Our motto has always held true: where there's a will, there's a way. And sometimes it's even very easy!
Nico and I love wide open spaces, places where nature shows us all its power and beauty. The parks of Canada and the United States are renowned for their breathtaking landscapes.
When you think of North American parks, Monument Valley or the Grand Canyon immediately come to mind . But what dog mom or dog dad hasn't dreamed of seeing their dog with that scenery as a backdrop? For us, it was a no-brainer to take our dog to these places. Does she realize how lucky she is? We're not so sure!
The first parks we visited were in Canada, specifically in Quebec . It takes a bit of time and research, but generally speaking, the park websites are very well done, and you can quickly find maps showing dog-friendly trails . We had prepared everything in advance, so we knew roughly what to expect in each park. But before each visit, we went to the Visitor Center to make sure our information was up to date.
Rules and Restrictions for Dogs in North American Parks
The regulations concerning dogs in parks in Canada and the United States are essentially the same . We always find the same basis which, in the USA, is contained under the acronym "Bark".
B – Bag your pet's waste
A – Always leash your pet
R – Respect wildlife
K – Know where you can go (know where dogs are allowed).
Each park has its own regulations. Some have hiking trails where dogs are allowed , others only parking lots and paved roads. Some don't allow them at any viewpoints, while others accept them almost everywhere. And still others don't allow them anywhere at all, not even in camper vans.
We always find a solution without ever having to give up anything, and that's what makes traveling with Nana so beautiful. We've tried all kinds of solutions. We've had other travelers we met along the way look after her; or we've left her in the campervan in the cool of the morning while we do some hikes. But the solution we use most often is to do the visits or hikes one after the other if it's really too hot. In this case, it's mainly hikes of less than an hour so that the time isn't too long for the person waiting.
Which Canadian and American parks can you visit with a dog?
Clearly, the parks where Nana enjoyed herself the most were the Canadian parks (outside of Quebec). Banff and Kluane, in particular, were our two favorites (unfortunately, we couldn't visit Jasper National Park because it was burning when we were there). Never on a leash, always scrambling around, and day hikes. The advantage of Canada is that, even in July and August, you often find yourself alone for long periods on the trails, so there's no worry about disturbing anyone. And Nana doesn't really hunt, so there's not much risk of disturbing the wildlife.
To USA, the 3 mythical places where she benefited the most are Monument Valley (dogs allowed everywhere but it is not a park but an Indian reservation), the Grand Canyon et Antelope Canyon. And for the lesser-known parks: Great Sand Dunes in Colorado et White Sands in New MexicoA pure treat for sand-loving dogs.
Quebec parks have the strictest policies regarding dogs, as some, like Bic National Park , do not allow dogs even if they remain in the vehicle. These are not national parks but parks managed by a government agency called SEPAQ. Furthermore, additional entrance fees must be paid, which are not included in the pass for Canada's national parks.
In terms of terrain-related challenges, we've had quite a few in Canadian parks, again, but that's because we like challenging hikes. Steep slopes, scree, very narrow trails, large boulders to climb, torrents to cross... Nana doesn't shy away from anything. She always follows, but she's young, and we know her abilities (probably better than she does!). When hiking, we always put her harness on, which allows us to support, lift, push, secure, or hold her back when needed. She's also lightweight (17kg), and we carry her when it's too dangerous (ladders to climb or torrents). And finally, when the elevation gain is significant, whether positive or negative, we let her manage. She's more stable on her four legs than we are anyway.
As for our most beautiful hike, it's really difficult to choose just one, but the Bow Lake Glacier hike on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park particularly stands out. We can't explain why, but it's the first one that comes to mind when we talk about our most beautiful hikes. The translucent water, the blue sky, the mountains, the glacier waterfalls at the end of the hike, almost no elevation gain, and no one else around.
There's also a much longer and more physically demanding hike we did to Samuel Glacier , south of Kluane National Park in the Yukon. All day long, we only encountered two other couples of hikers. We were alone with the marmots, walking across vast plains stretching as far as the eye could see, ending at a magnificent glacier. We loved it.
In the parks where we could, especially in Canada, Nana was always free. Except she had the annoying tendency to suddenly appear at full speed in front of hikers who didn't see her coming. In Canada, everyone walks around with bear spray as a safety precaution. And we were always afraid that someone would gas Nana out of pure defensive reflex. Fortunately, that never happened.
Nana lives exclusively in the present moment and never thinks about the consequences of her actions. So, when she falls into a ditch, we've had to get down in turn to help her back up.
And as for unforgettable scenery, we will never forget our first aurora borealis in Kluane National Park . It was 3 a.m., we were freezing, but above all, we were in awe…
Musher and Sophie: “Do you enjoy reading about the adventures of our Wouafer's? Read about traveling with your dog in the USA , where you will discover the journey of Thomas, Laura and their two huskies in the United States, as well as all their travel tips!”
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Dangers and equipment
Still in Canada, we were very careful about wildlife, especially bears, which were very numerous in the region. We were attentive to the signs (feces on the path, few human visitors, berries to nibble on in the bushes, etc.). On some hikes, we didn't let her go because it was as if we felt watched through the thickets. But fortunately, we didn't encounter any bears during our hikes with Nana.
However, we were very scared the day she came across a rattlesnake (a deadly species, remember). Fortunately, these snakes warn before attacking and Nana had the very good reflex to make a big jump back when she found herself face to face with this thing all erect and hissing ferociously.
On the other hand, on the plus side, we often imagine that with a dog it's a lost cause for seeing wildlife. Well, the opposite effect happened because Nana always sees the animals before us and, thanks to her, we saw things we would have walked past without even noticing.
Ensuring our dog's safety on our hikes was primarily a matter of intuition. We know her intimately, and it's easy for us to anticipate her reactions. Whether it's wildlife or difficult terrain, if we're unsure, we leash her (harness and belt, always, to keep our hands free). Unfortunately, a dog with a hunting tendency cannot be let off-leash , both for its own safety and that of the surrounding wildlife.
Regarding the length of the hikes, we never did any that lasted more than a day. We were definitely keen, but we didn't have the necessary equipment.
When it comes to long hikes, I would say it's important to listen to yourself, your dog, and get to know each other as well. Nana is young, so we haven't had too many problems with that. She usually sets off very quickly for the first half hour and lets off steam, but when she realizes the hike is going to be longer, she regulates herself and stays close to us. When she was younger, we would regulate her ourselves by tying her up to slow her down.
As for hydration breaks , I'm very careful about them because Nana drinks a lot. More than we do. So we generally have 1 liter for the two of us and 1 liter just for her. I take more if I know she won't have access to water along the way.
Our essentials when we go hiking for Nana are: 1 liter of water, a collapsible bowl, her harness, and my own harness. If I know in advance that the terrain will be rough on her paws, I bring booties in case of injury, but I haven't needed to use them since the beginning of our trip.
Musher and Sophie: “Wow, what preparation! Going hiking with your dog is truly a joy! But you always need to be well-equipped to avoid any problems. If hiking with your dog appeals to you, read our article on Hiking : Equipment for Outings with Your Dog ; you'll find a checklist of gear for a good hiker!”
We're travelling in a campervan, so the question of accommodation is much simpler for us. However, while not all parks in Canada and the USA are dog-friendly for hiking, this rule generally doesn't apply to campsites, most of which accept dogs without any problem!
When we have a big day of hiking ahead of us, we always make sure Nana eats relatively early in the morning so she has time to digest before starting the hike. And in the evening, she has a slightly larger portion to compensate for her energy expenditure. But she always has two meals a day because this rhythm suits her well.
In summary, which North American parks should you remember?
Treat yourself to a visit to Banff, Jasper, and Kluane National Parks in Canada . These are undoubtedly the parks that will offer the fewest restrictions for your four-legged friend!
And if it's the western United States that tempts you the most: Grand Canyon , Monument Valley , Antelope Canyon (accessible from Lake Powell ) are among the most iconic, and otherwise White Sands and Great Sand Dunes are less well known!
The only pitfall to avoid when visiting a national park with your dog is believing that you can't do anything just because you have a dog. You just need to be a little more organized, even if it means starting the day earlier and going your separate ways.
Find out more and get organized!
What an adventure for Nana and Elodie! It really makes you want to go explore America with a dog. The landscapes must be absolutely Woof-tastic! You can find Nicolas, Elodie, and Nana's entire journey on their Instagram account: un_voyage_de_woof
And by the way, if you're wondering how Elodie and her whole family, both two-legged and four-legged, manage to live in harmony in their campervan, I invite you to read another article Elodie shared with us about her year-long experience on the other side of the world. You'll find plenty of great tips and tricks for traveling in a campervan with your dog.
