Yes, you read correctly. Dogs have been prohibited on most trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park trails since the park was first established in the 1930s. Other large national parks that do not allow dogs on trails include Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, and several others.
Now before you all start calling me a dog hater, or worse, let me start off by saying I’m a huge animal lover. Dogs, cats, birds, deer, bears, you name it! My house growing up was filled with animals. This is where I developed my love for all creatures great and small.
Where Are Dogs Allowed?
There are two short walking paths that do allow dogs—the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. Dogs are not allowed on any other park trails.
Dogs are allowed in campgrounds, picnic areas, and along roads. However, must be kept on a leash at all times. The leash must not exceed 6 feet (1.8 m) in length.
Why Don’t They Allow Dogs?
They Or You Could Become Prey.
Dogs may become prey for larger predators such as coyotes and bears, both of which are common in the Smokey mountains.
Dogs were involved in more than half of all reported incidents involving people and black bears between 2010 and 2015. Just under half (46%) of those dogs were injured or killed; their human companions did not fare quite as well, with 62% of them being injured, according to BearWise.org.
Most coyotes are fearful of people and generally try to avoid getting near a person, however they react very differently to dogs.
Depending on the size of the dog, coyotes may view dogs as a threat or prey. Dogs are more commonly attacked during the winter months than during the spring and summer which corresponds to the breeding season of the coyote.
If you do encounter a coyote, do not turn your back on the coyote, always back away.
Dogs Chase Wildlife.
Dogs can chase and threaten wildlife. They are notorious for being disruptive in spring and summer by entering lakes and ponds to cool off and then scaring birds and ducks, causing them to abandon their nests.
Many times owners do not have their dog on a leash or on a leash that is too long, which can easily result in the dog chasing or cornering a bear and being injured, killed, or turning tail and running back to its owner with an angry bear close behind. Bears can run faster than an Olympic sprinter for short distances so the chances of you outrunning an aggravated bear are slim.
Some dogs, not all, instinctively chase animals to the point of exhaustion, injure or kill wildlife. “Every year, WildCare admits 50 to 100 animals that arrive at our wildlife hospital after being caught by dogs,” says Alison Hermance, WildCare’s director of communications and marketing. “The dog may think he or she is playing, but for the wild animal involved, the chase is deadly serious. Animals caught by dogs often suffer from bruising and internal injuries, and many have broken bones and head trauma from being shaken or tossed. Even if the wild animal escapes the dog, there may be long-term negative consequences to the animal’s health.”
Disease
This can affect both your pet, as well as the native wildlife. Dogs can carry disease into the park’s wildlife populations. Domestic dogs have contributed to 11 extinctions so far.
However, dogs can also encounter biting insects that transmit disease that could harm your pet. Flare-ups of diseases occur periodically in wild animals. Some diseases are airborne and can spread easily to domestic dogs, especially young puppies and dogs that haven’t been vaccinated. Some have no cure and can causes lifelong nervous system issues and can even be fatal to your four legged friend.
Their Scent
Even the smell a dog leaves behind can disturb or change the behavior of park wildlife. This disruption can lead to long term stress and reduce reproduction. Small animals, sensing a potential predator, may hide in their burrow for an entire day after smelling a dog and may not venture out to eat.
Other Things That Could Be Harmful To Your Dog
Dogs can also encounter poisonous plants, including poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, stinging nettles, rhododendron, mountain laurel, and pokeweed. They can also encounter painful thorns and burrs. We know what to look for and stay away from, but our four legged friends do not.
Danger To Other Hikers
Many people, especially children, are frightened by dogs, even small ones. Uncontrolled dogs can present a danger to other visitors.
Our oldest son has a terrible phobia of any dog since a friendly dog knocking him over when he was a toddler. Ever since then he has been terrified of dogs to the point of screaming and running away from them. If we see the dog or it is on a short leash we can keep him away from it, but more often than not when we encounter a dog on a trail it is not on a leash.
A few weeks ago we were walking on a trail and encountered a dog. We backtracked and went on a different offshoot trail that would circumvent the dog. A few minutes later that dog encountered another dog and the two dogs attacked each other. One of the owners got injured trying to protect her dog, which was on a leash, from the other dog which was not.
Basically the Rules Exist For Safety
The Park Rangers are not being mean when they don’t allow your pet, their primary concern is safety – safety for the animals they are responsible for, safety for the visitors to the park, and safety for your pet.
Rules For Other Southeast National Parks
The good news for us dog lovers is that there are plenty of trails that dogs are allowed on! I’ve listed the National Parks below and their rules for allowing dogs. They all allow dogs, although most require leashes no longer than 6 feet. For any areas not listed below, if they have a sign at the entrance to the trail it will usually tell you if there are any rules for dogs on the trail.
Appalachian Trail – Dogs must be leashed.
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area – Pets are allowed within Big South Fork, however, in order to protect your pet and the parks wildlife, all pets must be kept on a leash (no longer than 6 feet) at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet.
Do not leave animals unattended in vehicles or campers. If you plan to go out on the river with your pet make sure that you and your pet both have personal flotation devices.
Before coming to the park make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations including rabies. Pets should have identification and rabies tags on their collars. During hunting season, a dog that is with a licensed hunter and actively following game does not have to be leashed. However, when entering a designated Safety Zone hunting dogs must be restrained on a leash, crated or caged.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest – If you bring your dog hiking on a trail, keep it under verbal or physical restraint at all times. In the campgrounds, dogs must be on a leash and under control. Tie your dog up in a shady spot and give it lots of attention to minimize barking.
Cherokee National Forest – All pets must be confined to a leash, cage, or in a vehicle. Dogs must remain on a leash not to exceed six feet, unless being used for hunting during a designated hunting season where the use of dogs are legal. Pets are allowed in all areas except where posted otherwise (swimming areas, beaches, etc.).
Croatan National Forest – Allowed: Along roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and other developed exterior areas of the forest. They must be restrained or kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times. Pick up after your dog at all times.
Not allowed: excessive barking, inside buildings (except for service animal), on beaches or in other swimming areas (unless they’re a service animal), in the spring (there may be some areas closed to dogs for the protection of threatened and endangered species), some cabins may not allow dogs. Never leave your pet unattended or alone inside a vehicle.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park – Pets are not permitted in Gap Cave or the Visitor Center. Pets must be leashed (up to 6 feet) at all times. Leashed pets are allowed on all surface trails in the park.
Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests – On the Trail: If you bring your dog hiking, keep it under physical restraint at all times. Use a leash in crowded areas. In the campgrounds: dogs must be on a leash and under control at all times in campgrounds. Tie your dog up in a shady spot and give it lots of attention to minimize barking.
Nantahala National Forest – Allowed: Along roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and other developed exterior areas of the forest. They must be restrained or kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times. Pick up after your dog at all times.
Not allowed: excessive barking, inside buildings (except for service animals), on beaches or in other swimming areas (except for service animals), in the spring (there may be some areas closed to dogs for the protection of threatened and endangered species), some cabins may not allow dogs. Never leave your pet unattended or alone inside a vehicle.
Natchez Trace Parkway – Pets must always be on a leash six feet or shorter. Clean up after your pet. Only service animals are allowed inside Parkway buildings. At campgrounds: There is a maximum of two pets per site. At all times, pets must be confined or under control on a leash not longer than 6 feet. Pets cannot be left unattended.
Obed Wild and Scenic River – All pets must be kept on a leash (no longer than 6 feet) at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet in developed areas. Do not leave animals unattended in campers or vehicles. If you plan to go out on the river with your pet, make sure that you and your pet both have personal flotation devices.
Before coming to the park make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations including rabies. Pets should have identification and rabies tags on their collars.
During hunting season, a dog that is with a licensed hunter and is actively following game does not have to be leashed. However, when entering a designated safety zone, hunting dogs must be restrained on a leash, crated, or caged.
Pisgah National Forest – Allowed: Along roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and other developed exterior areas of the forest. They must be restrained or kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times. Pick up after your dog at all times.
Not allowed: excessive barking, inside buildings (unless service animal), on beaches or in other swimming areas (unless service animal), in the spring (there may be some areas closed to dogs for the protection of threatened and endangered species), some cabins may not allow dogs. Never leave your pet unattended or alone inside a vehicle.
Uwharrie National Forest – Allowed: Along roads, hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and other developed exterior areas of the forest. They must be restrained or kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Dogs must wear a collar with current tags at all times. Pick up after your dog at all times.
Not allowed: excessive barking, inside buildings (unless service animal), on beaches or in other swimming areas (unless service animal), in the spring (there may be some areas closed to dogs for the protection of threatened and endangered species), some cabins may not allow dogs. Never leave your pet unattended or alone inside a vehicle.
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