Bringing Your Dog on the Trail
Well behaved dogs are welcome along the trail, whether biking, hiking or running.
Please keep them under control at all times to respect the resource and other visitors. We recommend you keep your dog on a leash. Never leave them unattended. Dogs allowed to roam freely can frighten or injure wildlife, disturb other forest visitors, and create impacts to the natural resources. A dog that is excessively barking, aggressive, or chasing animals is not under control.
Dogs on Shuttles: Your well behaved dog is welcome on McKenzie River Mountain Resort’s shuttle.
Considerations:
Length: This is a long trail – be sure your pet is up for it.
Trail Conditions: Some of the trail is through rough lava rock. Make sure you monitor how much time they are on the rough rock and consider bringing doggy booties to protect their feet, don’t let their pads get torn up.
Small Dogs: You are in the woods, while we don’t have many sightings of cougar or bear in the woods directly around the MRT, they are in the area. There are also many large birds that would see you small dog as a delicious meal.
Forest Service Dog Guidelines
For a successful trip with your dog, please follow these rules:
In Campgrounds:
- Keep dogs on a leash 6’ or shorter.
- Store dog food in bear resistant food lockers.
- Pick up and trash your dog’s waste.
- Keep your dog in your tent at night.
In Recreation Areas:
- Keep dogs on a leash 6’ or shorter.
- Pick up and trash your dog’s waste.
In Visitor Centers:
- Refrain from bringing dogs inside.
On Wilderness Trails:
- Leash your dog around packers, horses, and stock animals.
- Store dog food in bear resistant food containers.
- Bury dog waste 100’ from water or trail.
- Keep your dog in your tent or vehicle at night.
- Dogs must always be under strict leash or voice control.
Maintain control of your dog at all times. Ensure your dog is a good steward of the land and respects other visitors. We appreciate you following the guidelines above so all visitors to Inyo National Forest have a safe and enjoyable trip. Thank you.
Each ranger district may have some variances in their rules. Please check with the local ranger strict you are visiting to make sure you have the most up to date guidance on pet acceptance and behavior guidelines.
This is published as a courtesy and while believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, this page is not maintained or updated to ensure it meets current pet policy in the Willamette Ranger District.