But the incident should serve as a warning to hikers, campers, mountain bikers, backpackers and anyone who uses national forests to pay attention to where their dogs are and always wear a leash. “In a case like Bearwallow Mountain, the leash rule is especially important because some dogs naturally try to chase cattle to the top of the mountain and sometimes drive them into a rush,” Barr said. The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, which span 1.1 million hectares of rugged, forested and often remote areas from WNC, may seem like a off-leash paradise, but it`s not. Here are some other resources to help you find the leash on state land near you: “Currently, there are no designated areas for off-leash dogs in any state forest,” she said. “We are extremely pro-dog on our trails and want people to be able to enjoy nature in the most comfortable and appealing way for them, as long as the leash rule is followed to ensure that the experience of others is not negatively affected,” he said. The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government that manages all national parks, numerous national monuments, and other historic and conservation properties. The national park system includes all properties managed by the NPS that have a variety of titles or designations, including national monuments, nature reserves, military parks, battlefield parks, historic sites, monuments, seashores, lakeshores, rivers, wild and scenic river routes, recreational areas and trail system. Concentrated in the West, the states are administered by one of four government agencies: the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. If you`re looking to walk off-leash, it`s best to start with areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service. These two agencies together manage 440.2 million hectares, which is good news for dog lovers! In WNC, these include Chimney Rock, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain, Lake James, and Mount Mitchell.
Dogs should not be leashed longer than 6 feet and have “constant owner control,” state parks spokeswoman Katie Hall said. Leash laws: Most parks require dogs to be kept on a leash in some or all areas, but some parks allow off-leash dogs in some places, please check the park`s website before leaving the leash, thanks! The fine for trash in national forests depends on severity and starts at $105, Dowd said. According to Parkway spokeswoman Leesa Brandon, dogs must be kept on a 6-foot leash at all times on Parkway property. The United States Government land holdings cover 640 million hectares, or about 28% of the country`s total area. It is an incredible space that encompasses various landscapes and our most precious natural treasures. And some of these states offer spectacular off-leash hiking opportunities with your dog. B.A.R.K. Ranger Program Some national parks offer a B.A.R.K. Ranger program to promote responsible dog travel and educate visitors with pets about park rules. Dogs participating in the program are sworn in as Bark Rangers, and their owners can purchase a special brand for their dog`s collar.
Now your pet can pick up bark ranger tags at over thirty locations across the country. A recent shooting of a dog on a leash by a U.S. Forest Service enforcement officer in the Nantahala National Forest has some wondering what the leash laws are in the vast public lands of western North Carolina. In general, national parks welcome pets in developed areas, on many hiking trails and campgrounds, and in some accommodations. Pets must either be enclosed on a leash up to 6 feet long or enclosed. “If the waters are connected or connected to developed recreational areas, dogs need to be kept on a leash,” Dowd said. The bottom line, according to country officials, is that leash laws are stricter than you might think. There are a handful of national parks that buck this trend and have a pet-friendly policy. Visits to these parks are a special treat. If you think it`s okay to leave your dog without swimming in a forest river, lake, or cascading pool, think again.
The Uwharrie National Forest borders the east side of Lake Badin and has a wilderness area: the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness. The forest is managed along with other North Carolina National Forests. If you bring your dog for hiking, he must be under verbal or physical restraint at all times. Be attentive to other hikers. You must wear a leash and have your dog on it when you are in trailhead parking lots, developed campgrounds and other developed areas. If you are on your way, use the leash when you are around other people, or if necessary, and remember to clean up after your dog. These include areas such as the NC Arboretum, where pets must be kept on a leash, and hiking trails belonging to land reserves. Whether at camp or on the trails, the reactions of your visiting companions will be an important factor in determining whether dogs continue to be welcome in the developed recreational areas of the national forest. Most complaints about dogs are related to dog noise or feces.
To avoid discomfort for other forest visitors, consider these suggestions: Related: Can dogs be off-leash in the Bent Creek Experimental Forest? Autumn is the perfect time for a pet-friendly road trip for fantastic off-leash hikes! We hope you and your dog have a great time. Waggin` Trails! Large national parks that have large backcountry areas such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and the Rocky Mountains generally do not allow dogs on hiking trails. According to Sgt. Shawn Martin of the Wildlife Commission, hunting dogs can be kept on a leash during hunting season that allows hunting with dogs, such as bear season, but be kept on a leash between April 1 and August 15. All Conservating Carolina trails, including the Bearwallow Mountain and Wildcat Rock trails at Hickory Nut Gorge, require dogs to be kept on a leash, said Peter Barr, trail director for the Land Trust. “You must also be on a leash in any county that has a leash law or where state law would require dogs to be kept on a leash. Dogs should be kept on a leash as a courtesy to other visitors in areas where you are likely to meet other people. “The different objectives of the agencies lead to the policies they put in place. For example, the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service tend to be very restrictive towards pets, limiting them mostly to developed areas.
While the National Forest Service and the Office of Land Management tend to balance their recovery and conservation goals and take a much more animal-friendly view. In general, pets are welcome on all trails in the national forests and on BLM lands, and many allow off-leash hiking. While many national forests and BLM countries have areas where hiking is allowed off-leash, ask for and follow the rules of each location. Keep pets on a leash in developed areas and campgrounds, and always collect and pack your dog`s feces. Also, keep your pets on a leash safely where predators (such as bears) are present and during hunting season. If you are on the trails, be sure to keep your dog on a leash when approaching other hikers, horses and pack animals. Horses and beasts of burden can frighten a curious or boisterous dog and injure the rider. Hikers may not like meeting your dog on a narrow, steep trail. Dogs are welcome on most trails managed by BLM. Although leashes are not required for all exams, you should keep your dog close to you and under control when passing children, horses or other dogs. Please check the trail website or call your local BLM office for line policy. Hiking with pets in national parks Some national parks welcome pets on hiking trails.
Before you go, get some tips for hiking with pets in the parks. “It`s basically known as a closed season because (having an off-leash dog) is not allowed during that time on North Carolina playgrounds,” Martin said. It is a national park that stretches 469 miles from Virginia to Cherokee at the entrance to the Great Smokies. The boardwalk has about 370 miles of hiking trails, but they often overlap or are close to Forest Service lands. Except in designated areas, all dogs, cats and other pets must be kept on a leash and under the control of the owner or another person, NC spokeswoman Beth Romer said.
