NO POOCHES IN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

In Grand Teton National Park, dogs are not allowed on trails or pathways, inside visitor centers, or in park waters. Service animals, defined as those “used for the sole purpose of aiding a person with a disability and clearly marked as a working animal,” are permitted. Dogs providing comfort or emotional support to their handlers do not qualify. “We recognize and appreciate that dogs and their owners share a special bond,” says CJ Adams, Grand Teton National Park’s public affairs specialist. “However, the park is a designated natural area, and its purpose is to preserve and protect the park’s natural conditions, scenic beauty, and wildlife.” Pets have the potential to disturb wildlife—or become prey; yes, an eagle can carry off a small dog. There’s also the risk of a dog becoming lost in the park. “These regulations are enforced to protect you, your dog, park resources, and other visitors,” Adams says.

While it might be tempting to leave your dog in the car while you take a hike in the park, please don’t. Mountain temperatures can feel deceivingly mild to pet owners. Every summer, a handful of dogs left in cars parked in the valley die from heatstroke. On days you plan to visit the park, “make plans with a dog sitter or book a day of play and overnight boarding with Dog Jax or Homestead Hounds,” says Jess Farr, program director at PAWS of Jackson Hole.

At the Trail Creek Ranch Trailhead at the base of Teton Pass, the History Trail was a wagon trail, but today is a 2.5-mile hiking trail and horseback riding trail that climbs about 2,000 feet to the top of the pass.