Chances are if you have googled “dog friendly Death Valley” you’ll find numerous websites that tell you this park is indeed dog-friendly. To be honest, we didn’t find this national park to be that dog-friendly BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time with your dog in Death Valley National Park. Although there are many limitations to visiting with your cute pup, I am sharing some of our favorite dog friendly Death Valley spots. And you’ll want to stick around for some dog-friendly hidden gems.
DOG POLICIES INSIDE DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK: Make sure your dog is kept on a 6 foot leash, do not leave your dog in the car, dogs are only permitted on paved and dirt roads, not allowed on any trails, dogs are allowed at campgrounds.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring is the most popular time to visit Death Valley. Between mid-March to late April you can expect to see large crowds enter the park in hopes of catching wildflowers in bloom. If you want to avoid the crowds I would recommend visiting between October – February. We visited Death Valley in mid-January and were met with smaller crowds, but keep in mind you run the risk of road closures in certain parts of the park due to colder weather.
WHAT TO BRING: Make sure you pack enough water for you and your dog to stay hydrated, even in the cooler months and make sure you have plenty of snacks on hand. Although there are a handful of spots in the park you can purchase food, they are few and far between.
IS THE DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTER DOG FRIENDLY? Sadly, the national park visitor center is not dog friendly. When we did stop here, my husband and I took turns using the bathroom while the other walked our dog around the visitor center.
ANY DOG FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN DEATH VALLEY? You will only find one dog-friendly restaurant within 20 miles of Death Valley Junction. Jack’s Cafe is located in Amargosa Valley and has a dog-friendly patio.
I am just over here trying to make your dog-friendly travel dreams come true, so let’s talk about accommodations. Because Death Valley is a national park, most of the hotels you find near the park will not be dog-friendly BUT I have outlined some great options below.
Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel: You can find this hotel inside Death Valley National Park. All dogs must be kept on a leash that does not exceed six feet. You cannot leave your dog in your room unattended. No known pet fee. You can read more about their pet policy here.
We stayed in Las Vegas, because we found more affordable hotels rates. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Las Vegas Northwest. This is a newer hotel that was completed in 2021. We found our room to be comfortable and dog-friendly! Breakfast was included which is always a plus.
We wanted to make sure our dog enjoyed Death Valley as much as we did, but dogs are only permitted on paved and dirt roads so we knew our options were limited. And unfortunately, you will not find any dog-friendly hikes here. But here is what you can find.
One of the most iconic spots in the park can be considered more dog-friendly. To get to Artists Palette you’ll take a 9 mile scenic loop drive through colorful hills. You can stop along the way and get out with your dog to do a little exploring.
Pets are welcome wherever a car can go, but unfortunately the little trail found at Artists Palette overlook is not dog-friendly. The dirt parking lot here is quite large and provides plenty of room to take your pup on a sweet little stroll.
Perhaps one of the more underrated spots in the park and located less than 10 miles from Badwater Basin. We were so surprised we had this place all to ourselves for nearly 30 minutes. Fun fact: this area of the park received its name after a 1934 NPS Death Valley guidebook said, “only the devil could play golf” here given the harsh landscape.
You can easily miss the sign to Devils Golf Course, and Google Maps did not direct us to the right spot so we had to do a little backtracking. Here is what you need to know: When driving on Badwater Road you want to keep your eyes peeled for Salt Pool Road. This will be on your left hand side if you are heading here from Badwater Basin. The road is unpaved for 1 mile and will lead you to Devils Golf Course.
Most dog friendly Death Valley travel guides you find will tell you this spot is dog friendly, but after doing some extensive research I found that sadly, Zabriskie Point is not dog-friendly. According to the official Death Valley National Park website it says, “Pets are not permitted on trails (this includes paved trails such as Zabriskie Point…).” We did see a couple of dogs here though, so you may be able to get away with it.
This was our last stop of the day before the sun set, and we almost skipped it but I am glad we ended our trip here. Twenty Mule Team Canyon consists of impressive badlands and some pretty colorful hills although not as colorful as those found at Artists Palette.
This happens to be one of the more dog-friendly areas of Death Valley National Park where you can actually give your dog a proper walk here! The road that leads here is unpaved, but it’s an easy and scenic 4 miles. And chances are you’ll get this place to yourself since many people choose to skip this spot.
Skipping the more popular spots of Death Valley to show you some hidden gems that often go overlooked and are dog-friendly. The best way to begin this is by sharing one of our favorite places in Death Valley.
It is a mystery to me why more people don’t visit this spot. It is a bit of a drive though and much further than other more popular spots in Death Valley National Park, but it’s SO worth it! Wildrose Charcoal Kilns can be found about an hour south of the Mesquite Sand Dunes on Emigrant Canyon Road, 28 miles from HWY 190.
The road to get here can be challenging. We visited in January and we were not expecting to walk into a winter wonderland. But the landscape in this part of the park will pleasantly surprise you!
A massive 600 foot volcanic crater that can be seen just a short distance from your car. A moderate trail can be found here that goes around the crater. INSIDER TIP: If you only have one day in the park I would not recommend making the trek here, because it’s a bit of a drive.
I have to come clean and say this spot is technically not apart of Death Valley National Park, BUT that means you and your dog have the freedom to explore this desert town. Some peculiar art installations can be found here like a house made entirely of glass bottles!
Death Valley is considered one of the biggest national parks in the US with 3.2 million acres filled with twisted slot canyons, majestic sand dunes rocky peaks and the most incredible salt flats! So you will find there is no shortage of scenic drives that you can enjoy with your cute pup.
We love looking for any excuse to take our dog with us on our road trips, but we found Death Valley National Park to have SO many limitations on where we could take our dog and a majority of the “pet-friendly” spots they listed were scenic drives. My husband and I ultimately took turns staying with our dog while the other explored the iconic spots found here like Badwater Basin, Golden Canyon, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, etc.
In conclusion, if you are visiting Death Valley for the first time and would like to explore the more popular spots and squeeze in some hiking bringing your dog along may not be the best idea. Then again, if you aren’t traveling here alone and don’t mind taking turns staying back this is a good option.
I hope this dog friendly Death Valley guide helps you decide if you want to bring your dog along! And if you’re looking for a beginners guide to Death Valley check out my travel guide here.
Ireland in December is a beautiful blend of rolling green hills and charming towns, but…
Of course, Italy is a hotspot all year round, but here’s the deal...most tourists tend…
Europe may be famous for its enchanting Christmas Markets, but many tend to overlook little…
I look forward to the magical transformation that comes as summer gracefully gives way to…
Who says Scotland in November isn't magical? They clearly haven't experienced the enchantment of shoulder…
Everyone knows how cute and colorful Portugal is, but I didn't know it was going…