There is a lot for you and your pooch to enjoy as you explore the rugged beauty of Acadia National Park. But be sensible, as the rough terrain can put your pet at risk if you don’t take care. For that reason, the park has very specific regulations and recommendations about which areas of the park are and aren’t pet-friendly.

First off, no matter where you are in the park, your pet should be on a 6-foot leash. Pets ARE permitted in the following areas: on the hiking trails (except as noted below) and carriage roads; in the Blackwoods, Schoodic, and Seawall Campgrounds; on the Isle of Haut, for day hiking only; and on Sand Beach and the beach at Echo Lake from September 16 through May 14.

Pets are NOT permitted in: public buildings, ranger-led programs, the Wild Gardens of Acadia at Sieur de Monts, Duck Harbor Campground on Isle au Haut; and on the following park trails (because they are very steep and require use of iron rungs and ladders): Precipice, Beehive, Ladder Trail to Dorr Mountain, Beech Cliffs Trail, Perpendicular Trail (Mansel Mountain), and Jordan Cliffs Trail between Penobscot East Trail and the carriage road.

The following trails not recommended for pets because they are steep or over rough/difficult terrain: Acadia Mountain, Flying Mountain, Giant Slide, Cadillac Mountain (west face), Norembega Goat Trail, Bubble and Jordan Ponds Path (between the carriage road and The Featherbed pond), Bubbles-Pemetic Trail, Penobscot Mountain (Spring) Trail, Upper Beachcroft Trail, and Upper Gorge Trail.

Wintertime in Acadia
You can enjoy Acadia year round with your pet. It’s a spectacular location for you and your pooch(es) to go dog sledding or skijoring. With the exception of the park’s carriage roads, the use of dog sleds and dog carts and skijoring with dogs are permitted on all closed motor roads and fire roads under the following conditions:

*Sleds may be pulled by no more than four dogs, with a combined tow- and tugline of not more than twelve feet. Sleds must be equipped with a braking system and, in winter, with one snow hook.

*Skijorers must utilize a commercially manufactured skijor belt with quick release and tugline. The tugline should be equipped with a built-in shock cord and may not exceed a combined length of ten feet. Skijorers may use up to two dogs, which must be harnessed with either an “X” or “H” harness. A simple dog collar is not considered a harness.

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