California State Parks
Dogs in Parks
Dogs in Parks
For the protection of our wildlife, natural resources and for the comfort and enjoyment of all our park visitors, please be aware of the following laws and rules:
Dogs must be on a maximum 6-foot leash at ALL times and physically under your control.
Vicious or unusually noisy dogs will not be allowed in the park.
Dogs must not be left unattended. Overnight campers must keep their dog in a tent or vehicle.
Do not take your dog (unless your dog is a service animal *) into buildings or undeveloped areas, or on trails, unless specifically designated as being open to dogs on leash. (In general, dogs are not allowed on trails, near rivers or creeks, in the open forest and meadows, or in the environmental campsites.)
Dogs are not permitted on most beaches. Before taking your dog to a state beach, check table below.
Remember to clean up after your dog.
Service animals* are allowed in areas open to the public; however, misrepresenting a dog as a service animal is considered a misdemeanor. (California Penal Code 365.7)
Proof of appropriate immunizations and valid licenses may be required for any animal brought onto state park property. All 58 California counties require dog licenses; contact your local jurisdiction for further details on obtaining a dog license. (CA Public Resources Code 5008.1 & CA Health & Safety Code 121690)
People with disabilities who bring service animals into California state parks and facilities will not be required to show proof of disability, nor are working service animals required to have special service animal licensing or wear special collars, harnesses, or jackets. Service animals are subject to the local dog licensing and registration requirements required of all dogs.
In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may ask only two specific questions:
Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability; and
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform
Service animals shall be under the control of the owner, and restrained or on a leash at all times with few exceptions.
Persons with service animals will not be asked to remove a service animal from the premises unless it is observed that:
The animal is out of control and the owner does not take effective action to control it; or
The animal is not housebroken
A person claiming to be training a service animal shall possess documentation that they are licensed/authorized to train service animals. The service animal-in-training must be leashed at all times and must be wearing some form of identification denoting that it is a service animal-in-training.
If you plan to visit a park unit with a miniature horse that has been trained as a service animal, please contact the park unit in advance so that staff may assess:
Whether the miniature horse is housebroken;
Whether the minature horse is under the owner's control;
Whether the park facility can accommodate the minature horse's type, size, and weight; and
Whether the minature horse's presence will compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the park facility
Service Animals
* A service animal is defined as “animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for persons who have qualifying disabilities under ADA. A service animal is any dog (or miniature horse) that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.” Visit Service Animals in State Parks webpage for more information.
ESAs
Provide comfort and companionship to people with disabilities, often through their calming presence. ESAs can also help with anxiety, depression, and certain phobias. However, ESAs don't have special training to perform tasks, and there are no defined expectations for their behavior. Public establishments can deny entry to ESAs, and their legal protection is limited to housing and air travel.
For more detailed information regarding a specific park’s rules about dogs, please check the table below.
In addition to reviewing this information, it’s always a good idea to call ahead to check with the state park you wish to visit.