{"id":15230,"date":"2017-04-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-04-27T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=15230"},"modified":"2023-06-08T14:44:51","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T21:44:51","slug":"plan-dog-friendly-backpacking-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/plan-dog-friendly-backpacking-trip","title":{"rendered":"How to Plan a Dog-Friendly Backpacking Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>Your guide for taking dogs into the wilderness<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last summer, my partner and I went backpacking on trails in national parks where dogs weren\u2019t allowed. The entire trip, we missed them, so we made a pact to bring them on the next long trip. Maybe we wouldn\u2019t be able to see and do everything on our bucket list, but at least our adventure dogs would be along for the ride.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now we\u2019re back from a three-week road trip where we backpacked with our dogs most of the time, and we learned a lot from our experiences. Taking your dogs with you on any long adventure is going to present challenges. Here’s what we learned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start \u2018Em Now<\/h3>\n

The good news? The future is on your side. Whether you\u2019ve got a pup or an older dog, the best thing you can do is to start working with them now. Get your dog used to being outdoors for long periods of time. Start off with some short hikes, car camping, and weekend trips. This way, they’ll get used to hanging out and sleeping close to strangers at campsites. Our dogs began their love for the outdoors right in our backyard, and we took them hiking and camping as puppies. At first, they were apprehensive around new sounds and people. But when it became a regular routine, they were able to relax and find their comfort zone away from home.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of Kathleen Morton<\/p><\/div>\n

Choose Trails Accordingly<\/h3>\n

We learned quickly that dogs aren\u2019t allowed on most U.S. national park backpacking trails. However, they are allowed in the backcountry in Canada\u2019s national parks. For us, that made it a fairly easy decision. We took our dogs to Banff<\/a> and Jasper National Parks for extended trips. We also chose to do things when we weren\u2019t backpacking that were dog-friendly. We ate at restaurants that had outdoor seating and allowed dogs on the patio. We took turns showering and packing our stuff up at campsites so that one of us was always watching the pups. Deciding what we wanted to do became a lot less difficult when we knew we had to plan around them.<\/p>\n

Prefer to stay local? Dogs might not be allowed on national parks\u2019 backpacking trails in the U.S., but they are allowed in most national forests<\/a>. A lot of national parks have national forest surrounding them, and they’re far less populated. Do some research and pick hikes close to where you would be going if you didn\u2019t have dogs with you. A lot of times these hikes provide similar views. Plus, fewer people means fewer distractions for your dogs and a more remote experience for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of Kathleen Morton<\/p><\/div>\n

Pack Extra Food and Water<\/h3>\n

One of the biggest mistakes we’ve made while backpacking was not packing extra food. And I\u2019m not talking about food for ourselves. If you discover an awesome area in a national forest, you can choose to stay longer if you\u2019d like. But having dogs around means factoring in their needs, too. Make sure to pack a little extra kibble (one to two days’ worth per pup). Yes, this means adding extra pounds, but if your dogs are in good shape, you can have them carry some of their own food. Looking to slash more weight? Hunt for trails that cross rivers and streams\u2014and campsites near lakes\u2014so you don’t have to carry as much water for your furry friends.<\/p>\n

Quick-Hit Tips<\/h2>\n