Pets

 

One of the places dogs are allowed is along Mauna Loa Road (NPS Photo/J. Wei)

 

Planning to visit the park with your pet?

While the park has a limited number of places to bring your dog, there are still beautiful sections of the park you can explore together!

Here’s a list of some of the locations you may visit with your pet at the park:

• All parking areas and surrounding curbs (excluding Hilina Pali Road and Kulanaokuaiki Campground)
• On Crater Rim Drive in areas open to vehicles
• On Chain of Craters Road down to Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
• At Nāmakanipaio Campground
• On Mauna Loa Road, occasionally referred to as “The Strip Road”
• On Highway 11
• At Kīlauea Military Camp: on paved roads and parking areas; and at the picnic area, up to the park ball field gate, not including the ball field

Pets are prohibited in all of the undeveloped areas of the park. This includes all designated wilderness and all frontcountry and backcountry trails.

At the Kahuku Unit:

• In developed areas that include the open fields adjacent to the Visitor Contact Station and other park buildings, and the area that extends to the boundary of the forested areas up to, but not including Puʻu o Lokuana
• On Kahuku Road from Highway 11 to the cross fence gate, including the airstrip by the intersection of Puʻu o Lokuana
• Old Mamalahoa Highway spur road

For more information, see the Superintendent's Compendium

 

Become a Bark Ranger!

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park wants dogs and their humans to have a positive experience in the park, while keeping people, pets and wildlife safe through its new Bark Ranger program. The new self-guided program is as easy as BARK:

• Bag your dog’s waste and remove it.
• Always leash your dog. Keep your dog on a six-foot leash and under control at all times.
• Respect wildlife. The park is home to many native species, most notably the State Bird of Hawaiʻi, the nēnē.
• Know were you can go.

 

In order to get your pet certified as a Bark Ranger:

1. Take the BARK pledge.
2. Download and fill out the Bark Ranger certificate.
3. Bring your printed certificate to the park and get it stamped by a two-legged Park Ranger at Kīlauea Visitor Center.

Congrats! Your pup is now a doggone Bark Ranger! Bring your Bark Ranger certificate to the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store for Bark Ranger dog tags or a Bark Ranger bandana. All proceeds support Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.