Thing to Do

C&O Canal B.A.R.K. Ranger

B.A.R.K. Ranger Kiri
Become an official B.A.R.K. Ranger at C&O Canal!

National Park Service/N. Talley

Become a B.A.R.K. Ranger

Stop by any park visitor center to participate in scheduled B.A.R.K. Ranger programs or join us on one of our ranger-guided ‘Paws in the Park’ dog walks. Learn about the principles of B.A.R.K., take the pledge, and receive an official C&O Canal B.A.R.K. ranger tag! Visit the events calendar for information about upcoming programs. Once an official B.A.R.K. Ranger, pets and their people can help demonstrate proper pet behavior and etiquette for visiting public lands.

The Rules of B.A.R.K.

Official B.A.R.K. Rangers help to protect the park's resources, visitors, and other pets by following the rules of B.A.R.K.:

Bag your pet's poop

  • Properly bag and dispose of your pet's waste. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal is a trash free park and garbage cans are not available. Pet owners should plan ahead to clean up and remove their trash.
  • Leaving bagged waste on the trail is littering.
  • Pet waste left on the ground makes a mess for others and harms water quality in the park.

Always keep your pet on a leash

  • Pets must be restrained on a controlled lead no longer than 6 feet.
  • GPS pet trackers and remote leashes are not controlled leads.
  • Keeping pets on a leash protects people, plants, wildlife, and your pet.

Respect wildlife

  • Keep your pet at a respectful distance from any wildlife or other animals you encounter.
  • Off-leash pets may spook horses or mules on the towpath of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.
  • Off-leash pets can injure and alter behavior of wildlife in the parks.

Know where you can go

  • Pets are not allowed on the Billy Goat Trail section A, or on the boardwalk to the Great Falls Overlook.
  • Pets are not permitted inside buildings and areas designated by the Superintendent’s Compendium.
  • Stay on marked trails. Going off trail can damage sensitive plants and cause erosion. Pets are more likely to pick up ticks when off trail.
Details
Duration
5-15 Minutes
Activity
Hands-On
Pets Allowed
Yes
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

The B.A.R.K. Ranger program is available at the following visitor centers at C&O Canal National Historical Park:

Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility Information
Service animals are welcome to participate in the B.A.R.K. Ranger program. Service animals are permitted inside park buildings, including visitor centers. 

Visitor centers and walking trails to visitor center are ADA accessible.

Tags

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Last updated: July 21, 2024