Visiting With Your Pets

The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation recognizes that your pet is an important part of your recreation experience. Many of our parks allow pets year round; however, you should become familiar with our rules.
  • All animals must be on a standard or retractable leash not greater than 6 feet in length.
  • Animal owners shall clean up any waste eliminated by their animals and place it in a trash can or remove it off-site.
  • Animals must not be left unattended at any time, including at campsite, or in vehicle or camper.
Pets Are Prohibited Year-Round at:
  • Monadnock State Park
  • North Hampton State Beach
  • Odiorne Point State Park
  • Rhododendron State Park, except the parking area and Little Monadnock Mountain Trail
  • Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion State Historic Site

Pets are Prohibited Seasonally at:
  • Beaches and designated swim areas May 1- September 30
  • Picnic Areas, pavilions and group use areas May 1- September 30
  • Pawtuckaway State Park, beaches, designated swim areas, picnic areas, pavilions, group use areas and campground, May 1- September 30
  • Ellacoya State Park, May 1 – October 31
  • White Lake State Park, May 1 – October 31

Parks with Pet Restrictions:
  • Crawford Notch State Park, permitted on hiking trails and designated dog walk area only
  • Franconia Notch State Park, permitted on hiking trails and designated dog walk area only
  • Mount Washington State Park, permitted on hiking trails and designated dog walk area only
  • Pawtuckaway State Park, permitted on hiking trails through Reservation Road and Round Pond Road only
  • Mount Sunapee State Park, prohibited during the annual arts and crafts festival

7301.08 Animals
(a) For the purpose of this section, “animal” means any domestic animal kept for pleasure, comfort or both rather than utility, including but not limited to dogs and cats, and animals traditionally associated with agriculture such as cattle, sheep, goats llamas and alpacas, or swine, and wildlife raised in captivity, but excluding equines and animals used for utility in RES 7301.09

For complete listing of all the rules for pets click here.