Dog-Friendly Hikes Near Mount Rainier National Park

If you are planning a Mount Rainier trip with your dog, the single most important thing to know is this: dogs are not allowed on trails inside Mount Rainier National Park, with one narrow exception (the Pacific Crest Trail along the eastern boundary). That is not a reason to skip the area — it is a reason to reroute to the national-forest land that surrounds it.

Most of the best dog-friendly hiking near Rainier clusters along the Highway 410 / Chinook Pass corridor on the east side of the mountain, in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Here the rules are simple: dogs are welcome on the trails, on leash.

What to know before you go

• A pass is required. Trailheads here generally require a Northwest Forest Pass (or an America the Beautiful pass) for parking.
• Leash rules are real. The U.S. Forest Service requires dogs to be leashed on these trails — plan accordingly.
• Seasons matter. Chinook Pass (Highway 410) and many of the forest roads close with snow, typically from late fall through early summer. Most of these hikes are at their best July through October.
• Bring water. Several of these routes follow rivers and lakes, but do not assume water is safe or available at the trailhead.

The hikes below are verified, dog-friendly alternatives to the park — start there, and you will not have to choose between Rainier and your dog.