We all love our furry friends, but irresponsible pet owners can damage the natural environment and ruin visitor experiences in our public lands. In fact, many public lands have gone the route of prohibiting pets on most trails altogether. The B.A.R.K. Ranger program was pioneered by the National Park Service and brought to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, with financial and programming support provided by Friends of Red Rock Canyon, to foster responsible outdoor recreation with pets through public education and buy-in.
The core principles of the B.A.R.K. Ranger program are:
Bag and throw away your pet’s waste,
Always leash your pet (no longer than 6 ft),
Respect wildlife and other visitors, and
Know where you can go (“B.A.R.K.”).
These principles are designed to reduce potential harm to the ecosystem, to wildlife, to public lands visitors, and to the pets themselves. Then, they are paired with fun, interactive programs like certificates, badges, and social activities to cultivate interest beyond typical program attendees. By engaging with our community to support these principles, we can keep Red Rock Canyon open to pets in a way that does not harm the resources and recreational appeal for which the conservation area was established.
Check out our events page for upcoming Desert Wilderness Dog First Aid training sessions and pet-friendly hikes.
