Open Western country

Dog-friendly BLM national monuments

The Bureau of Land Management runs much of the open West, and like the national forests, it is mostly dog-friendly. Its national monuments and conservation areas are some of the best dog country there is.

Every unit below welcomes leashed dogs, checked against the BLM's own pages. Expect red rock, desert, and canyon country, often with hardly another soul around.

A 6-foot leash is required in developed areas, and out on the open land your dog needs to be under control. Carry more water than you think you need.

42 places, each verified and linked
AZDog-friendly

Agua Fria National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
NVDog-friendly

Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
AZDog-friendly

Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
NVDog-friendly

Basin and Range National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
UTDog-friendly

Bears Ears National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
UTDog-friendly

Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
CADog-friendly

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
NVDog-friendly

Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
CODog-friendly

Browns Canyon National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
CADog-friendly

California Coastal National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
CODog-friendly

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
ORDog-friendly

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
CADog-friendly

Chuckwalla National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
CODog-friendly

Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
NMDog-friendly

El Malpais National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
CADog-friendly

Fort Ord National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
NMDog-friendly

Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
AZDog-friendly

Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
NVDog-friendly

Gold Butte National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
AZDog-friendly

Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
UTDog-friendly

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
CODog-friendly

Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
AZDog-friendly

Ironwood Forest National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
UTDog-friendly

Jurassic National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
CADog-friendly

King Range National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
AZDog-friendly

Las Cienegas National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
CODog-friendly

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
CADog-friendly

Mojave Trails National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
IDDog-friendly

Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
NMDog-friendly

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
MTDog-friendly

Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
NMDog-friendly

Prehistoric Trackways National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
UTDog-friendly

Red Cliffs National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
NVDog-friendly

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
NMDog-friendly

Rio Grande del Norte National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
WADog-friendly

San Juan Islands National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
AZDog-friendly

San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
CADog-friendly

Sand to Snow National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
NVDog-friendly

Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Conservation Area
AZDog-friendly

Sonoran Desert National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
MTDog-friendly

Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument
AZDog-friendly

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
National Monument

BLM land is where the West opens up for a dog. Pair a monument with a nearby national forest and you could hike for a week.

Common questions

Do you need a leash on BLM land?

A 6-foot leash is required in developed areas like campgrounds and trailheads. On the open backcountry there is often no leash law, but your dog must stay under control, and local offices can set stricter rules.