Exploring with your furry friend makes for a paw-sitively memorable experience. At Under Canvas, we know pets are part of the family and make the best adventure partners. For that reason, all of our locations are dog-friendly, including Under Canvas Yellowstone. There are many ways to explore Yellowstone and the towns of West Yellowstone and Big Sky with your furry friend. Here are our top 5 things to do around Yellowstone with dogs.
Hit the Trails
Stretch your legs and discover new sniffs along the 2.5-mile Refuge Point Loop Trail with spectacular views of Earthquake (Quake) Lake near West Yellowstone. This moderate hike within the Custer-Gallatin National Forest promises views of Quake Lake formed by a massive 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 1959. Along this scenic trail, you will spot abundant wildflowers in spring and summer, and wildlife including bighorn sheep, antelope, bison, moose, and eagles soaring overhead.
For a longer hike, consider trekking the 11.3-mile Coffin Lakes Trail in Custer-Gallatin National Forest. This moderate out-and-back trail features creeks, waterfalls, and a lake where your pup can take a dip. Wherever you hike around Yellowstone, it’s important to be prepared for encounters with free-roaming wildlife. Keeping your dog leashed will ensure their safety should they decide to chase or interact with other animals which could result in getting lost or an injury. While bear interactions are not common, bear spray on hand and placing bear bells on your dog’s collar is recommended to help alert wildlife to your presence so they keep their distance from you.
Treat Yourselves to Views of Old Faithful
Enjoy Yellowstone’s premiere attraction from a designated dog area just 200-feet from the famous geyser. While dogs are not allowed on the boardwalks or trails for safety reasons (hydrothermal features are near boiling point), the geyser puts on a spectacular show sending plumes of water as much as 184-feet in the air, so you’ll still get the full experience with your pooch.
Explore West Yellowstone
Take a stroll down West Yellowstone’s streets lined with specialty shops for some window shopping. Along the way, you’ll discover the town of West Yellowstone has plenty of dog-friendly outdoor dining options where you can indulge in delicious rocky mountain dishes like a bison burger or slice of huckleberry pie. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a stop at The City Creamery for a hand-crafted, small-batch ice cream cone. Bone appetit!
Spend a Day at the Lake
For a tail-wagging good time just 30-minutes from Under Canvas Yellowstone, you and your pup can explore Henry’s Lake or Hebgen Lake. If your dog is experienced at stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), spend the day doggy-paddling together out on the water. Watercraft rentals are available at the Kirkwood Marina on the north shore of Hebgen Lake.
Visit Big Sky and Beehive Basin Brewery
Just one hour from camp, plenty of dog-friendly hiking awaits. Beehive Basin Trail is one of our favorites for its breathtaking views of Big Sky. It’s even ranked one of the top ten hikes in the world! The 6.6-mile national forest hiking trail winds through open meadows covered in wildflowers and has an elevation gain of 1,500-feet offering views of Lone Peak–the most iconic peak in all of Big Sky. Halfway through the hike, you will enter Beehive Basin, a glacier-carved valley with a turquoise lake and a view of the granite peaks. Make sure to “paws” for a picture of you and your pup with this spectacular scenery as your backdrop.
After a day of hiking, sit and stay a while at the Beehive Basin Brewery in the town center. Grab a refreshing hand-crafted brew and a fresh bowl of water for your pup. Leashed dogs are welcome inside the microbrewery taproom where you can sip a pint while gazing at mountain vistas or watch the brewers at work through the viewing window.
There is much to see and do with your dog in the Yellowstone area. Even though dogs are restricted from undeveloped areas within Yellowstone National Park, it is still possible to give them an adventure of a doggy lifetime. Take in the sights with a cruise around one of the park’s many scenic routes to spot wildlife and pull over to take pictures. Remember, pets are also allowed in developed areas, within 100-feet of roads, and in parking lots. If you’re looking to explore more hiking trails, thermal areas, or backcountry within the park, there are doggy daycare options in the surrounding area where your pup can play while you explore the Yellowstone wilderness. At the end of the day, your upscale, safari-inspired accommodations await you and your precious pup at Under Canvas Yellowstone.