This is article is being written in a five part series about our trip to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. This article is Part Three in a five part series.
We had always heard so many great things about Bryce National Park. We decided that we didn’t want to waste any more time talking about going, it was time to plan. We knew that our dog would be traveling with us, and that when you travel with your dog, planning is one of the most important steps you should take in helping to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and successful trip.
As we began our research, we found out that even though Bryce tends to be one of Utah’s cooler, in temperature, national parks, the weather can still be very hot in the summer months. We knew that gentle hikes and walking would be part of our trip. Knowing that overheating can be a real danger for dogs, we decided that summer would not be an option and that the fall would be the perfect time to make our journey. We started our planning. Looking at the official site for Bryce National Park was one of the first things we did. We were so excited when we found that they had a B.A.R. K Ranger program. I remembered what fun it was to become a Jr. Ranger when I visited national parks as a kid and thought that this would be a lot of fun to check into. When we got to Bryce Canyon National Park, we headed to the visitor center where we talked to a ranger about the program. I must add that all of the rangers that we spoke with on our trip were extremely friendly and helpful, and the ranger that we spoke to about the B.A.R.K. program went above and beyond to help us. After completing the activities that we needed to do with our dog, the ranger happily did a little ceremony to make our dog an official B.A.R.K. Ranger!!! Our dog was thrilled that our ceremony included a free doggy treat from the ranger. We were given a card that explained the program and also had a place for our dog’s name to be added to make it all official. After the ceremony, we were able to go into the gift shop to buy her a patch to start her collection of B.A.R.K. Ranger patches. We have since started a new goal to see how many national parks we can visit where she can become a B.A.R.K. Ranger.
Here is what we know about the program:
*We found out that not all national parks have the program, and some national parks are still in the beginning stages of launching it. So, if this is something that is important for you to do with your dog, make sure to check with the national park you are planning on visiting, before you go, to make sure their program is up and running.
*The B.A.R.K. program was set up to help people who bring their dogs to a national park understand the importance of preserving the delicate ecosystems that exist in our national parks and to also protect the parks for future generations.
*When a dog and its owner seek to be part of the B.A.R.K. Ranger program they are pledging to: follow that particular park’s guidelines on which areas are designated as pet friendly; make sure to clean up their pet’s waste; and to be good advocates for pet policies.
*B.A.R.K. stands for: Bag your dog’s waste; Always leash your pet; Respect wildlife; Know where you can go. You will not get any special privileges, but you will be an example to others on how to act and what to do when bringing your dog with you to a national park.
I hope that you have the opportunity to have as much fun as we did participating in the B.A.R.K. Ranger national park program. When your dog becomes a B.A.R.K. Ranger, you and your dog can feel proud that you are making a positive difference while visiting the park.
Click on this B.A.R.K. Ranger link for more information.
(Don’t forget to read the other articles in this five part series to help simplify your trip to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks.)
