Texas State Parks That Allow Dogs
- Dogs love a walk in the park.jogger with dog image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
Dogs are allowed in Texas State Parks, provided that owners comply with the following guidelines. Dogs must be secured by a leash no longer than six feet and must never be left unattended. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccinations. Dogs are not allowed inside any park buildings, with the exception of trained service dogs. Each park may have individual restrictions as well; so if you are planning on visiting a particular park, it's best to call ahead to ask about their specific rules on pets. - Inks Lake State Park is a 1,201-acre recreation area nine miles west of Burnet, Texas. This park is a good day-use area for dogs; but if you're planning an overnight stay, pets are welcome only in the non-primitive campsites. Leashed dogs are welcome on the seven and a half miles of trails. The lake has a refreshing swim area for your pet as well.
Inks Lake State Park
3630 Park Road 4 W.
Burnet, Texas 78611
512-793-2223
tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/inks/#fac - Approximately 30 miles southeast of Austin, Texas lies Bastrop State Park, a 6,000-acre recreation area. The park is home to Texas' famous "Lost Pines," an isolated woodland of loblolly pines separated by nearly 100 miles from the nearest pine grove to the east. There are over 12 miles of hiking trails, much of them strewn with pine needles, making a thick, lush carpet for your pet. Bastrop State Park has both primitive and non-primitive campsites for overnight stays with your pet, but the cabins and lodges are off-limits for pets.
Bastrop State Park
3005 Highway 21 E.
Bastrop, Texas 78602
512-321-2101
tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/bastrop/ - Palmetto State Park is located just over 60 miles east of San Antonio, Texas. This 263-acre park is named after the palmetto, a dwarf tropical plant that grows in the park's swamplands. There are three short hiking trails near the day-use parking area that, when combined, make an easy, one-hour hike for you and your pet. There are over 40 campsite facilities at Palmetto State Park. All of them have water available, and the campsites are pet-friendly.
Palmetto State Park
78 Park Road 11 S.
Gonzales, TX 78629
830-672-3266
tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/palmetto/ - For pet owners who like to be near the coast, there's Galveston Island State Park, 55 miles southeast of Houston, Texas. Galveston Island State Park offers access to the sandy shore of the Gulf coast, which is perfect for dogs and dog owners who like to play in the ocean waves. For a drier experience, the park also has several bayou trails further inland for easy hiking with no elevation gain. There are 66 pet-friendly campsites available, all with water, and most have electricity available as well.
Galveston Island State Park
14901 F.M. 3005
Galveston, Texas 77554
409-737-1222
tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/galveston/
