Do you love visiting new places and making memories with your dog? Well, there is a program that rewards you for responsible recreation with your dog at a park. The B.A.R.K. Ranger Program is the perfect opportunity for you and your furry friend to explore a Virginia State Park, mainly Twin Lakes or Natural Tunnel.

While only two Virginia State Parks offer the program now, once your dog completes the requirements, they can hike at any park location and serve as a model canine for how others are to behave in the parks.

I took my dog Bruno to Twin Lakes at the end of October for the self-guided program, and we really enjoyed our visit and the achievement of completing the program. Bruno was only 6 months old on our visit and he was excited at all the new sights and smells. It was important to me to keep him from getting overstimulated so with the help of some treats, we were able to maintain focus on the trail and enjoy the scenery during our hike on the Goodwin Lake Trail.

You will see that Bruno is wearing his fancy harness because before we ventured to the park, he graduated from his puppy training class that morning, and getting two achievements in one day with my pupper was truly amazing.

The program is free, fascinating and fundamental for some quality bonding time outdoors with your dog.

Program background

The B.A.R.K. Ranger program was introduced by the National Park Service in 2015 to raise awareness about responsible recreation with your dog while limiting the dog’s impact on the environment. It was also designed to promote safe and healthy places for canines on the trails, and just like hikers who follow the seven principles of leave no trace, dog owners are expected to do the same.

The B.A.R.K. Ranger program was introduced at Twin Lakes to increase awareness of the impact that dogs may have on the park’s ecosystem and wildlife, as well as the safety and enjoyment of all park visitors. The park wanted to address dog-related issues, such as pet waste, disturbing wildlife and off-leash pets, and this program was the perfect solution.

"The biggest push for the program to be available was when multiple park visitors left comments and verbalized about how State Parks don't offer B.A.R.K Ranger programming like the National Parks do, but we sell B.A.R.K. Ranger bandanas for dogs," said Twin Lakes Chief Ranger of Visitor Experience Brianna Davis. "We offer a mix of ranger-led and self-guided B.A.R.K. Rangers programs to the public, and there are still a couple left this year.”

Bringing your furry friend to Twin Lakes offers quality time and bonding in the great outdoors. Overall, bringing dogs to parks provides benefits to both dogs and their owners, fostering physical and mental health while encouraging responsible and enjoyable outdoor experiences.

What does B.A.R.K. stand for?

Each letter represents a different principal to follow when visiting the parks with your dog.

B.A.R.K. is an acronym for:

• Bag your pet’s waste
  • Be sure to carry some waste pickup bags with you on your hike, or check the trailhead or visitor center to see if any are available. It is also encouraged to always bring water and a bowl for your pet to stay hydrated.
• Always keep your pet on a leash
  • A leash no longer than 6ft is required for your dog when on park property. This will help avoid any issue with your dog getting loose and/or lost in the wilderness.
• Respect wildlife
  • Keeping your dog on a leash will help prevent them from chasing any wildlife or disrupting their natural habitats. Never feed the wildlife and only observe by looking and not touching.
• Know where you can go
  • Keep on the designated trails, and don't venture off. This will prevent you and your dog from getting lost or entering dangerous or private property. Dogs (aside from service dogs) are not allowed in public facilities such as visitor centers, restrooms, park offices, public swimming areas and yurts. Please note that there are nightly fees for dogs that stay in the cabins, but dogs are allowed on overnight stays.

Twin Lakes State Park offers a multitude of open spaces and trails that allow dogs to get much-needed exercise. Regular activity is important for a dog's health, helping them to maintain their weight, build muscle and reduce stress. Twin Lakes also offers a rich sensory environment with new sights, smells, and sounds, which can provide dogs with mental stimulation that helps keep them engaged and reduce boredom.

How to participate

The B.A.R.K. principals educate dog owners on responsible behaviors with their dogs, and in return, you are rewarded.  Each reward varies by park location. Twin Lakes provides a B.A.R.K. Rangers bandana when you and your dog complete the program.

At Twin Lakes, participants must pick up a brochure from the Discovery Center, and then you must complete the activities listed inside with their dog and take photos along the way. To receive your perks for completing the B.A.R.K. Ranger program, you must show a park ranger the photos that you have taken.

New B.A.R.K. Ranger Bruno

After strolling along the Goodwin Lake Trail and taking several photos of our journey, including the colorful foliage, we ventured to the Discovery Center to let them know we completed the program. I signed, handed in the brochure, and then was given a cool tie-dye B.A.R.K. Rangers bandana for Bruno. After several attempts and no success to put it on him for a quick walk back to the vehicle, I snapped a quick phone photo when we got inside the Jeep just before he napped on the way home. I keep the bandana in the car so he can proudly wear it again on future park adventures.

Twin Lakes was such a fun place to experience with my dog, and it is always exciting to take him to new places because you never know what we'll see or how he'll react. This program provided another way to connect with my dog while enjoying nature at the park. We will certainly continue to travel to parks and proudly show off our B.A.R.K. Rangers bandana. While I spend a lot of time exploring Virginia State Parks, hiking at the park is better with my dog by my side.

Plan your park visit

The B.A.R.K. Ranger program will be offered twice a month at Twin Lakes State Park as a self-guided activity and once a month as a guided hike with a ranger. During the guided hike, park guests will explore responsible practices while enjoying the outdoor areas with their furry companions.

Natural Tunnel State Park offers the self-guided B.A.R.K. Ranger program year-round, and all you have to do is stop by the main office or camp store to pick up a copy of the brochure. You get a unique B.A.R.K. Ranger ID card when you complete the program.

"We have seen good participation in our self-guided B.A.R.K. program, particularly in the last few months," explained Natural Tunnel Chief of Ranger Experience Ethan Howes. "In October, ten dogs joined the Natural Tunnel B.A.R.K. Ranger ranks. I pursued the idea of the program after seeing a couple of dog tags from other states at a conference. I like how the program focuses on educating guests on ways to recreate with their pets at the park safely and offers a cool reward. I think it complements our Jr. Ranger and Jr. Adventure programs very well. The whole family is able to work together and become good stewards of the park, create fun memories and have something to show off."

Check the Twin Lakes and Natural Tunnel event page for the ranger-led and self-guided program dates.

I hope you enjoy the trails with your dogs, and be sure to recreate responsibly.