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Seasonal Dog Leash Restrictions
Where Do Leash Requirements or Closures Apply?
The vast majority of the Deschutes National Forest accomodates off-leash opportunities for dogs. These opportunities are arailable in many beautiful and scenic areas of the forest.
Over 95% of the Deschutes National Forest trails are open to dogs off-leash in the summer and there are 1,200 miles of summer trails on the forest. However, 54 miles of trails, as displayed in the maps below do require dogs to be on-leash because of the intense recreational use of these trails receive and the potential for conflicts with other users.
In winter, dogs are allowed off-leash on 99% of national forest lands managed by the Deschutes National Forest.
Year-Round
Dogs or any domestic animal are not allowed on national forest lands within the Bend Municipal Watershed at any time in order to protect the quality of the City of Bend's municipal water supply.
Bend Municipal Watershed Area Closure Map
Summer
Please remember that in addition to the requirement for dogs to be on-leash in these areas during periods of the summer, all campgrounds and day-use areas require dogs to be on-leash unless they are exiting or entering the water.
Dogs need to be on-leash on trails in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area (Green Lakes, Moraine Lakes, South Sister, Soda Creek, Todd Lake and Crater Ditch trails) from July 15 to September 15.
Three Sisters Wilderness Trails Area Map
Dogs need to be on-leash on a portion of the Deschutes River Trail from May 15 to September 15, except when entering or exiting water sources to swim and play.
Deschutes River Trail Area Map
Winter
In winter (November 1 to May 1) dogs are allowed on all but 1% of the Deschutes National Forest. The area where dogs are not allowed is located north of the Cascade Lakes Highway and includes areas accessed by the Virginia-Meissner, Swampy Lakes, Vista Butte and Dutchman Sno-Parks. Dogs are allowed in the area, with a permit, for the purpose of skijoring or dog sledding.
