Are emotional support dogs allowed on trails in mt Rushmore?

The National Park Service states that service animals for registered disabled people are permitted in all areas of the park, which includes the trails.

There is a difference between service animals and emotional support animals. Service animals have to go through rigorous training that ESAs do not have to do. I am not surprised that they do not include ESAs as being allowed.

Emotional support dogs are considered to be the same as "pets." There's a big difference between a trained service animal and an emotional support dog (which anyone can get "certified" as an ESA from a number of shady online businesses providing arbitrary/purposeless and/or fraudulent "official" ESA certifications) People have trouble distinguishing between the two because it's more-or-less illegal to demand anyone to prove their ESA is a trained service dog, and there's a lot of businesses selling service dog vests to people who want to bring their pets everywhere.

According to the NPS, "...pets on a leash (no longer than six feet) are permitted only in the parking garages and the areas adjacent to them. " ESAs are pets, not service animals, so cannot leave the area of the parking garages.

Pets are not allowed

Emotional support dogs are technically not service dogs, even though most businesses choose not to differentiate because of fear of being sued. A "real" service dog has been trained to provide specific "tasks" for the needs of their person. Generally, a service dog must be able to provide at least three tasks.

No

Yes they are, they must be on a leash and you must pick up after them

As long as the dog as his designated harness on, yes

I was relieved and happy to see that emotional support dogs are not allowed. I completely understand the need for service animals but people bringing their pets everywhere is extremely rude to and difficult for those people and children with allergies.