How To Find Dog Friendly Hiking Trails

Written by Alexander in AUSTRALIA,BUSH,DESERT,MOUNTAIN,RECENT POSTS,SNOW

Finding hiking trails for you and your dog can be difficult and so I have outlined my steps on what I do to discover amazing places to go. 

  • Google search hiking trails in your area, with keywords
  • Google map searches
  • Search hashtags on Instagram
  • Call your park rangers
  • Call your local vet
  • Talk to people at your local dog park 
  • Look for hiking groups on meetup 
  • Look for sponsored dog events

Doing extensive research on the internet can be a frustrating experience if you don’t know where to look. I’m always doing some research on where our next hike will be and when you don’t have much luck at first looking on the internet. There are alternative ways to find out where your next adventure will be.

How to Find Dog Hiking Trails 

Google Search with Key Words

As you already know, the place to start is a google search, key terms like ‘Hiking trails around City Name’ Also add ‘Dog Hiking Trails around City Name.’ 

You might be lucky to find such trials are already listed on blog posts or hiking websites which have done all the hard work for you. Many hiking trails in the United states for example are well documented on the internet. 

A good website not only lists the hike name but also shows you the address, parking information, the trial head, features of the trail and the outline of the trail on a map.   

Once you have picked a trial do some more research to just check if it is ok to bring dogs. Just google ‘Trail Name dogs allowed’ and see what comes up. You may find the official park office or a social discussion website. Either way try and obtain as much information as you can. 

I have lived in many places around the world and some countries are more accepting of dogs then others. This can be down to cultural differences or environmental factors. There might be some restrictions such as an environmentally sensitive area, fox baiting or the trail could be listed as hard and contain ladders and ropes, which is not suitable for hikers with dogs. 

Doing some research first allows you to get an understanding of the doggie culture you are in. Also it’s good to be aware of the various dog rules and responsibilities your country holds. 

Do Google Map Searches

If you are out of luck from searching the web, try looking at your city map on google maps and look for the large green areas which will be either national parks, wilderness areas, or state parks. 

Switch on Satellite view and Map view back and forth to get an idea of what kind of park it is. Most of the time the title of the park will be shown on the map. 

Now that you know the name of the park, put the Name of Park into google to find the official website of the park. 

Once you open the website, do a CTRL F with the word ‘dog’ on the website to see if there is anything written about dogs allowed. 

Alternatively you could also call the park ranger to ask what trials are best and to find out the rules and regulations regarding bringing dogs to the park. 

If you use google ‘my maps’, start your own map and star or tag the trials that you find for next time. 

Search Hashtags on Instagram

Instagram and other social platforms are a great way to find out where people are going with their dogs. Hashtags like #citynamehiking #citynamehikingwithdogs #dogsdayoutcityname etc

Look for images with dogs in them. Alot of people will name the trials in a hashtag or in the location. Drop these locations or trial names into google search to find out where they went.

Call your Park Rangers 

Call local park rangers of parks that you found as mentioned above. They will have the latest information about the park which could be really specific to where you are going. This might include fox baiting, fallen trees blocking the road, bush fire threat level, icy conditions or wild animals to watch out for.

Talking to someone with local knowledge of the park is also important as they can tell you about the features of the trails, such as waterfalls, epic views, rock formations. 

Call your local vet

Calling your local vet in the area is also good because they might know where to take your dog hiking. Calling the vet may also inform you of possible problems in the areas that they are seeing from their clients. Such problems could be a stronger tick season, bacteria in the lakes, wild animals such as wild boars, coyotes, snakes. 

This would be a good time to check if you pup has all the latest vaccinations and preventative medication 

Talk to People at your Local Dog Park 

Another great place to find very useful information is at your local Dog Park. By talking with other dog owners, you will often discover areas and trials you haven’t even thought of. It’s also an opportunity to make friends and invite your dogs fellow pals on the hike with you. 

Doing such a hike with new people creates solid friendships because you are doing something active, challenging and there is a real sense of achievement at the end of it.  

Look for Hiking Groups on Meetup 

In my experience I have found that in areas where hiking Information is hard to find, there are stronger hiking community groups. Join groups on Meetup or start one yourself to attract like minded people. This is a great way to meet new friends. 

Look for Sponsored Dog Events

Ask at your local pet stores, as they may be aware of sponsored hiking events which can have many participants. I really look forward to our K9 hike in the mountains each year. 

These events are great as they not only show you the way, they also have volunteers who will help you over the precarious areas of climbing boulders or crossing streams.

The sponsored event will also have people who are well experienced in hiking, have good knowledge of the local area and there may even be a vet on standby. 

They are a great way to meet a lot of like minded people. 

All in all, with all of these ways to find more hikes, research the rules and regulations of your area and try to obtain as much information of the hike that you will be going on. Map the trail on your map or google maps and always tell people where you are going and send them the details.  As mentioned above to be a responsible dog owner and a good hiker and have fun experiencing the hike with your best bud. 

Alexander

Hello there, I have been an avid explorer since I was a child and I have always done this with my dog by my side. Adventure is what drives me and I seek out new activities or wilderness areas wherever I am. Growing up in Sydney Australia, I have had the luxury of many wilderness areas to explore. This has given me access to courses such as bushcraft & bushfood, orienteering, abseiling and beach & sea safety and sailing. I have had many dogs throughout my life of varying sizes and breeds and I come from a long line of family members who have shown and bred dogs. I have also worked with dogs in obedience training and have trained many breeds like Dobermans, Staffies, Boxers, Border Collies, German Shepherds, Beagles, Weimaraners and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I have been taught by many established dog trainers at the Sydney All Breeds Dog Training Club and local prominent dog trainer Caio Lopes. I'm an avid follower of Cesar Millan's techniques and treat all experiences and activities first with the understanding of the dog's perspective of the world of nose, eyes and ears. Researching his work and other professionals such as Kevin Behan has given me a huge understanding of canine behaviour and emotion. I combine my love of adventurous activities and share this with my dogs. I research, test and try new products and places to share my experiences with you.

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