If you and your nature pup are longing to head out into the great outdoors, nothing beats an epic hiking trip together. The United States is a wonderland of natural beauty, and incredible hiking destinations your pet will love just as much as you do can be found across the country.
Combine a great pet-friendly destination with a one-of-a-kind, pet-friendly place to stay, and a fun hiking expedition becomes an unforgettable experience. We’ve sniffed out some of the best pet-friendly hiking getaways and places to stay, and listed them in no particular order, to help you plan your paw-fect nature getaway.
Enchanted Mountain Retreats
Blairsville, GA
If you want to hang your hat a while in a spectacular mountain hiking destination with mild weather, beautiful scenery, and amazing pet-friendly trails, we know just the place. Enchanted Mountain Retreats vacation rentals offer a variety of cabin sizes, types, and styles in the North Georgia Mountains, and they are sure to have the perfect cabin for you and your pup. Enchanted Mountains prides itself on its clean, inviting, and comfortable accommodations, all of which feature easy access to nearby hiking trails. Some properties offer fenced-in yards perfect for pups to play in.
The North Georgia Mountains offer great pet-friendly hiking. Thanks to its spectacular scenery, Vogel State Park, which sits at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest, is one of the area’s most popular hiking spots for people and pets. Pets are also welcome to hike on Brasstown Bald Mountain, which has the distinction of being the site of Georgia’s highest peak. There are many more pet-friendly hiking spots to choose from, but the Blairsville area offers other pet-friendly activities as well– you can take your pooch on a river tubing adventure, or a winery tour. Or, play a round of mini golf together!
Enchanted Mountain Retreats permits one dog to stay for free, with a 40-pound weight limit. Additional dogs can stay for a fee.
Crowne Plaza Lake Placid
Lake Placid, NY
Nestled cozily in the charming village of Lake Placid, and surrounded by incredible Adirondack Mountain scenery, Crowne Plaza Lake Placid provides a peaceful mountain getaway for pets and their people. The hotel overlooks Lake Mirror, and is conveniently located only minutes away from hiking trails and exciting outdoor escapades. Crowne Plaza also offers guests breathtaking mountain views, a private beach perfect for exploring with your pup, and a fireplace you can relax in front of together after a long day of outdoor fun.
There are plenty of ways to experience Lake Placid with your pooch. You can set out for pet-friendly areas such as Whiteface Mountain, Peninsula Nature Trails, John Brown Farm, or Cascade Mountain, or you can stay close to home and explore Mirror Lake together. You can also head into town with your pup with no worries about his comfort; Lake Placid enjoys a reputation of being one of the most pet-friendly spots in the country–rumor is, dogs even outnumber people in this charming little town. Take your furry travel companion out to dinner at a pet-friendly restaurant, and for some ice cream afterwards. Browse a bookshop together, or head out on a pet-friendly boat ride.
Crowne Plaza allows up to 2 dogs, and has no pet weight limit. They do charge a per-night pet fee.
3 B's Inn Bed, Breakfast, and Biscuits
Gerton/Asheville, NC
It truly doesn’t get more pet-friendly than 3 B’s Inn Bed, Breakfast, and Biscuits in Gerton, NC, near Asheville. In a unique twist on typical hotel pet rules, dogs are actually required! if you don’t bring one, you simply aren’t welcome. Situated in the famously beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, near Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, 3 B's Inn Bed, Breakfast, and Biscuits is a charming and cozy place to hang your hat, featuring only nine accommodations. with gated access that allows for extra privacy and security. A dog bed and bowls is provided in each room, which is gracious enough. But wait, there’s more! The inn offers private dog cabins, a spring-fed pond for pups to splash and swim in, and an on-premises doggie play area that’s fully fenced. You don’t even have to leave the inn to enjoy a hike with your pet – the property boasts five acres, which feature wooded trails you can explore together.
Great pet-friendly hiking trails are very easily found in the Asheville area. Asheville Hiking Tours provides guided pet-friendly hikes, but if you’d prefer to head out alone with your pet, you can visit Craggy Gardens, Carolina Mountain Trail, and the famous Chimney Rock State Park. Asheville itself is widely known for being pet-friendly, and there are any number of restaurants, shops, wineries, and breweries that welcome four-footed guests. If you’re looking for something more original to do, try a ghost tour, a visit to an antique car museum, or even an outdoor theater production.
3 B's permits up to two pets, and has no breed restrictions or weight restrictions. Not only that–pets stay for free! Unless you’d like to bring more than two pets, in which case fees may apply.
Sky Rock Sedona
Sedona, AZ
This unique hotel is an ideal spot for people and pooches who appreciate the rugged and staggering natural beauty of the American Southwest. You and your pooch can experience that beauty right from your room at Sky Rock: a four-terraced promenade deck offers a panoramic view of Sedona’s famed Red Rocks. Sky Rock also is also centrally located close to a number of pet-friendly hiking trails, including Schnebly Hill Vista Overlook and Devil’s Bridge. After a long day of hiking, you and your pet can take advantage of the hotel’s concierge service, room service, and 37-inch TV, and rest up for the next day’s adventure.
Hiking is an enjoyable experience in every season in Sedona, and pet-friendly hiking trails can be found in lots of places, such as Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness, the Coconino National Forest, and Munds Mountain Wilderness. But Sedona offers pet parents much more than hiking. The city is practically a playground for pets, with a number of pet-friendly wineries, breweries, and restaurants to visit, an expansive dog park to play in, and unique pet-friendly activities like trolley tours, Jeep tours, and Southwestern-themed arts and crafts sessions.
Sky Rock allows up to two pets per room, and requires a per-day pet fee. The hotel doesn’t just claim to be pet-friendly; they truly love pets. A portion of their pet fee is donated to the Humane Society of Sedona.
Hampton Inn Gatlinburg Historic Nature Trail
Gatlinburg, TN
Just a stone’s throw away from the famed Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and walking distance from the charm, history, and lively dining and shopping scene in downtown Gatlinburg, Hampton Inn Gatlinburg is a comfy, reasonably priced hotel option that offers amenities that are great for you and your pet, including access to pet-friendly hiking trails, 24/7 front desk service, a concierge service, and free breakfast, which you can enjoy in your room with your furkid.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park features two pet-friendly hiking trails: the Oconaluftee River Trail and the Gatlinburg trail. There are also other beautiful pet-friendly outdoor spots to visit, including nearby parks like Seven Islands State Birding Park and Foxfire Mountain Adventure Park. In addition, Gatlinburg offers plenty of fun, pet-friendly activities. Bring your pooch on a spooky ghost tour, visit a moonshine distillery together, or brave the river and head out for a pet-friendly tubing adventure.
Hampton Inn Gatlinburg allows up to two cats and/or dogs per room. There is a 75-pound weight restriction, and the hotel charges a per-stay fee for visits of 1-4 nights.
Photo credit: istock/RossHelen