Dog-Friendly Activities in Gordon, NE

Custer State Park offers 71,000 acres of amazing views and dog-friendly outdoor experiences in Custer, SD. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the park. The 18-mile Wildlife Loop allows pets and humans to explore the park and view the indigenous wildlife from the comfort of the car. There are also many dog-friendly hiking trails where pets are welcome to join the fun. Set out on a hike along Black Elk Peak Loop, a seven-mile route with stunning views of the cathedral spires and Black Hills wilderness. Visitors should note that dogs are not allowed at designated swimming beaches or in any park buildings (including camping cabins, lodges and comfort stations).

Pet-friendly Bear Country USA in Rapid City, SD offers visitors a chance to view wildlife from the comfort of their own car. You and Fido will travel through several enclosures on the three-mile drive through the park and see black bears, elk, reindeer, cougars, bobcats, bighorn sheep, buffalo and more. Dogs are welcome to enjoy the drive-through park but are not allowed in Babyland, where the cubs live, and not allowed around the wildlife walkway area. They can be on a leash near the gazebo area at the end. The park is open seasonally from May through November.

Wall Drug is a dog-friendly iconic tourist spot and roadside attraction at one end of Badlands National Park in Wall, SD. They're famous for the free ice water, and pups are welcome inside the store. Be sure to snap a picture of Fido at one of their photo opportunities throughout the site such as the six-foot rabbit, the mini-Mount Rushmore, the buckin’ bronc, the life-size robot T-Rex, and, the ever-popular Giant Jackalope. Please note that dogs aren't permitted inside restaurants.

Professor Samuel’s Old Time Photos is a pet-friendly old-time photography service in Keystone, SD. The staff is awesome and love shooting dogs in classic clothing.

Take your pup on a trip on the pet-friendly Badlands Loop Road, one of America's most surreal roads that spans 39 miles in Wall, SD. The curvy roads take you around the amazing rock formations that will make you feel like you're driving on a different planet.

Cathedral Spires Hiking Trail is a pet-friendly hike in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. This moderate to strenuous hike is just over 1.5 miles in length out-and-back and takes visitors along an enchanting trail with unusual rocky outcrops along the way. This hike is a great place to stop and stretch your legs if you're driving along Needles Highway. Dogs must remain on a leash as the area is frequented by a variety of animals, including mountain goats.

Wind Cave National Park in Hot Springs, SD is the seventh-oldest national park in the country. This pet-friendly park is home to an array of wildlife including bison, elk and prairie dogs. Leashed pets are welcome on the Elk Mountain and Prairie Vista Nature Trails. Pups may also join human companions at the Ranger Campfire Programs. For the safety of your pet and the wildlife, pets are not permitted in the backcountry. Dogs must remain leashed at all times and may never be left unattended.

Fido can walk amongst prehistoric giants at the pet-friendly Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, SD. The park, open to the public since 1936, is free to explore. Dinosaur Park's hours vary seasonally, so make sure to check the website before planning your outing. Dogs are not allowed inside buildings. All pups must remain leashed.

Take a drive to the pet-friendly Needles Highway in Custer, SD. This spectacular trip through ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains can't be missed if you're visiting South Dakota. The name comes from the needle-like granite formations that sprout out of the ground.

Lost Cabin Beer Company, located in Rapid City, SD, is pet friendly! You're welcome to bring Fido with you to enjoy the patio or hang out inside as there is no food prepared on the premises. Their tap list includes amber lagers, hazy IPAs, ales, saison and wheat beers.

Check out the pet-friendly Legion Lake Loop, a one-mile trail that goes past a store, cafe and beach in Custer, SD. This easy-to-moderate trail also features beautiful views of the lake.

There's a creek for pups to play in at the off-leash dog park at Braeburn Park, located in Rapid City, SD. Just be careful, as the area isn't fenced.

The pet-friendly Sunday Gulch Trail is a popular hike in Custer State Park, located in Custer, SD. At nearly four miles in length, this trail is considered quite difficult as a bit of scrambling is required. The trail will take you near Sylvan Lake. In the beginning, you’ll traverse over large boulders down a valley to some great views of big granite spires and the northern Black Hills all around you. There are handrails to aid you in your journey along the pathway. You'll be pleased they're there on the way back down. Leashed pups are allowed to join, but make sure to clean up after them.

Bring Fido to explore the Mammoth Site, a dog-friendly natural history museum in Hot Springs, SD. Pups must be leashed and carried, or in a carrier while visiting inside the site.

Experience the Wild West with Fido at dog-friendly Four Mile Old West Town Museum, open seasonally from mid-May to the end of September in Custer, SD. Small pets are welcome to join you for self-guided tours of this historic site, featuring an old west town, boardwalks and artifacts.

Leashed dogs are welcome to join you for a tour at the pet-friendly Dinosaur Museum in Rapid City, SD. Enjoy learning about dinosaurs and seeing life-size displays. Be sure to check their website for admission prices and hours of operation.

Cosmos Mystery Area is a dog-friendly tour in Rapid City, SD, which operates seasonally from April until October. Leashed pets are welcome as long as they are friendly, well socialized and tolerant of children. This is a fun interactive tour of gravity hot spots. Purchasing tickets online in advance is strongly recommended.

Big Thunder Gold Mine is a pet-friendly attraction in downtown Keystone, SD. Experience this Black Hills Gold Rush legend with Fido and the family! They offer a mine tour, a museum, on-site gold panning, and claim panning. Dogs are welcome everywhere, including the gift shop and Big Thunder Family Bar & Grill's patio. Just be sure to keep your pup leashed and close to you.

Carhenge is a pet-friendly stop in Alliance, NE. Fido is welcome to join you as you explore England's famous prehistoric monument of comprised cars. This popular roadside oddity lures thousands of travelers to a remote open plain just outside town a year.

The Sylvan Lake Shore Trailhead is the starting point for a pet-friendly hike around Sylvan Lake in Custer, SD. It's a 1.1-mile easy loop trail that'll take under 30 minutes to complete with Fido. The area offers opportunities for hiking, camping, swimming and fishing.