Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Mount Ayr, IA

Weston Bend State Park in Weston, MO, is pet friendly. Dogs are not allowed in the park or historic buildings or public swimming areas and beaches. Not far from the hustle and bustle of Kansas City, Weston Bend State Park offers secluded picnic sites, a campground and sweeping views of the Missouri River from trails and a scenic overlook accessible to persons with disabilities. A three-mile paved loop trail takes hikers and bikers through the park's woody terrain. Dog owners are reminded to clean up after pups.

Located in the heart of the Des Moines Metro area, Gray's Lake Park is a dog-friendly spot that's perfect for a walk with your leashed pup. The 167-acre park features a 1.9-mile lit trail, which encircles the lake. Dogs are not allowed on the designated swimming beach, and pets must be cleaned up after during their visit. Pet waste stations are located every half mile along the trail for your convenience. Please note that the park hours vary seasonally.

Iowa Arboretum in Madrid, IA features beautiful, dog-friendly woodland and prairie walking trails. It's a great place to connect with nature and Fido. There are 160 acres of gardens, forests and prairies populated with century-old oak trees and native grasses. Please keep your dog on a leash and note that pets are not allowed in the visitor center.

Shoal Creek Living History Museum is a pet-friendly attraction nestled on 80 acres in Hodge Park, located in Kansas City, MO. The museum has twenty-one structures with thirteen authentic 19th-century buildings dating from 1807-1885. The historic log cabins and homes were relocated from surrounding counties to create a village setting. Enjoy the nature trails and a self-guided tour on the grounds with your leashed pup in tow. Waste bags are located at the entrance.

The Brenton Arboretum is a 143-acre landscape in the heart of Iowa agricultural land. Located in Dallas Center, IA, this pet-friendly attraction welcomes you and FIdo to explore thousands of trees, beautiful prairies and wildflower meadows, streams and ponds, and miles of grassy trails. Dogs must remain on a leash during their visit, and an annual membership or a day pass per dog is required.

Walnut Woods State Park is a pet-friendly destination in West Des Moines, IA. You and Fido can enjoy 260 acres of woodlands along the banks of Raccoon River. The 2.5 miles of trails that weave through the black walnut trees, the largest surviving natural stand of these trees in the country, are a great attraction for dogs and their owners. Dogs are allowed on the trails, as long as they're cleaned up after and remain on a maximum 6' leash.

Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans for a stroll along the St. Joseph Riverwalk in St. Joseph, MO. This pet-friendly paved pathway meanders along the Missouri River and offers scenic views, overlooks and bridge crossings. You can access the Riverwalk's North Entrance from the parking lot of the Remington Nature Center.

Dogs are allowed to join their owners at Ledges State Park in Madrid, IA. Pea's Creek, a tributary of the Des Moines River, carves through a craggy sandstone gorge which can be viewed from the arch stone bridge at this pet-friendly park. There are a number of picnic spots which offer great views and tranquil surroundings. Adventurous dogs can tackle the four miles of hiking trails that lead to scenic overlooks of the canyon below, as long as they are on a leash under six feet in length.

Leashed dogs are welcome to join you for a stroll through the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens in Des Moines, IA. This pet-friendly attraction, situated on 1.7 acres south of the Botanical Garden, features an Asian pavilion atop a bridge, which spans a pond cascading into the Des Moines River. Stone pagodas, bonsai-like evergreens, lanterns and sculptural rock formations are also present in the Gardens. Dogs must be leashed and cleaned up after during their visit.

Check out the pet-friendly Terra Park in Johnston, IA. Your leashed pup is welcome to join in exploring this 200-acre recreation space, which features paved trails, picnic areas, an eight-acre lake, a spacious lawn and picnic pavilions.

The High Trestle Trail is one of 1600 rail-trails supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that is working to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. Previously an unused railroad corridor, this "rail-trail" is now a great place to walk Fido in Ankeny! The map below shows a parking area with convenient access to the High Trestle Trail. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has generously provided map data for this trail to Bring Fido for informational purposes only. For more detailed trail information, please visit TrailLink.com.

The T-Bone Trail is one of 1600 rail-trails supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that is working to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors. Previously an unused railroad corridor, this "rail-trail" is now a great place to walk Fido in Brayton! The map below shows a trailhead where you can pick up the T-Bone Trail. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has generously provided map data for this trail to Bring Fido for informational purposes only. For more detailed trail information, please visit TrailLink.com.

Honey Creek State Park is dog-friendly destination in Moravia, where you are invited to bring Fido with you to enjoy the home of Iowa's second largest lake, Lake Rathbun. The rolling hills surrounding the lake provide an epic background for visitors to enjoy while walking on the five miles of multi-use trails and the Woodland Interpretive Trail. There are also a couple of picnic areas where leashed dogs are welcome.

Leashed dogs are welcome at pet-friendly Lake Red Rock. Located in Knoxville, IA, this is the largest lake in the state, and it features beautiful bluffs, especially in the fall when the leaves turn colors. Enjoy a walk with Fido along the amazing biking/walking path that goes around the lake and through the campgrounds. The lake is great for boating, skiing and fishing, but please note that dogs aren't permitted on the swimming beach.

The Watkins Mill State Park in Lawson, MO is dog friendly. You and Fido will both enjoy views of the 100-acre lake, which has a paved path around it, making it a great spot to walk with your dog. Campground sites and picnic areas are also available. Keep your eyes peeled for white-tailed deer and wild turkeys. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome in the park.

Dogs are welcome at pet-friendly Lake Ahquabi State Park in Indianola, IA. This 770-acre park has more than seven miles of multi-use trails, including a trail along the shoreline of the lake and another that winds in through the woods. The centerpiece of this park is the 115-acre man-made lake in the center, perfect for recreational boat users and anglers. You can bring Fido with you into the park, but pets must remain on a leash under six feet for the duration of their visit.

Lake Anita State Park, featuring a 171-acre reservoir on a branch of the Nishnabotna River, is a dog-friendly recreation area in Anita, IA. Home to a four-mile trail that loops around the lake and a number of other interesting trails that weave inland, this is a great spot for Fido to stretch his legs. Your pup is welcome to join you on the trails as long as they are on a leash under six feet in length.

International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, KS is pet friendly. This park stands in homage to those who have dedicated their time, efforts and service to the aerospace and aviation industry. See the honorary plaques that commemorate each individual, and the trees planted from special seeds, including seeds from George Washington's estate. Leashed dogs are welcome on the grounds, but they must be controlled and cleaned up after.

Leashed pets are allowed at Crowder State Park, a pet-friendly park in Trenton, MO. The park features 1,912 acres in the rolling green hills of northern Missouri. Visitors can enjoy more than 17 miles of hiking, bicycling, backpacking and equestrian trails in a forested, rugged terrain. The park also offers fishing and boating opportunities on 18-acre Crowder Lake. The family-oriented campground includes modern restrooms and shady picnic sites are scattered throughout the park. Pets are not allowed in any buildings, public swimming areas or beaches.

Leashed dogs are welcome at Pershing State Park, a pet-friendly park in Laclede, MO. Wander through a slice of a pre-settlement landscape at Pershing State Park. The park includes a boardwalk and hiking trail that winds through a wet prairie near a meandering stream with oxbow sloughs and cutoffs, and into a bottomland forest. The park’s wetlands attract a variety of birds and waterfowl as well as scores of other wildlife species. Locust Creek and four small lakes give anglers a chance to try their skills and a shady campground with electric and basic campsites make the park an ideal overnight location. Dogs are not allowed in the historic buildings or public swimming areas and beaches.