Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Nashville, IN

Leashed dogs are welcome on pet-friendly trails and select campsites within Brown County State Park in Nashville, IN. Nicknamed the “Little Smokies” because of the area’s resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains, Brown County encompasses nearly 16,000 acres of rugged hills, ridges and fog-shrouded ravines.

Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill is pet-friendly. This rugged preserve is one square mile in size and protects a forest, as well as the wildlife that lives within it. The entire loop trail and gravel road total 6 miles. Leashed dogs are welcome, as long as all mess is cleaned up after them. Laura Hare Nature Preserve at Downey Hill is open every day of the week from dawn until dusk.

Yellowwood State Forest offers pet-friendly trails like Jackson Creek, High King, Lake, Scarce O' Fat, Tecumseh, and Resource Management, each showcasing unique landscapes. Horseback riders can explore designated bridle trails, while fishing enthusiasts can enjoy Yellowwood Lake. Picnic areas and a Lodge provide opportunities for relaxation and wildlife viewing amidst the forest's beauty. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash.

Ogle Hollow Nature Preserve is located within Brown County State Park in Nashville, IN, and has a dog-friendly hiking trail. Use Trail #5 in the park that will lead you through the preserve. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve is pet-friendly. Named for a 200-foot bluff over Beanblossom Creek, this preserve features a rare stand of native eastern hemlock trees. It also protects over 100 acres of forested wetlands. Leashed dogs are welcome on the two trails. Yellowwood Trail is 2.6 miles roundtrip and Bottomland Trail is a moderate 0.7 mile loop. Trevlac Bluffs Nature Preserve is open every day of the week from dawn until dusk.

Mountain Tea State Forest is a dog-friendly natural area in Nashville, IN. You can bring Fido with you while you explore the property, which offers off-trail hiking, mushrooming, hunting and wildlife viewing. Please remember to leash and clean up after Fido during your visit.

Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve is pet-friendly. This special nature preserve is located in the middle of Monroe Lake, which is designated an Important Bird Area. Explore the 1.7 miles of lake frontage on Lake Monroe, the largest inland lake in the state. Amy Weingartner Branigin Peninsula Preserve is open every day of the week from dawn until dusk.

Leashed dogs a welcome at Morgan-Monroe State Forest, a pet-friendly natural space in Martinsville, IN. This park is home to a variety of trails that weave around beautiful surroundings in both Morgan and Monroe counties.

Leashed dogs are welcome at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve, a pet-friendly area in Bloomington, IN. A popular destination for both hiking and boating, plan an afternoon exploring this 1,200 acre nature preserve with your canine companion.

Established in 1947 as the largest park in Martinsville, IN, Jimmy Nash City Park is a 110-acre dog-friendly open space which is popular with pet owners and families. Bring Fido to the dog park to play with friends or take a scroll along the walking trail. Families can also enjoy a public pool which is open in the summer season, basketball courts, a fishing pond, and a pavilion with six shelters which can be rented for small outdoor events.

Scarlet Oak Woods is pet-friendly. If you look up to the canopy, you'll notice the stunning scarlet oak trees that are especially beautiful during fall. This nature preserve protects upland forest full of native flora and fauna. Bring your leashed pooch on the short trail that follows a ridge along the length of the property with deep valleys on either side. There's also a creek that runs through the area. The main trail is just half a mile in length.

Ghurye Arboretum is pet-friendly. Take a walk on the mowed path that leads for 1.4-miles through this natural area nestled in the Marlin Hills neighborhood on Bloomington’s far north side. Leashed dogs are welcome, as long as they are cleaned up after. Ghurye Arboretum is open every day of the week from dawn until dusk.

Lake Lemon Woods is pet-friendly. Bring your leashed pooch for a walk on this wooded hillside on the north side of Lake Lemon. The main trail is rated moderate and only half a mile in length. Lake Lemon Woods is open every day of the week from 7am to sunset.

Tangeman Woods and Outdoor Lab is pet-friendly. Bring your leashed pooch along on this moderate trail that's just over half a mile in length. Along the way, you'll enjoy beautiful mixed hardwood forest with intermittent creeks for your pooch to go for a quick refreshing dip. Tangeman Woods and Outdoor Lab is open every day of the week from dawn until dusk.

Take Fido to explore the more than 100 acres that make up Laura Hare Preserve at Blossom Hollow in Trafalgar, IN. The nature preserve features a dog-friendly hiking trail that meanders around densely-wooded areas and even comes across a few streams that lead to Lamb Lake. Dogs must remain on a leash while in the preserve.

The pet-friendly Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area in Edinburgh, IN spans 4,950 acres, offering diverse outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, fishing, hunting, foraging, bird and wildlife watching. The scenic natural landscape even offers areas for dogs to run off leash, though they'll need to be registered for wild game hunting. Dogs must be leashed in all other areas - a map is located below for reference.

The Bloomington Rail 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 Bloomington! The map below shows a trailhead where you can pick up the Bloomington Rail 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.

Low Gap Nature Preserve, located within Morgan-Monroe State Forest in Unionville, IN, offers a dog-friendly walking trail. The forest is popular for backpacking, birding, and camping, and the trail is open year-round. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.