Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Missouri

Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, MO is dog friendly. Bring your dog for a walk on the trails around this park and enjoy views of the Gateway Arch. Be sure to check out their visitor center and ask how your pup can join the BARK ranger program. Dogs are welcome, as long as they are well-behaved and cleaned up after.

Leashed dogs are welcome at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, a pet-friendly park in Camdenton, MO. The park is a geologic wonderland with sinkholes, caves, a huge natural bridge, sheer bluffs and Missouri’s 12th largest spring. The ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone castle overlook these wonders and offer impressive views of the Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring. A series of trails and boardwalks make it easy for visitors to experience all the park has to offer from its historic castle and geologic wonders to its wooded areas and open rocky glades. The Turkey Pen Hollow Trail is a 6.5 mile loop. Dogs are not allowed in historic buildings, public swimming areas or beaches.

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park in Lampe, MO is dog friendly. Occupying 10,000 acres of land on the Missouri-Arkansas border, the park offers recreation activities for you and Fido, and stunning views of the Ozarks. Dogwood Canyon has nine miles of nature trails and six miles of paved pathways which guide to hikers to crystal-clear streams and cascading waterfalls. Other popular activities to pursue include wildlife viewing, fishing and cycling. An admission fee applies.

Leashed dogs are welcome at Table Rock State Park, a pet-friendly park in Branson, MO. Dogs are not allowed in the historic buildings or public swimming areas and beaches. Guests staying at the campgrounds are limited to having two dogs per campsite unless an exemption is obtained in advance from the park service. Table Rock State Park offers visitors to Branson and their pets an opportunity to explore the many nature trails that the park has to offer. In addition to hiking, guests can go boating, camping, fishing, swimming, biking, and picnicking.

Fido is welcome off-leash on the 5-miles of dog-friendly nature trails of Grindstone Nature Area in Columbia, MO. The 200-acre park features lovely creeks and scenery. Please note that dogs must be leashed only on the Hinkson Creek Trail.

Elephant Rocks State Park in Belleview, MO is dog friendly. You and Fido can explore this state park together via the two hiking trails, and take a closer view of the elephant-shaped boulders. An extension of the trail will lead you to the ruins of a railroad engine house. Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome.

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.

The Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area in Branson, MO, is pet friendly. This area of land is covered in steep hills, typical upland oak and hickory forest. The forest is interrupted by vast glades to be explored with pooches on a leash. These glades make up the White River Balds Natural Area. You'll also discover a bottomland forest along a half mile stretch of Roark Creek.

Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse is a dog-friendly trail and tourist attraction in Hannibal, MO. This lighthouse sits on top of a hill overlooking the Mississippi River, and features a set of stairs or a winding road that you can hike up too. Your leashed, friendly dog is welcome to join you on the trail and stairs surrounding the lighthouse, but they are not allowed inside.

Waterfall Trail is a pet-friendly destination in Branson, MO. Your leashed pup can tag along as you explore the area. The 2/3-mile trail is an unpaved path, with some rugged sections and two creek crossings. Please note that the trail may be closed during and after heavy rainfall due to its proximity to the natural creek.

Leashed dogs are welcome to join you on a visit to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. This pet-friendly historic site in Republic, MO, commemorates and interprets the battle at Wilson's Creek, the first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River. Explore the site by driving the self-guided tour road or hiking the 7-mile trail system with Fido.

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.

Castlewood State Park in Ballwin, MO is dog friendly. This expansive state park will give you and Fido beautiful views of the Meramec River and the lush valley that surrounds it. Hiking and mountain biking trails range from easy pathways to strenuous routes. This state park is good for fishing and wildlife viewing. Fido is allowed in the park if leashed, but it's requested they do not enter the historic buildings.

The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge is a multi-use trail that's a great place to walk Fido in Saint Louis! The map below shows a parking area with convenient access to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. 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.

Bring Fido to enjoy the great outdoors at the dog-friendly Dr. Edmund A Babler Memorial State Park in Wildwood, MO. This state park is a popular site for family get-togethers, cookouts and exercise, thanks to the expansive miles of hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails. While leashed pets are allowed in the park, it's requested they do not enter buildings or the public swimming areas.

The Frisco Highline 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 Springfield! The map below shows a parking area with convenient access to the Frisco Highline 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.

Route 66 State Park in Eureka, MO is dog friendly. You and your pup will enjoy exploring this expansive state park, where over 40 types of birds have been identified! Other amenities of the park include picnic sites and trails to walk with your pup. Fido needs to stay leashed during your visit, and it's requested dogs do not enter the historic buildings on site.

Fido can join you at Robertsville State Park, a dog-friendly recreational site in Robertsville, MO. This spacious state park has amenities like a boat launch, fishing spots and hiking trails. Leashed dogs are welcome, but should not enter the historic buildings or swimming areas.

Escape to nature at dog-friendly St. Francois State Park in Bonne Terre, MO. You and Fido can explore the three hiking trails that wind through wooded hills and glades. There is also access to Big River which allows canoeing and floating. Over 100 campgrounds are available for extended stays. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.

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.