Cuyahoga Valley National Park between Cleveland and Akron, OH permits four-legged hikers on more than 110 miles of trails. Start your visit on Ledges Trail, a 2.2-mile loop that passes Ledges Overlook, a rock outcropping with an unobstructed view across the valley. Canines that like a challenge can join you on the Brandywine Gorge Trail, a 1.5-mile loop with a 160-foot elevation change that leads to two overlooks of the 65-foot cascading Brandywine Falls. Pups are also permitted on 20 miles of multi-use paths along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail which follows the Cuyahoga River. Visit the park on a Saturday between May and October and Fido can join you for Yappy Hour at the park’s Countryside Farmers Market from 11 a.m. to noon.

Stay close to the national park at Staybridge Suites Akron Stow Cuyahoga Falls, and grab dinner at Doodle Drive-In. Fido can refuel on snacks like Doodle Chips, Pup-O-Fluff or the Hangry Husky from the Puppy Bites menu.

Pups are permitted at Gateway Arch National Park at any time, but BARK Rangers in St. Louis and beyond are invited to several pet-friendly events taking place at the national park throughout the year. Join in the fun of a Picnic With Your Pet or a Puppachino Crawl, help Fido make Paw Art, learn BARK Ranger First Aid, get in shape at Bow Wow Boot Camp or dress up for a Pet Howloween Costume Parade. While you’re visiting, your leashed pet can join you in all outdoor areas of the park for fantastic photo ops with the iconic Gateway Arch, St. Louis skyline and the Mississippi River. All pets visiting the park can stop by the visitor center entrance desk to receive a BARK Ranger booklet and an award for following the rules.

Stay just across the street at Drury Plaza St. Louis Arch and spend the next day getting a different view of the park on board Riverboats at Gateway Arch.

When you think of beautiful beaches, Indiana probably isn’t your first thought. But, at Indiana Dunes National Park on the shores of Lake Michigan, that’s exactly what you’ll find. Dogs can join you on all beaches in the park except the West Beach swimming area, for a day of swimming, sunbathing and digging in the sand. Pups are also permitted on most of the 50 miles of trails including Cowles Bog Trail which leads through dunes, wetlands, forests and along the lakeshore. Indiana Dunes National Park is one of the only national parks where Fido will receive his BARK Ranger collar badge for free, thanks to donations from Friends of Indiana Dunes.

Rest up at Riley’s Railhouse in Chesterton. Dogs are permitted in Boxcar Rooms at this old freight station-turned-B&B, and you can easily grab dinner from the comfort of your car at nearby Port Drive-In.

High above the Mississippi River on Iowa’s eastern border, Effigy Mounds National Monument is home to a variety of pet-friendly trails. The park welcomes dogs and their people to view over 200 American Indian mounds, some shaped like bears and birds, on trails ranging from easy to moderate in difficulty. In the park’s North Unit, follow the Yellow River Boardwalk for one mile to view wildlife, then take the two-mile Fire Point Loop to view 25 effigy mounds, including Little and Great Bear Mounds. Stop to catch your breath at viewpoints along the way and admire stunning views overlooking the Mississippi River into Wisconsin.

Book a night at Carrie’s Cabin and spend the next day hiking in the park’s South Unit. Be sure to trek the four-mile Marching Bear Group trail which includes ten bear-shaped and three bird-shaped effigy mounds.

Hot Springs National Park in central Arkansas is described as a place where “history and nature meet.” While the park may be most well-known for its historic bathhouses, it also includes 26 miles of pet-friendly nature trails that are equally as impressive. Venture out on The Hot Springs and North Mountain trails to admire scenic viewpoints like those on Hot Springs Mountain Trail, or head to the West Mountain trails for a chance to spot wildlife. Pets aren’t permitted inside the historic bathhouses, but they are welcome to join you for dinner and drinks at Superior Bathhouse Brewery, Arkansas’ best dog-friendly brewery, and the only one in the country located inside a national park.

You’ll need more than a day to see all the sights, so spend the night at Embassy Suites Hot Springs Hotel & Spa and make time for a Hot Springs National Park Duck Tour, or hop on board the Hot Springs Trolley for more adventures.

While dogs are not permitted inside the world’s longest-known cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park, there are still ample opportunities for adventurous pups to explore. Over 16 miles of surface trails traverse the Kentucky park’s south side and welcome four-legged hikers. Front country trails like Cedar Sink Trail, Sand Cave Trail and Sloan's Crossing Pond Walk provide views of stunning rock walls, the Green River Valley, and cave springs, while over 60 miles of backcountry trails also permit pets. If you want to experience the park by water, reserve a rental from Caveland Kayak and Canoe. They’ll even transport you, Fido, and your rental to and from the river.

To experience a cave tour in the national park, spend the night at The Lodge at Mammoth Cave and take advantage of the on-site kennels. Then, head to the nearby Hidden Cave & American Cave Museum where your pooch can join you on a pet-friendly cave tour outside of the park.

Take Fido on a road trip via the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile recreational road and scenic drive that traverses three states beginning in Nashville, TN, and ending in Natchez, MS. Pets are permitted on trails and at viewpoints along the drive. You’ll see historic sites, waterfalls, monuments, native mounds, gravesites and more. Stop by the Parkway Visitor Center at milepost 266, to hear Natchez Trace history and let your pup earn his BARK Ranger certification. At the end of the parkway, you’ll find the Natchez National Historical Park, where you can explore Civil War sites and more dog-friendly trails with your furry friend.

The Natchez Trace Parkway will take multiple days to complete. Break it up with a stay at Candlewood Suites Tupelo North and take Fido to the Elvis Presley Birthplace to explore the grounds of the King of Rock and Roll’s childhood home.