If your dog likes to walk on the wild side, he’ll enjoy hiking the trails carved out by early pioneers at Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. You’re likely to encounter prairie dogs, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and deer in the park, but it's most famous for being home to one of the nation’s largest free-roaming bison herds. The best way to see them is by driving the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road in the early morning or late evening, just before sunset. The drive usually takes about 45 minutes, but allow plenty of time for traffic delays due to wildlife crossings. If you do encounter a herd of the 2,000-pound animals on the road, it is important for everyone, including Fido, to remain in the vehicle. For more animal adventures, drive just over 30 minutes to Bear Country USA in Rapid City. At this drive-thru wildlife park, you’ll see dozens of bears, wolves, sheep, and elk.

Tucked among the ponderosa pines beside Grace Coolidge Creek, you’ll find the State Game Lodge, which once served as the ‘Summer White House’ during President Calvin Coolidge’s administration. Now, you and your pup can be a guest of the lodge in one of the property’s 19 pet-friendly cabins.

Even though dogs aren’t allowed on most trails at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you can still enjoy the park’s most popular attraction with Fido in tow. Take a scenic drive on the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road, and you’ll easily spot dozens of white-tailed deer, black bears, and other animals roaming the open fields that were once farmed by pioneers. Depending on traffic conditions, motorists should allow two to four hours to drive the entire loop. If you’d prefer to take Fido on a walk instead, plan to visit on a Wednesday between June and September. Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to vehicle traffic during that time to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy the awe-inspiring scenery.

After a day of exploring the Smokies, you and your pup can kick back in a cozy cabin at the Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend. All cabins feature luxurious feather beds, wood-burning fireplaces, and private porches with hot tubs. Enjoy a glass of wine and a delicious meal as your pooch sits tableside on the outdoor deck of the on-site Appalachian Bistro.

You and your canine companion can witness all the beauty and wonder nature has to offer at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, located just west of Brigham City on the northeastern arm of the Great Salt Lake. Established in 1928, this 74,000-acre National Wildlife Refuge is a permanent and winter home to over 270 species of birds. Pack your camera and take the 12-mile Auto Tour that loops through the refuge’s native wetlands to observe and photograph countless feathered friends in their natural habitat, including American White Pelicans, Black-necked Stilts, and Tundra Swans. Although not allowed inside the refuge’s Wildlife Education Center, Fido can stretch his legs on the 1.5-mile walking trail located behind the facility. The Auto Tour Loop is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, road conditions and weather permitting.

After your four-legged ornithologist puts away his binoculars, drive three miles to the Best Western Brigham City Inn & Suites for a restful night’s stay.

Watch gentle manatees breach the water’s surface, vibrant flamingos fly overhead, and a variety of other animals in their natural habitat at J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. Located on Sanibel Island off Florida’s Gulf Coast, the refuge offers an 8-mile Wildlife Drive that loops around the protected area. Bring along your binoculars for a better view of the bird population, which numbers 245 species throughout the year. Birdwatchers flock from all around to bear witness to the ‘Big 5’ birds: the American White Pelican, Mangrove Cuckoo, Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, and the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Dogs are also welcome on the refuge’s Indigo Trail and the Bailey Tract.

More Gulf animal sightings await you and your pooch at Driftwood Inn, located within walking distance of the beach.

Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway is an incredible 93-mile road that passes right through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and the protected valleys of the 550 million-year-old mountain range, offering visitors the chance to see 50 species of mammals, 64 species of reptiles and 240 species of birds. After establishing the refuge in 1901 to create a safe environment for bison to roam, the American Bison Society moved 15 bison from the Bronx Zoo there in 1907. Nowadays, the herd stands at a whopping 650. Leashed dogs are also welcome on trails within the refuge, like Little Baldy Trail, which leads to great views of the Quanah Parker Lake and Dam.

After you say goodbye to the bison, say hello to a comfortable night at La Quinta Inn & Suites Lawton.

Beartooth Highway reaches its climax just before the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park, which gives Fido the chance to see the same varied wildlife as inside the park, but away from the crowds. The scenic drive winds 68 miles into the Northern Rocky Mountains and gains 5,000 feet in elevation along the way, cutting through one of the most wildlife-rich regions of the United States. Mountain lions, moose and bears are a selection of the incredible animals that call the area home. In addition to wonderful wildlife, scenic overlooks offer panoramic views of alpine meadows, untouched lakes and snow-capped mountains. Due to snowfall, the highway is usually open from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October.

After counting the animals on the highway, count sheep at Quality Inn Red Lodge.

Established in 1938, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in Upstate New York is home to more than 300 species of birds, 100 of which are known to nest in the area. Bring Fido along for a tour on the three-mile Wildlife Drive. Along the route, there are pull-offs so you can stop to look for bald eagles, osprey, wood ducks and warblers, just to name a few. At each stop, you can learn information about the species and their habitat by dialing into the cell phone tour. Dogs are required to stay in the car for the duration of the drive, but if your pup needs to stretch his legs, he can do so on the Refuge Entrance Road and along the Seneca Trail. The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is closed in winter.

Spend the night with Fido at The Gould Hotel, then learn more about the area at The Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry.

Mutts vacationing in Minnesota will enjoy a peaceful drive along the five-mile Blackbird Wildlife Drive in Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. Spend an hour or more driving along this scenic stretch, stopping for photo ops at the platform overlooking Blackbird Lake. The refuge’s 43,000 acres include eastern deciduous hardwoods, northern coniferous forests and western tallgrass prairies, which are home to more than 50 pairs of nesting trumpeter swans, which were once endangered. In addition to the many bird species, river otters, coyotes, American badgers, bobcats, black bears and the elusive grey wolves call this refuge home. Swing by the visitor center so your pooch can receive his BARK Ranger certificate.

Book a cozy cabin at Jack Pines Resort in nearby Osage. The peaceful woodland setting offers the perfect opportunity to spot more wildlife.