Hiking with your Dog: Series 006

Mar 27, 2012 by DailyPuppyCharm

Hiking with Your Dog encourages both the dog and owner(s), perhaps even a friend or two to get out and take a hike! But before you run off to the nearest trail (where dogs are allowed) please follow these safety precautions because there is nothing better than a well-behaved dog and prepared owner on the trail.

1) Your dog should be trained to walk well and quietly on a leash.

2) You should be able to control your dog if any circumstances arise.

3) Pick-up after your dog’s poop and dispose of it properly.

4) Bring water for both you and your dog.

5) Plan ahead! Do your research or ask park officials if pets are allowed, if it’s an on-leash or off-leash trail and if trail conditions are suitable.

Bear Creek Trail through Four Parks (Morrison, CO)
In 1909, the City and County of Denver began accumulating land in the mountains to protect its water supply. Today, the Denver Mountain Park system consists of thirty-one named parks and sixteen unnamed parks that total about 14,000 acres of mountain and foothills land. The Bear Creek Trail passes through three of these city-owned parks and ends in Lair o’ the Bear, a Jefferson County Open Space park.

Hunting Island Trail (Cedar Reef Villas, SC)
Hunting Island is located a short distance from the popular tourist destination of Hilton Head Island, and is managed as a 5000-acre nature preserve run by South Carolina State Parks. A nineteenth-century lighthouse is on the northern side of the island, with excellent views of both the park and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Game hunters named the island and used the maritime forest to track deer, raccoon, birds, and other small game that thrive in the varied habitats of the park. Today, Hunting Island is off-limits to hunters and is a protected preserve where hikers, mountain bikers, and fishermen can enjoy the maritime forests, sandy beaches, and saltwater marshes of the park. There are four separate trails here, and most are a mile or less in length, except for the Island Trail, a 6-mile loop that hugs the southern end of Hunting Island.

Big Lick Trail (Republic, WA) What hiking dog wouldn’t be interested in a trail called Big Lick? But before you get your best buddy all worked up, this trail isn’t lined with kibble or last night’s leftovers. Neither are there legions of sweaty hikers to greet. What’s to lick then? Just miles of Kettle Mountain wilderness morsels and your face, of course, upon completing a great day’s hike. The Big Lick offers some of the best wildlife habitat in the Kettles. Your dog’s nose will be in high gear sniffing out all of the creatures that have scurried before him on this quiet trail. Bear, deer, moose, cougars, martens, grouse, and coyotes all have left behind plenty of tracks, scents, and scat. What’s missing are the two-legged creatures. The Big Lick sees very few hikers.

Horsethief Canyon (Henderson, AZ)
Off the beaten path, Horsethief Canyon has a bit of everything. It is remote and offers a seasonal spring, wildlife, and some rock scrambling. What more can a dog want? Depending on the season, the spring can be dry or, in winter and early spring, it may produce a small stream down the whole canyon. The rock scrambling is fun, but if it looks too difficult, there is always an easier alternate route to the side. Under foot and paw: Gravel and rock.

View our previews posts:
Hiking with your Dog: Series 001
Hiking with your Dog: Series 002
Hiking with your Dog: Series 003
Hiking with your Dog: Series 004
Hiking with your Dog: Series 005