How We Find Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails (and Avoid the Ones That Aren’t)

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Finding great hiking trails that allow dogs can take a bit of extra research — especially if you want quiet trails, off-leash opportunities, and places where your dog is actually welcome. Over the years, we’ve learned that not all parks are created equal when it comes to dog-friendly hiking, and a little planning goes a long way.

Here’s how we find dog-friendly hiking trails, what tools we rely on, and what to watch for when hiking with your dog in Canada and the U.S.

Start With AllTrails

AllTrails is our go-to resource when we’re looking for new hikes. It’s especially helpful for filtering dog-friendly trails and reading recent trip reports from other hikers.

When using AllTrails to find dog-friendly hikes, we look for:

• Trails marked as dog friendly

• Notes about leash requirements

• Recent comments mentioning dogs on the trail

• Mentions of wildlife, crowds, or seasonal closures

The reviews are key. Even if a trail technically allows dogs, recent comments often tell you whether it’s actually a good experience for them.

Use Maps.me for Backup Navigation

We also use Maps.me, especially when we’re hiking in more remote areas or travelling without cell service. It’s great for offline maps and sometimes shows smaller connector trails or access points that don’t always appear on hiking apps.

Maps.me isn’t as detailed when it comes to dog rules, but it’s a reliable navigation tool once you’ve confirmed a trail is dog friendly.

Be Careful With National & Provincial Parks

This is where things get tricky. Many national and provincial parks are not dog friendly, especially in ecologically sensitive areas.

In the Kootenays

In the Kootenays, we avoid many national and provincial parks altogether when hiking with Rio. Dogs are often prohibited or restricted to parking lots and short access trails, which makes them impractical for longer hikes.

On Vancouver Island

Strathcona Provincial Park is more dog friendly than many parks, but there are still important rules. Dogs are allowed in much of the park, but:

• Some areas require dogs to be on leash

• Wildlife is common

• Courtesy around other hikers is essential

Always check park-specific regulations before heading out.

Travelling Through the United States

When we travelled through the U.S., we found that many national parks technically allow dogs — but only on one or two short trails, or on paved paths near visitor centres. For longer hikes, we often skipped national parks and focused on national forests, BLM land, or less regulated public lands instead.

Off-Leash Hiking Requires Excellent Recall

If you’re hiking in areas where off-leash dogs are allowed, recall is non-negotiable. Your dog should reliably return:

• Around other hikers

• Around wildlife

• When surprised or overstimulated

Even then, we stay flexible. If a trail feels too busy or unpredictable, we’ll leash Rio without hesitation.

Why We Use a GPS Tracker

Even with good recall, things can happen — especially in forested or mountainous terrain. We use a GPS tracker (Tractive) on Rio anytime she’s off-leash or we’re hiking in unfamiliar areas.

It gives us peace of mind knowing we can see her location in real time if she wanders too far or disappears around a bend.

Timing Matters: Off-Season & Early Mornings

One of the easiest ways to find dog-friendly hikes is simply to go when fewer people are around.

We prefer:

• Shoulder seasons (spring and fall)

• Early mornings

• Weekdays whenever possible

  
  

Fewer people usually means fewer dogs, less stress, and a more relaxed experience for everyone.

Final Thoughts

Finding dog-friendly hiking trails takes a little extra effort, but it’s worth it. With the right tools, good planning, and respect for trail rules, hiking with your dog can be one of the most rewarding ways to explore the outdoors.

Our approach is simple: research ahead of time, stay flexible, prioritize safety, and choose trails where dogs are genuinely welcome. That way, every hike is enjoyable — for us, for Rio, and for everyone else on the trail.