Best Dog Friendly Trails Shenandoah National Park – While America’s national parks aren’t known for being the most dog-friendly vacation spots, Shenandoah National Park is one of the best places to visit with your canine companion. Shenandoah has over five hundred miles of dog-friendly trails, with few pet restrictions. Dogs must be on a leash at all times when walking and camping in the park, a rule we thought would be a challenge for a hiker like Lucy, but it wasn’t a problem and helped ensure Lucy was tired again. The pain in it is mostly related to the way of walking. Also, remember to clean up after your dog to keep these trails clean and safe for everyone!
Lucy and I spent three days in the park wandering and spreading the magic to travelers as the first park of our national tour. Here are three of our favorite hikes where you can see great views with your child! And don’t forget to pack snacks and water for the Appalachian Trail through hikers. They often walk over 20 miles a day, so any extra calories you can give them are always greatly appreciated!
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The drive to Marys Rock begins at Thornton Gap on the 31.5 mile stretch of Skyline Drive. There is a water comfort station and toilets here. From the parking lot, head south on Appalachain Road for a short walk to Marys Rock. The trail begins with wooden planks that form steps to climb the first stage, then continues as a gentle dirt trail. The ride was more pleasant than the wildflowers that lined the road.
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About a quarter of a mile from the summit, turn right at the junction for the final climb to Marys Rock. Here, you’ll be greeted by spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the valleys of northwestern Virginia. Lucy and I climbed the mountain for the amazing view and solitude at the top.
This short visit was our first visit to Shenandoah National Park and we were blown away by the beautiful views. Yes, we’ve seen great things down South on Skyline Drive, but there’s something about being in the mountains and not off-road that makes it all special.
Every time we go on the AT, Lucy and I try to bring snacks and extra water for hikers on their way to Katahdin. We met many hikers on this hike and passed out granola bars, bagels, and candy to feed them on the long hike. The hiking culture along the Appalachain Trail is amazing with many unique people attempting to hike the 2,200 mile trail. We enjoyed chatting with them and learning more about their journey!
This is a short, classic Shenandoah hike that is the best value for your money in the entire park. This small hike leads to a beautiful panorama at the top of a large rock structure that will impress even the most novice hikers with its beauty.
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The Hawksbill Highway starting at the 46.6 mile Skyline Drive is an easy hike to the top along a stunningly wide route. It’s so gentle that anyone from your 4-year-old son to your 80-year-old grandfather can join in on the fun. I insisted that even a fast bike could not climb this slope if it was slowly rising away from its rider.
There is a small shelter before reaching the top, perfect for a picnic lunch or waiting for an afternoon shower. A few steps away is Hawksbill Peak, the highest point in Shenandoah National Park at 4,051 feet.
This mountain is an ideal place to watch the sunset or have a picnic in the afternoon with a wide stone ready to sit, where navigation in the mountain area is very difficult. Lucy and I met at six o’clock in the afternoon, about two hours before sunset, but if we could do it again, we would definitely go to the west-facing spot to watch the sunset under the mountain. This hike is great for stretching your legs while driving Skyline Drive with a unique view from the main park.
This short visit to the southern part of Shenandoah National Park was the most challenging of the three steps in this article. At 84.4 miles of Skyline Drive, Blackrock is a popular short hike at the end of the park. Lucy and I had planned to go to Blackrock, Trayfoot Mtn and Furnace Mtn, but the weather didn’t hold up for us so we cut the trip short.
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From the Blackrock car park the route climbs 200ft to reach the Blackrock cone. The trail does not measure up to the size of the summit, probably due to the dense terrain leading up to the summit, but the views are great.
As we headed for the east peak we saw an afternoon storm headed our way but decided to push on. The hike up Trayfoot Mtn was beautiful with scrub and tall trees and we weren’t afraid of a little rain! After pulling my waterproof pack over my pack, we continued up the Tirefoot Mtn trail.
After a few minutes of hiding under a tree, the sky opened up and buckets of cold drops covered him from head to toe. It’s nice to cool off after a walk in 80 degree heat and humidity. We were a few kilometers from the summit of Mount Trayfoot when lightning struck near where we were and we decided to turn around.
By the time we got back to Blackrock the storm had passed but we were still in the water. On hot days like these, I welcome the occasional rain, but when the thunder and lightning come, we cry out for the sun and seek the shade. Even though we had to cut the trip short, we still had a great trip and some unique views from the top of Blackrock.
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Hi! I’m Lexi, an avid outdoorsman born and raised in the mountains of New Hampshire. I love traveling, country music and spending time with my lovely dog Lucy.
Hi! I’m Lexi and this is my Lucy doll. This is our blog where I write all about our adventures! Our goal is to give you the tools and advice you need to spend more time in nature. Lucy and I have tried many instruments, traveled many ways around the world and learned more about each other than we thought possible. Join us as we continue to explore the backcountry and beyond!
← Previous: Mt. Davis: Summiting Pennsylvania’s Cole Mountain: Blue Ridge Adventure →Hello DC Friends! Looking for a way to travel this summer? Look no further, Shenandoah National Park is just a few hours out of state, full of great outdoor activities, amazing restaurants, great restaurants, and some of the best hiking in the state.
Zach and I both went to college in south/central Virginia, so we’ve known the Shenandoah Mountains for several years. We’ve done a few hikes in Shenandoah National Park and in the water, but never with Duke. It was around this time last year that we visited Getaway House DC with the Navy and spent the weekend walking the local restaurants. Needless to say, the dogs and I were looking forward to a weekend trip to the Shenandoah Mountains.
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Shenandoah National Park is located near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, about 75 miles from Washington, DC. The park is about 105 miles from the north entrance in Front Royal to the south entrance near Waynesboro, Virginia. Skyline Road is the main road that runs through the entire park. It leads to all hiking trails, cabins, campsites and many interesting viewpoints where you can park.
Heading to Shenandoah National Park for the first time? I encourage you to visit the National Park Service website, or check out this page for our first time visitors.
Shenandoah National Park and surrounding towns are pet friendly! We were amazed at all the hotels, restaurants, cafes and restaurants that are dog friendly. Many trails in Shenandoah National Park are dog-friendly. There are popular routes that are not suitable for dogs (with good reason!). You can find a list of routes with a ban on dogs here. We remind you to always keep your pet on a leash. This past trip we had a bad experience with three dogs on a leash.
Pets are allowed in most Shenandoah parks. Don’t like camping? There is also the possibility of accommodation with pets! YES
