Doggin’ Cleveland

Have you ever considered how far you walk with your dog? If you walk just 15 minutes a day you will have walked far enough in your dog's lifetime to cross the United States. With all that walking ahead of you, aren't you ready for a new place to take a hike with your dog? 

Cleveland can be a great place to hike with your dog. Within a short drive your canine adventurer can be climbing forested hills that leave him panting, trotting in impossibly green ravines, exploring the estates of America's wealthiest families or circling lakes for miles and never lose sight of the water.  
DOGGIN' CLEVELAND explores the region's top trails with your best friend in mind...

Where can your dog hike across a farm of the
Firestone family? (page 24)
Where can your dog hike past the largest sugar maple tree in Ohio? (page 53)
Where can your dog swim in quarry once helmed by Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormons? (page 55)


No Dogs!
Is there any more dispiriting day for a dog owner than driving to a new park and encountering the dreaded "NO DOGS" sign? DOGGIN' CLEVELAND tells you the parks that don't welcome dogs. Also packed inside these 108 pages are
...dog-friendly campgrounds
...tips on outfitting your dog for a hike
...tips on practicing low impact hiking with your dog
...and much more

What makes a great place to take your dog hiking? Well, how about a paw-friendly surface to trot on? Grass and sandy soil are a lot more appealing than asphalt and rocks. A variety of hikes is always good - long ones for athletic dogs and short ones for the less adventurous canine. Dogs always enjoy a refreshing place to swim as well. For dog-friendly parks our guides describe the trail options for your dog, evaluate park traffic from other users, tell you whether you will need a guide dog to find your way around and, of course, tell you how to get to the park.

While walking the dog around Cleveland, we bring along generous helpings of local history, botany, geology, architecture and more. So what are you waiting for? Your dog will want to hike along the original western border of the United States (page 42), hike to one of the world’s largest geodesic domes (page 31), hike to the stone carvings of celebrated folk artist Henry Church (page 39)...

THE BEST OF THE BEST

DOG-FRIENDLIEST PARK
Towner's Woods

BEST BEACH TO HIKE WITH YOUR DOG
Lakeshore Reservation

BEST HIKE TO MEET OTHER DOGS
Sand Run Metro Park

BEST 1-HOUR WORKOUT FOR YOUR DOG
Adam Run Trail - Hampton Hills Metro Park

BEST CANINE HIKE TO A WATERFALL
Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Blue Hen Falls/Buttermilk Falls

BEST CANINE HIKE TO A VIEW
Fort Hill Trail - Rocky River Reservation

BEST HIKE TO CIRCLE A LAKE WITH YOUR DOG
Hudson Springs Park

BEST DOGGIE SWIMMING HOLE
Grand River/Paine Creek - Indian Point Park

BEST RAIL TRAIL FOR YOUR DOG
Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

BEST PLACE TO HIKE ALL DAY WITH YOUR DOG
Hinckley Reservation

BEST 5-MILE HIKE WITH YOUR DOG
Hemlock Trail/Castle Valley Trail/Squire's Lane Trail - North Chagrin Reservation

PRETTIEST HIKE WITH YOUR DOG
Holden Arboretum

BEST HALF-HOUR HIKE WITH YOUR DOG
 Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park

MOST HISTORIC HIKE FOR YOUR DOG
Squaw Rock Loop - South Chagrin Reservation

BEST HIKE THROUGH MEADOWS
Virginia Kendall Unit- Cuyahoga Valley National Park

PARK YOU WOULD MOST WANT DOGS ALLOWED WHERE THEY CURRENTLY CAN'T GO
Seiberling Nature Realm