Dog-Friendly Adventures

Castile, NY

Letchworth State Park

Grand Canyon of the East with three major waterfalls and a 600-foot gorge. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

Hiking
Ages 2+
~4h
Paid

Ithaca, NY

Robert H. Treman State Park

Gorge trails, multiple waterfalls, and a stunning natural swimming hole near Ithaca. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip.

Swimming
Ages 3+
~3h
Paid

Lake Placid, NY

Mount Jo Trail

Short family hike with a spectacular High Peaks panorama above Heart Lake. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. About two hours.

Hiking
Ages 4+
~2h
Paid

Poughkeepsie, NY

Walkway Over the Hudson

Walk 212 feet above the Hudson River on the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. Free. Works from toddler age.

Hiking
Ages 2+
~1h
Free

Dansville, NY

Stony Brook State Park Camping

Wooded campsites beside two stream-fed swimming pools dammed right into the creek bed, a much quieter alternative to Watkins Glen

Camping
Ages 3+
Overnight
Paid

Inlet, NY

Limekiln Lake Campground

Large pine-shaded campground on a clear lake near Inlet, with a sandy beach, boat launch and the Moose River Plains at the gate

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Middleburgh, NY

Vroman's Nose

Short hike to a cliff-top meadow with sweeping Schoharie Valley views. Free. Best from about age 5. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

Hiking
Ages 5+
~2h
Free

Newcomb, NY

Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower

Family-friendly fire tower hike with interpretive signs and High Peaks views. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

Hiking
Ages 5+
~3h
Free

Pilot Knob, NY

Buck Mountain Trail

Challenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. Easily a full day.

Hiking
Ages 7+
~5h
Free

Pulaski, NY

Selkirk Shores State Park

Bluff-top campground on Lake Ontario with beach and Salmon River access. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Romulus, NY

Sampson State Park Camping

Big Seneca Lake campground with a pool, marina and beach, and the most reliable availability when the gorge parks are full

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Shandaken, NY

Giant Ledge Trail

Popular hike to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints in the Catskill Mountains. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day trip.

Hiking
Ages 6+
~3h
Free

Bend, TX

Colorado Bend State Park

70-foot Gorman Falls waterfall with spring-fed swimming holes. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. Easily a full day. Dogs welcome.

Hiking
Ages 4+
~5h
Paid

Burnet, TX

Inks Lake State Park

Spring-fed lake swimming and cliff jumping at Devil's Waterhole. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

Swimming
Ages 3+
~4h
Paid

Glen Rose, TX

Dinosaur Valley State Park

Real dinosaur tracks in a riverbed plus 20 miles of trails. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome.

Hiking
Ages 3+
~4h
Paid

Cedar Hill, TX

Cedar Hill State Park

Family-friendly state park on Joe Pool Lake just 20 minutes from Dallas - swimming, hiking, camping, and mountain biking for all ages

Hiking
Ages 3+
~4h
Paid

Cedar Park, TX

Brushy Creek Regional Trail

14-mile paved trail with playgrounds connecting Cedar Park and Round Rock. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours.

Biking
Ages 2+
~2h
Free

Denison, TX

Eisenhower State Park

Blufftop trails and lake swimming on Lake Texoma. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day trip. Dogs welcome. Moderate effort.

Camping
Ages 3+
~4h
Paid

Moody, TX

Mother Neff State Park

First Texas state park with limestone sinkhole pool and historic CCC buildings. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. About two hours.

Hiking
Ages 3+
~2h
Paid

Plano, TX

Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Family-friendly trails and an observation tower in Plano. Free. Works from toddler age. About two hours. Stroller-friendly.

Hiking
Ages 2+
~2h
Free

Port Aransas, TX

Mustang Island State Park

Beachfront camping and bay kayak trail with dolphin sightings. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Easily a full day. Dogs welcome.

Camping
Ages 2+
~5h
Paid

Rockport, TX

Goose Island State Park

Coastal camping by a 1,000-year-old oak with bay fishing and whooping cranes. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip.

Camping
Ages 2+
~4h
Paid

Tyler, TX

Tyler State Park

Spring-fed lake swimming with a sandy beach, paddleboat rentals, and 13 miles of piney-woods trails at CCC-era Tyler State Park in East Texas

Swimming
Ages 2+
~4h
Paid

Wylie, TX

East Fork Park

Sandy swim beach and lakeside camping on Lake Lavon. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. A half-day trip. Stroller-friendly.

Camping
Ages 2+
~4h
Paid

Hawi, HI

Pololu Valley Trail

Steep trail to a remote black sand beach in a dramatic cliff-lined valley. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. About two hours.

Hiking
Ages 6+
~2h
Free

Honolulu, HI

Koko Crater Railway Trail

1,048-step staircase up a volcanic crater with panoramic coastal views. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. About two hours.

Hiking
Ages 8+
~2h
Free

Kapalua, HI

Dragon's Teeth (Makaluapuna Point)

Jagged lava formations shaped like dragon teeth on a windswept coastal point. Free. Best from about age 4. About an hour.

Hiking
Ages 4+
~1h
Free

Kilauea, HI

Secret Beach (Kauapea)

Stunning hidden beach accessed by a jungle trail on Kauai north shore. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. About two hours. Dogs welcome.

Nature
Ages 6+
~2h
Free

Koloa, HI

Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail

Coastal trail along lithified dunes, sea cliffs, and ancient petroglyph caves. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

Hiking
Ages 5+
~3h
Free

Koloa, HI

Spouting Horn

Natural ocean blowhole shooting water through a lava tube with an eerie moan. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

Nature
Ages 2+
~0.5h
Free

Kualapuu, HI

Kalaupapa Lookout

View from the world's highest sea cliffs down to the historic Kalaupapa Peninsula. Free. Works from toddler age. About an hour.

Nature
Ages 2+
~1h
Free

Kula, HI

Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area

Cool mountain forest of redwoods and pines on Haleakala that feels like the Pacific Northwest. Free. Better for ages 6 and up.

Hiking
Ages 6+
~3h
Free

Lanai City, HI

Garden of the Gods (Keahiakawelo)

Otherworldly red rock formations on Lanai's back roads (Keahiakawelo) - free to visit, but a 4WD vehicle is required to reach the site

Nature
Ages 3+
~1h
Free

Pahoa, HI

Lava Tree State Monument

Eerie forest of lava-molded tree columns from a 1790 eruption. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour. Stroller-friendly.

Hiking
Ages 3+
~1h
Free

Waianae, HI

Keawa'ula (Yokohama Bay)

Remote end-of-the-road beach with mountain backdrop and access to Ka ena Point trail. Free. Best from about age 5. A half-day trip.

Swimming
Ages 5+
~3h
Free

Wailuku, HI

Nakalele Blowhole

Natural ocean blowhole shooting water 100 feet high on a dramatic lava coast. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. About an hour.

Hiking
Ages 6+
~1h
Free

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend State Park

Oklahoma's premier family state park with trails and river access in the Ouachita Mountains. Paid entry. Works from toddler age.

Hiking
Ages 2+
~4h
Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Broken Bow Lake

Crystal-clear 14,000-acre mountain lake with calm swimming coves and 180 miles of shoreline. Free. Works from toddler age.

Swimming
Ages 2+
~3h
Free

Wilburton, OK

Robbers Cave State Park Camping and Cabins

Classic Oklahoma state park with campgrounds, cabins and a real outlaw cave in the sandstone bluffs of the San Bois Mountains

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Broken Bow, OK

Beaver Lodge Nature Trail

Easy 2-mile forest loop trail through towering pines in Beavers Bend State Park. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

Hiking
Ages 3+
~1h
Free

Broken Bow, OK

Beavers Bend State Park Campgrounds

Family campgrounds along the Mountain Fork River in Beavers Bend State Park. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. Plan to stay overnight.

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Broken Bow, OK

David Boren Hiking Trail

Premier 12-mile trail system with lake views and flexible routes in Beavers Bend State Park. Free. Better for ages 6 and up.

Hiking
Ages 6+
~3h
Free

Broken Bow, OK

Friends Trail Loop

Popular 1.5-mile family loop with a river waterfall in Beavers Bend State Park. Free. Best from about age 3. About an hour.

Hiking
Ages 3+
~1h
Free

Fort Towson, OK

Raymond Gary State Park Camping

Small shaded lakeside campground and swimming area east of Hugo, and a workable overflow option when Beavers Bend is booked solid

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Hodgen, OK

Cedar Lake Recreation Area Camping

National forest campground on a small lake with a sandy swim beach and a flat shoreline loop trail kids can walk on their own

Camping
Ages 3+
Overnight
Paid

Hugo, OK

Hugo Lake State Park Camping

Quiet lakeside state park camping on Hugo Lake, a calmer alternative to Beavers Bend about 90 minutes west of Broken Bow

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Valliant, OK

Pine Creek Lake Camping

Basic Army Corps campgrounds on a quiet reservoir west of Broken Bow, for families who want an empty boat ramp over restaurants

Camping
Ages 3+
Overnight
Paid

Wister, OK

Lake Wister State Park Camping

Shoreline camping areas and cabins on Lake Wister in the Ouachita foothills, an easy pairing with the Talimena Scenic Drive

Camping
Ages 2+
Overnight
Paid

Dunedin, FL

Honeymoon Island State Park

Drive-on barrier island with calm Gulf swimming, excellent shelling, an osprey trail and one of Florida's best dog beaches.

Swimming
Ages 1+
~4h
Paid

Tierra Verde, FL

Fort De Soto Park

Five interconnected islands with a shallow lagoon beach built for toddlers, a Spanish-American War fort, and a paddling trail.

Swimming
Ages 1+
~5h
Paid