Complete Guide For A Dog Friendly Outdoor Adventure in NWA

Northwest Arkansas is home to some of the world's best outdoor activities and adventures so naturally we understand you probably want to bring your four-legged friend along with you on these adventures. Whether you want to see the amazing Ozark mountains on a hike, or walk the trails around our beautiful lakes, or even let your dog roam the local dog parks, Northwest Arkansas has it all! For this blog, we compiled a list of some of the most popular and favorite areas to get outdoors with your furry friend.

Hiking

For the most part, on a majority of hiking trails, you are allowed to bring dogs as long as they are on a leash. However, we chose trails and hikes that offer shady areas to rest and access to water (on the majority of them). We ALWAYS recommend bringing your four-legged friend a collapsible water bowl and water, especially on longer trails and not expect water to be present. All trails listed are easy to moderate in difficulty.

Devil's Den State Park (Washington County): Devil's Den State Park has dozens of amazing trails that allow dogs as long as they are on a leash. These trails range from hard to easy in difficulty and from less than a mile up to 15 miles in length. Depending on what type of adventure you want to have with your four-legged friend Devil's Den State Park is a great way to explore the Ozarks close to Fayetteville. 

• Lee Creek Trail: This is a great easy-going trail to take a dog out for a hike on. It winds through the forest on the first part then along the river bank. Most of the year the water in the creek is around 2 feet deep and is perfect for wading in during the warmer months. This is a 1.3-mile loop and very easygoing and is perfect if you want a less crowded trail.
• Devil's Den Trail: This 1.6-mile easy-to-moderate trail is another favorite for taking our four-legged friends to. This trail has a lot of cool features like a waterfall in the spring and a wooden bridge that crosses over a creek. It is important to note this trail can be busy so if your hound is nervous around strangers then we recommend going in the early morning when it's less crowded. 

Tanyard Creek (Benton County): A favorite of ours is Tanyard Creek with features in several of our other blogs so it comes as no surprise it has once again made our list. The easygoing nature trail is a great way to explore and hike around with your furry friend. A few important things to note is there is a faucet at the trailhead for filling up your dog's water bowl. Another thing is if you take the full nature loop there is a suspension bridge that can be wobbly and some animals may get nervous on it. 

Lake Leatherwood (Carroll County): The Lake Leatherwood loop near Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a great place for a hike with your dog during your visit to Eureka. This easy-to-moderate 2.4-mile loop is a great place for a summer or fall stroll. For a lot of the trail there is a leash requirement but what makes Lake Leatherwood unique is there are some areas that allow your hound to be off-leash. Making this a great area to explore with your furry friend. 

Lake Sequoyah (Washington County): Located a short drive from campus is the beautiful Lake Sequoyah. Our favorite trail is the easy-rated 2.1-mile-long shoreline trail. Expect this hike to take you and your pal around 45 minutes. This is a great trail because it goes along the water and there will be lots of things to sniff and explore. There is also access to water and benches to rest along the trail. Also, expect the trail to be mostly shaded but areas along the shoreline will not be. Your furry friend will have to be on a leash for this trail.

Lake Wilson (Washington County): The Joe Clark Trail at Lake Wilson is one of the best hikes for you and your pup close to Fayetteville. The 2.1-mile long, easy to moderate-rated trail is the perfect weekend hike. This is one of the very few dog-friendly off-leash areas in Northwest Arkansas making it a unique hike for you and your four-legged friend. The boat ramp near the trailhead is a popular area for a water break before or after your hike. 

Bottom left image courtesy of April Rae Mallord

Walks

If you are wanting to stay closer to town or aren't feeling a hike then a walk is still a great way to partake in outdoor recreation with your four-legged friend! A lot of these paved walking areas can be busy on weekends and days with nice weather. If you want to avoid the crowds early morning or the evening is a great way to get a little more peace on the paths. 

Lake Atalanta (Rogers): This is a local favorite spot to go for a walk. The over 4 miles of paved walking trails that wind around the park are great to explore all seasons with your furry friend. Some key features are the boardwalks that follow the shoreline, the creeks fed by Frisco Springs, and lots of different birds that inhabit the area. The park does require your pet to be on a leash unless at the nearby dog park. There is also a water fountain at the public restrooms and a doggie station to throw away waste. 

Compton Garden & Crystal Bridges (Bentonville): If you and your dog are located or find yourself in Bentonville then walking around the paved trails at the Compton Gardens and Crystal Bridges is the perfect place for a nature walk. These paved trails wind through the forested woods which provides good shade on hot summer days. There are lots of creeks along the trail for your furry friend to cool off if they get too hot while exploring the over 3.5 miles of paved trail. 

Osage Park (Bentonville): Another great place to explore is Osage Park in Bentonville, Arkansas. Osage Park is a preserved wetland with 12 acres of boardwalk and paved trails. Also at Osage Park is a pavilion for some shade after a walk on a summer day as well as food trucks, and even a dog park to explore after your walk. 

Coler Mountain Bike Preserve (Bentonville): Don't let the name fool you Coler Mountain Bike Preserve is an excellent area to go walk with your dog and has lots of trails that are multi-use and allow pets on leashes to enjoy. The natural feel of Coler as the trails wind through the forests and along creeks may make you think you're deep in the Ozarks but you are actually located a short drive away from the charming downtown Bentonville. Our favorite walk with a four-legged friend is to park at the North Gateway and take the Applegate trail south. This paved easy-going trail will follow the creek with plenty of areas to stop and dip a paw into. If you follow the trail for a little under a mile you will arrive at Airship Coffee. This is an open-air patio and coffee shop. This is a great place to grab a coffee or beer and sit under some shade. Airship does have a watering station for your pets as well, making this the perfect walk to explore nature and have some modern comforts.

Cultural Arts Corridor (AKA The Ramble, Fayetteville): The most iconic paved trail in Northwest Arkansas is the Razorback Regional Greenway. The Greenway has dozens of access points across the region but one access point in Fayetteville is one of our favorites. As part of the new Cultural Arts Corridor, the Ramble is one of the more unique areas to access the greenway. Just southwest of the Fayetteville public library is where you will find the ramble to access the greenway. With lots of cool bridges and stairs, you and your furry friend will have a blast exploring the newly constructed access point. 

Lake Fayetteville (Fayetteville): Another Fayetteville favorite for walking your dog is Lake Fayetteville. The 5.5-mile-long paved trail that winds all around the lake is a great way to go for walks both short and long distances. We recommend parking at the public lot on the Northwest corner of the lake near the food trucks. There is a public restroom with a drinking fountain to fill up with water before or after your walk. From there you can take the paved Lake Fayetteville Trail south and head towards Veterans Memorial Park or east towards the Bicycle Skills Park. Both wind through the forests and along the shoreline near the spillway and will provide lots of things to smell and see.

"Paw-tios" & Dog-Friendly Hangouts

Need some hangout spots to grab a drink or a bite to eat that is dog friendly? We've got you. Northwest Arkansas is full of amazing dog-friendly establishments and we could never list them all since there are so many! However, we selected these locations based on the idea of a "dog-friendly adventure" so the locations are near local parks and lakes making for the perfect day out with your four-legged friend. 

Good Dog Cafe (Fayetteville): Located off of Huntsville Road in Fayetteville only a few minutes from campus this dog-themed cafe is the perfect stop if you are headed to the trails at Lake Sequoyah or Lake Wilson. This dog-themed cafe serves coffee and sandwiches. What makes this a must-stop is the backyard has lots of space for pets to play with toys and have fun. During the hotter months, there are also three pools filled with cool water for your dog to cool down in and socialize with other four-legged friends. 

Sassy's Red House (Fayetteville): Sassy's Red House is another local favorite and has a great patio for you and your furry friend to hang out after an adventure. We recommend getting on the greenway at the Ramble in Fayetteville and heading north and then to Wilson Park where you can cool off in the shade and explore the creeks. Then Sassy's is a short walk from Wilson Park which makes this a great excursion with your pup. 

City Pump (Rogers): If you and your dog are exploring the dog park or the trails around Lake Atalanta then you might consider stopping at the City Pump Patio. There is a covered patio with outside seating with food trucks and a cocktail place. If you are looking to beat the summer heat and have a shady place to eat with your furry friend after your outdoor adventure near Rogers then this is a great dog-friendly place to stop. 

Bentonville Brewing Company (Bentonville): If you find yourself walking around Osage Park or having fun at the Osage Dog Park a short walk along the boardwalks will lead you to Bentonville Brewing Company. The patio at Bentonville Brewing is a great atmosphere and place to hang out and have some craft beer or stop by the food trucks and grab a bite to eat. 

Bike Rack Brewing Company (Bentonville): Located a little over a mile south of both the Bentonville Dog Park as well as the Compton Gardens and Crystal Bridges, Bike Rack Brewing Company is a great place to hang out after a fun day with your pup. While marketed as a place to hang out after a bike ride it also is a great spot for you and your four-legged friend to have a drink or listen to some live music. The covered patio also provides shade to help beat the heat and cool off on the warmer days as well. 

Local Flavor (Eureka Springs): Local Flavor is a great dog-friendly restaurant and patio to hang out with your pup after exploring Eureka Springs. After visiting the trails of Lake Leatherwood, the Eureka Springs Bark Park, or maybe walking around the shops you'll want a place to sit down and hangout and Local Flavor is a great dog-friendly place to do so. During the summer months, the patio can get busy, and expect to see other furry friends out there as well. 

Amigos (Eureka Springs): Yet another great spot in Eureka Springs that has been touted as dog friendly the Amigos. Like everywhere else you will have to sit on the patio if you have your pup with you. But this is a great place to enjoy the amazing Ozark weather and hang out with your four-legged friend. 

Tips For Your Adventure

• Always pick up after your dog! It helps keep places clean and open for others to enjoy
• Keep dogs on leash on all trails unless in an area off-leash is allowed. 
• Take lots of breaks with your furry friend. A majority of the trails above have benches for resting.
• Before leaving check to make sure your dog's collar and ID tag is securely attached. If they slip off their leash having the collar will help them get back home! 
• Remember you are in nature. This means your pup could encounter a lot of potentially dangerous things like poison ivy, snakes, or spiders. You aren't in danger as long as you pay attention, keep yourself and your four-legged friend at a safe distance, and stay on the designated trails. 
• Pack for your trip!
  • Water and a collapsible bowl
  • Leashes
  • Disposable waste bags
  • The outdoors has a lot of biting bugs so we recommend pet-friendly insect repellent. 
  • Protective pet clothing like booties can help your pup's pads on hard and rocky surfaces.