It’s summer, which means warmer temps, sunny skies, and longer daylight hours. It’s the season for after-work hikes and weekend exploration—and from your pup’s POV: lots of new smells to sniff, streams to wade in, and sticks to find. While you and your dog likely have your go-to local routes, we wanted to share a few epic trails in some of our favorite places—Maine, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming—to kickstart your summer adventures.
Of course, as you head out this summer, be prepared with proper safety precautions depending on the region (ex. perform tick checks in Maine and practice bear safety in Wyoming), bring plenty of water, and make sure your dog has the right gear to keep them safe. (Here are a few more tips to make sure your dog is trail-ready.)
MAINE
Maine is a pine-laden paradise for dog-friendly hikes. While the state is known best for its rocky coastline and expansive views of the Atlantic, there are also plenty of trails that skirt inland lakes or climb Appalachian peaks. No matter what region in Maine is your pick, there are wicked nice trails for you and your dog to explore.
Wolfe’s Neck State Park – Freeport, Maine
Best for: idyllic ocean views, spotting birds, easy access
Hike distance: four trail options that range from .5 to 1.8 miles
Difficulty: easy
Leash required: yes
Tucked along the coastline just a few miles from Freeport’s main street and outlet shopping, Wolfe’s Neck State Park offers a serene escape into marshland, pine and hemlock forests, and the rocky coastline of Casco Bay. There are four trails in the park (White Pines, Harraseeket, North Loop, and Casco Bay) that offer just over four miles of mellow exploration. As Wolfe’s Neck is a state park, there is a small entry fee ($4 for Maine residents and $6 for non-residents), which goes toward supporting the preservation of this beautiful wilderness.
Mount Will Trail – Bethel, Maine
Best for: views of the Androscoggin River Valley, trailside blackberries, easy access
Distance: 3-mile loop
Difficulty: moderate
Leash required: yes
If you find yourself in Western Maine, the Mount Will Trail is a two-hour loop just off Route 2 in the town of Bethel. The trail winds through grassy areas and pine forest on the way to two scenic overlooks that offer views of the Androscoggin River Valley. With a handful of steep sections, this hike is great for an active and energetic pup who is comfortable scrambling over rocky outcroppings (though most of the trail is dirt). Pro tip: Stop at the Good Food Store in Bethel to grab a snack for you and a biscuit for your furry companion before you start the hike.
OREGON
The Pacific Northwest is a true gem that really shines in summer. Oregon’s topography has so many options for dog-friendly exploration, from rolling coastline to the Mt. Hood National Forest to eastern high desert—and of course plenty of rivers, streams, and waterfalls to enjoy. Depending on where you find yourself in this summer paradise, there are plenty of fantastic, dog-friendly trails for warm weather adventures.
Salmon River Trail: Short Option – Welches, Oregon
Best for: gazing at wildflowers, skipping river stones, avoiding crowds
Distance: 7.2 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: moderate
Leash required: yes, with off-leash allowed in some areas.
If you’re looking for a walk in the woods, the Salmon River Trail is a picturesque option. Just an hour’s drive outside of Portland, this hike is snuggled below Mt. Hood in old growth forest, complete with wildflowers, wooden bridges, and dappled Oregon sunlight. Much of the trail runs parallel to the river, which in mid- and late summer offers shallow spots for wading. (This is a section of the much longer Salmon River Trail, which extends for an additional 18 miles.)
Note: You need a National Forest recreation pass on display in your car to access any trails in the Mt. Hood National Forest. A pass is $5 a day or $30 a year and can be purchased locally in Welches, as well as Sandy and Zigzag (additional information on National Forest recreation passes and where to purchase them).
Drift Creek Falls Trail – Lincoln City, Oregon
Best for: waterfall views, serene forest vibes, dogs and people who enjoy heights
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: moderate
Leash required: yes
Oregon is known for its beautiful waterfalls and while there are plenty of trails that lead to rushing water, one of our favorites is Drift Creek Falls Trail in Siuslaw National Forest outside of Lincoln City. The wide trail descends as you leave the trailhead, flanked by Douglas-fir regrowth and Sitka spruce. About halfway into the hike, you’ll reach a suspension bridge over a sizable gorge and get your first view of the falls, a 66-foot tall beauty that makes the confluence of the North Fork of Drift Creek with the main river. Just a ways further, you’ll enter a clearing with another beautiful view of the falls. While you'll certainly run into some other hikers and pups while on this trail, it’s one of the lesser-busy waterfall hikes you’ll find—an ideal Oregon outing with your furry best friend.
Good Dog! – Bend, Oregon
Best for: off-leash exploring, choose-your-own-adventure trails, river swimming
Distance: 3.5-mile loop
Difficulty: easy
Leash required: no
Good Dog! is a dream-come-true dog park just outside of Bend. While the trail is technically 3.5 miles, the variety of possible routes mean you can go for as long or short of a walk as you’d like. About a mile into the park, you’ll reach the Deschutes River and a perfect spot for cooling off. With the close access to town, Good Dog! understandably draws a crowd, so this doggy paradise is ideal for pooches who have good recall and are comfortable around their peers. If you’re new to Good Dog!, we recommend downloading a map of the trail system because there are so many route options.
UTAH
Utah’s expansive access to western wilderness is a siren song for those who love the outdoors, and with plenty of dog-friendly trails and parks, the state is perfect for adventurous outings with your four-legged friends. There are peaks to bag, southern deserts to explore, and waterfalls to wander by, but it’s important to keep safety in mind when hitting the trail in the Beehive State. Make sure to bring plenty of water for you and your dog, avoid hot summer temps, be aware of potential wildlife dangers, and keep your pooch protected with the right gear (like our V2 Dog Goggles and Wagwear WagWellies Mojave boots).
Parley’s Historic Nature Park Trail Loop (Tanner Park) – Salt Lake City, Utah
Best for: lunchbreak fresh air, off-leash exploration, dips in the creek
Distance: 1.9 miles
Difficulty level: easy
Leash required: no
Located in the heart of Salt Lake City just off I-80, this easy dog park loop drops down toward the mouth of Parley’s Canyon. A few steps out of the parking lot and you’ll feel like you left the city behind. Perfect for a quick break outside during lunch or after work, Tanner Park’s wide-open trail has plenty of space for dogs to explore while in eyesight of their humans. At the end of the park is a shallow creek that’s great for a dip on hot days. This is a locals’ favorite in SLC, so make sure your pooch is comfortable around other dogs and has good recall skills before heading here.
Scout Cave Trail – St. George, Utah
Best for: off-season exploration, cool rock formations, gorgeous views
Distance: 3.4 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: moderate
Leash required: yes
When snow hits the Salt Lake region, head south to the more temperate St. George for plenty of dog-friendly hikes. Winter in Southern Utah is an ideal time to explore to avoid the too-hot temperatures of summer in the desert. (Make sure to bring plenty of water and appropriate footwear for your dog as needed, though!) A fifteen-minute drive from St. George, just south of Snow Canyon State Park, Scout Cave Trail will ensure you get your fill of beautiful red sandstone cliffs and unique lava flow formations, culminating (of course) in a cool cave with sweeping views.
Dog Lake – Salt Lake City, Utah
Best for: dogs that love to swim, games of lakeside fetch, views of the Wasatch
Distance: 5.6 miles (Big Water Trail out-and-back) or 4.6 miles (Big Water and Little Water Loop)
Difficulty level: moderate
Leash required: leash required on even-numbered days, off-leash permitted on odd-numbered days
If your canine companion loves the water, get their tail wagging with a trip to Dog Lake. Nestled in Utah’s Wasatch Range, Dog Lake is accessible from both Millcreek Canyon on the eastern side of Salt Lake City as well as Big Cottonwood Canyon, but take note, dogs are only allowed on trail via Millcreek (the Big Cottonwood access is in a dog-prohibited watershed area). Big Water Trail will take you there-and-back in just under three hours, while linking with Little Water Trail is a slightly shorter loop option. While the lake at the end of the hike is the big payoff, the scenery isn’t bad either. Make this hike in fall to enjoy fewer crowds and gorgeous aspen foliage.
Note: Big Water and Little Water trails are under construction to increase accessibility through December 2025, but this hike is so much fun that we had to include it on this list. Mark your calendars for 2026.
WYOMING
We might be biased, but Wyoming (the home of Rex Specs), offers some of the most incredible hiking and trails with plenty of dog-friendly routes. We tend to shy away from the National Parks when we’ve got our pups in tow as the parks have more canine restrictions. Luckily, the Cowboy State has so much terrain to explore and much of it is National Forest Service Land, where well-marked trails abound. If you are itching for beautiful mountain views, alpine lakes, and wildflower-dotted meadows, hitting the trails in Wyoming with your dog is for you.
Cache Creek Trail – Jackson, Wyoming
Best for: splashing and swimming, easy access, weekday adventures
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty level: easy to moderate (some steep sections)
Leash required: required for the first half mile, then off-leash permitted
Find yourself in the summer paradise of Jackson and need to get outside stat? Cache Creek Trail is just two miles out of town. Because of its close proximity, this trail is quite popular, so we recommend heading out on weekdays to avoid the crowds. You and your dog will enjoy open spaces, wildlife spotting, and of course, a creek for a mid-hike cooldown. This trail is located in the Bridger-Teton National Forest and is part of the Greater Snow King Trail System, which offers twenty miles of connecting routes if you want to extend your outing. Cache Creek is also great for mountain biking, if your pup loves to race along as you pedal!
Shadow Mountain – Kelly, Wyoming
Best for: views of the Tetons, fewer crowds, lots of wildflowers
Distance: 4.9 miles out-and-back
Difficulty: moderate
Leash required: yes
Shadow Mountain, which is off the beaten path in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, is perfect for adventurous pooches. The trail has some steep sections, but the effort is well worth the reward—beautiful views of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton that are visible throughout the hike and an alpine meadow at the top, perfect for a water and biscuit break. Note: We recommend a 4WD vehicle with high clearance to access the trailhead of Shadow Mountain.
Green River Lakes Loop – Cora, Wyoming
Best for: gorgeous views, fewer crowds, lakes for swimming
Distance: 7.7-mile loop
Difficulty level: moderate
Leash required: yes
What’s better than a walk along a lake with your water-loving pooch? A walk along two lakes! The Green River Lakes Loop skirts the shores of both Upper and Lower Green River Lakes, offering ample opportunities for splashing games of fetch. This 7.7-mile loop is located in the Wind River Range, a strikingly beautiful 80-mile stretch of mountains in Western Wyoming that is known for its alpine lakes and meadows that stretch below tall, jagged peaks. While on this trail, you’ll get views of Flat Top Mountain, Square Top Mountain, and Lost Eagle Peak. One important reminder: This area is grizzly territory, so keep your dog on a leash and make sure you take necessary precautions.
Looking for the right gear to outfit your dog for hitting the trail? Check out our Trailhead Harness and Trailhead Leash, as well as our V2 Goggle.