As a dog-lover myself, I can have fun regardless of which trail North and I choose to explore. But truth be told, with paws on the ground, we do have our favorites that we will hike again and again. Hiking with your 4-legged best friend is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Each adventure gets to be different. These dog-friendly hiking trails are sure to get your furry companion excited for some adventure! For additional pet-friendly hikes, check our Dog-Friendly Adventures category.

North and I came together to share our favorite trails with you. We hope that your next adventure with your furry companion will be to one of these beautiful trails where the views take your breath away!

If you’re hiking in Virginia with your furry companion, I created a free Dog-Friendly Hiking Checklist to help you pack smarter, stay safe, and enjoy the adventure stress-free.

Upper Hawksbill Trail

• Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA, milepost 46.5 on Skyline Drive
• Park Fee: $30 per vehicle
• Length of Trail: 2.1 miles
• Elevation: 498 feet
• Type of Trail: Out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate

The Upper Hawksbill trail is our favorite of all the trails we’ve explored in the Shenandoah National Park to date. In our opinion, it is one of the most beautiful dog-friendly hiking trails in the park, offering a stunning view from the summit. The parking for this trail specifically can fill up quickly. I recommend arriving early to ensure you have parking. The terrain is a mix of a wide-open wooded path that leads to a gravel section that can be slippery on the way back down if you’re not careful. The trail is rated moderate based on the initial incline. Don’t worry, it doesn’t last forever. It took us a little over an hour to complete this trail. If you’re lucky, you might spot a deer or two on your way up. With North’s keen satellites (aka: her ears), she’s been able to detect 2 deer on our hike here. It’s quite the adventure. A stare off between her and the deer. Guess who runs first?

Be sure to pack a lunch or some tasty snacks for your visit to the summit. You’re not going to want to leave once you’re there. The views from the Upper Hawksbill trail are to die for! Imagine just you, your dog, endless skies, and an entire 360-view of the Shenandoah National Park sitting right in front of you! It’s an incredible view! As many times as I’ve been, I still take photos on each visit. It never gets old.

Bears Den Trail

• Location: Bluemont, VA
• Length of Trail: 1.6 miles
• Elevation: 285 feet
• Type of Trail: Out and back
• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Bears Den is one of the fairly simple but rewarding dog-friendly hiking trails in Northern Virginia. The terrain is not terrible or strenuous, but there are some rocky areas, so watch your footing. This trail can be finished between 30 minutes to an hour. We usually take our time and North loves to sniff all the smells on the way up and down.

You’ll want to arrive early on the weekends to hike this trail. There is plenty of parking available; however, due to heavy traffic on the weekends, it can fill up quite fast. We recommend you arrive early to enjoy the views without all the people. One of the bonuses to this trail is its location. It is across the street from Bears Chase Brewery. It’s also dog-friendly, making it the perfect spot to stop after a hike for a cold beer, some lunch, live music, and a gorgeous backdrop of the mountains. Dogs are allowed at Bear Chase in, the outdoor section. They must be kept on a 6-foot leash and please remember to clean up after your pet. Overall, it’s a win-win!

Mary’s Rock via the Appalachian Trail (Southern Approach)

• Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA, milepost 33.5 on Skyline Drive
• Length of Trail: 3.1 miles
• Elevation: 853 feet
• Type of Trail: Out and back
• Difficulty: Difficult

If you’re looking for a challenging hike, this will be your must-do! Mary’s Rock is not for the faint of heart. It has many inclines, some switchbacks, and narrow pathways at various points. It’s a rewarding hike for both you and your furry companion. The terrain is a mix of some rocky areas and tree roots. Watch your footing. This hike took North and me approximately 1.5 hours out and back (including our break at the summit). The Meadows Spring Parking area is not very big, and it does fill up fast on the weekends. Arrive early!

I consider this one of the dog-friendly hiking trails that is more challenging for not just you, but your dog, too! You’ll want to be sure to pack extra food for your dog and plenty of water for both of you. North and I usually take mini-breaks on the way up to hydrate. The view at the top makes all those challenging moments worth it. We’ve done this hike multiple times. The summit can be extremely cold if it’s a cooler day (expect lots of wind). You can also experience the most gorgeous sunny day and breezy at the top. In either case, this hike is worth the effort!

Hemlock Hollow, Bluebell and Overlook Trail

• Location: Shenandoah River State Park (Benton, VA)
• Length of Trail: 4.3 miles
• Elevation: 413 feet
• Type of Trail: Loop
• Difficulty: Easy

Little did I know what we were going to encounter on this lovely dog-friendly hiking trail. This is a combination of 3 trails in one. The Bluebell Trail was by far my favorite part of the entire hike! Shade is abundant on this trail, which is nice during the spring and summertime. The bluebells did not disappoint! I felt like we were in a sea of bluebells with the river right there on our side to mirror the scenery. Just when you thought you had seen all the bluebells, more were filling the grounds around you. The terrain is fairly easy to navigate. It is primarily flat ground with small inclines throughout the Hemlock and Overlook portions of the trail. There are some tree roots along the trail, so watching your footing is important. This trail took us approximately 2 hours to complete.

We hiked this in early spring when the fall leaves were still in full swing on the ground on the Overlook trail that connects to the Bluebell Trail. North decided she would sniff around, and she found us a snake amongst the leaves. Needless to say, I screamed (shocked) and we ran! There’s always excitement on our explorations with a GSD and that nose of hers!

** Remember to please Leave No Trace behind when visiting our beautiful national and state parks. **

Looking for new trails? Browse our Hiking Adventures for more options.

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Christine

Hi, I'm Christine – a day-hiker, mindset explorer, and founder of Adventures Beyond Boundaries, sharing adventures with my favorite German Shepherd, North, that help women live boldly, trust themselves, and chase joy.