With Fall officially arriving later on this week, we would like to share with you a few of our favorite Dog Friendly Hikes in New England. Click on the highlighted name for more information, including directions, weather forecast and photos. For additional tail wagging destinations, please visit our Dog Friendly Places recommendations. And as always, be sure to check back to Living with a Golden often, because a new review is added every Tuesday!
Off The Beaten Path: Cutler Preserve, Cutler, ME
The Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land, also known as the Cutler Preserve, in Cutler, Maine is a moderate to difficult dog friendly hike, with breathtaking views of the Bold Coast. Consisting of over 12,000 acres of remote wilderness with trails through dense forest, open meadows and along jagged cliffs for dramatic views of coastal headlands, the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land is far off the beaten path of Acadia and offers solitude away from the tourist crowds.
Land and Sea: Mount Agamenticus, York, ME
Consisting of over 10,000 acres and 40 miles of trails, Mount Agamenticus in York, Maine offers endless opportunities for dog friendly hiking. From the summit on Big A Trail, on a clear day there are views of the Isles of Shoals, Cape Elizabeth, Casco Bay, the Boston skyline, and the Presidential Range including Mount Washington. Thus making this a great place to view the fall foliage.
Forgotten Grandeur: Madame Sherri Forest, Chesterfield, NH
Nestled in Madame Sherri Forest in Chesterfield, New Hampshire is a beautiful stone stairway to nowhere, making for a unique dog friendly hike. The stairway and a few ruins are all that remain of a “castle” that once graced these woods. Today Madame Sherri Forest is 513 acres with an extensive trail network ranging from a quick walk to the ruins to more rigorous trails with views of New Hampshire’s mountains.
Reaching new Heights: Mt Keasarge, Warner, NH
Mt. Kearsarge, located in Warner and Wilton, New Hampshire, is a popular dog friendly hike. Accessible by two state parks, it is our family’s tradition to access it by way of Rollins State Park in Warner, NH. There you will find a moderate to difficult hike, but worth the effort for the beautiful summit views of Mt. Monadnock to the hills of New Hampshire’s coastal plain. The summits of Pack Monadnock, Crotched and Uncanoonuc Mountains, the hills of central Massachusetts, and the Boston skyline are all visible on the horizon on clear days, and nearby Mink Hills and Merrimack River Valley can also be seen.
Choose Your Own Adventure: Maudslay State Park, Newburyport, MA
The extensive grounds of Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, MA with its 480 acres of historic landscapes including an elaborate network of carriage roads, open meadows and scenic overlooks of the Merrimack River, offers something for everyone to enjoy a dog friendly day out. There are miles of hiking trails that crisscross the park through dense forest and open fields. Or for a more leisurely dog walk, we recommend the formal English gardens and sculpture park. Throughout the park there are glimpses of the former Moseley family estate with its rhododendron and azalea lined paths, historic stone bridges, and foundations of the mansion and outbuildings.
History Hike: Battle Road Trail, Concord, MA
Follow in the footsteps of the Minute Men and British Soldiers on that fateful day of April 19, 1775 which launched the American Revolution. Battle Road Trail is a dog friendly walk from Concord to Lexington, Massachusetts that follows what remains of the original road, fields and forests. This trail connects historic sites including historic homes, taverns, battle locations, and the stretch of road where Paul Revere was captured thus ending the famous “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” The trail is five miles one way.
Dog Paradise: Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, VT
Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, Vermont is the most dog friendly place we’ve ever visited! Home of the Stephen Huneck Gallery, Dog Mountain is 150 acres on a mountain top with trails, ponds, and fields for dogs and their humans to enjoy year round. There are over two miles of trails through wildflower fields, dense forest and scenic vistas, with whimsical touches of Stephen Huneck’s art nestled along the way.
