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Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Illinois

If your dog likes to ruff it, bring Fido hiking in Illinois. Our dog friendly hiking section includes everything from easy one-hour walks to fantastic overnight trips in Illinois that won’t be soon forgotten. Seriously, go take a hike!

Pet Friendly Allerton Park & Retreat Center

Allerton Park & Retreat Center

Allerton Park & Retreat Center

Whether you are looking for a place to hold a pet-friendly special event, or just want to spend an afternoon taking in nature's beauty, Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, IL, offers all of that and more. It has 1500-acres of meadows, woodlands, gardens, hiking trails, farmsteads and amazing sculptures. Day visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking and bird-watching. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash that is 6-feet in length or shorter. Please remember to clean up after your pup.

Pet Friendly Giant City State Park

Giant City State Park

Giant City State Park

Leashed dogs can join you at Giant City State Park, a pet-friendly park located within Shawnee National Forest in Makanda, IL. This park features stunning sandstone bluffs and numerous hiking trails that you and Fido can explore.

Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, IL, is full of dog-friendly hiking trails that wind through canyons, amazing views, and waterfalls. Leashed dogs are welcome to join you at this popular recreation area as you explore these scenic trails. Pet parents are reminded to clean up after their pup and to bring water for them as they shouldn't drink from any natural water sources.

Shawnee National Forest

Shawnee National Forest

The dog-friendly Shawnee National Forest covers more than 270,000 acres in parts of ten counties in southern Illinois. The National Forest Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources maintain dozens of natural areas for recreational use and several wilderness areas. From the 90 foot Pomona Natural Bridge to the remains of a Mississippian Native American village at Millstone Bluff, there are hundreds of miles of hiking trails to choose from. Trails range in length from the 150+ mile River to River Trail that runs between Battery Rock on the Ohio River and Devil's Backbone on the Mississippi River, to the easy one-fourth mile Observation Trail at Garden of the Gods. Dogs must be leashed at all times.

Matthiessen State Park

Matthiessen State Park

Matthiessen State Park is a pet-friendly natural space in Oglesby, IL. You can bring Fido with you to enjoy the pretty canyons, flowing streams, stunning prairies and luscious forest. There are 5 miles of trails in the park with a variety of different routes that vary in difficulty. The picnic areas in the park are one of the main attractions, some of them built on the remains of a 17th century French fort. Dogs must leashed for the duration of their stay and owners are reminded to clean up after their pets.

Rim Rock National Recreation Trail

Rim Rock National Recreation Trail

Rim Rock National Recreation Trail is a wonderful trail for a hike with your pup in Junction, IL. This popular dog-friendly trail winds through massive rock formations around the rim of a rock escarpment. You'll enjoy the beautiful views while your pup enjoys the exercise. Just keep Fido leashed on the trail.

Castle Rock State Park

Castle Rock State Park

Dogs are welcome all over Castle Rock State Park in Oregon, Illinois. Located along the banks of Rock River, this pet-friendly park is home to six miles of marked hiking trails for dogs and their owners to enjoy. The trails lead to views of the river, the forests, and the marshland. There are also three picnic areas dotted around the car park with shelters, picnic tables, playground equipment, grills, toilets and drinking water. One of the most popular of these offers a view across the Rock River Valley for you and Fido to enjoy.

White Pines Forest State Park

Mount Morris, IL

White Pines Forest State Park

White Pines Forest State Park is a dog-friendly recreation area in Mount Morris, IL. At 385-acres, the park is made up of varied scenery that's beautiful to explore with your leashed pup, including moss-covered cliffs, tranquil woods of towering pines, and the babbling Pine Creek running through the middle. The trails in the park are all pet friendly, with three of the seven being less than a mile long. Size isn't everything though, as these trails prove, leading you and your pooch around vine-covered limestone bluffs and lots of blossoming spring flowers. Additionally, there's an easier trail that is suitable for all levels of walker too. Dogs should be on a leash for the duration of their visit to White Pines Forest.

Sugar Grove Nature Center

Sugar Grove Nature Center

Leashed dogs are welcome at Sugar Grove Nature Center, a dog-friendly nature preserve in McLean, IL. Open in all seasons from dawn until dusk, you and Fido are invited to explore this area of natural beauty on foot. Trails are well marked and shorter routes can be combined into a longer hike around this scenic spot. Visitors can admire the natural beauty of grasslands, woodland and streams, whether it be a snowy winter day or a crisp Fall afternoon. Make sure Fido remains leashed to protect birds and wildlife.

Kankakee River State Park

Bourbonnais, IL

Kankakee River State Park

Kankakee River State Park in Bourbonnais, IL, is pet friendly. Fido is welcome to join you on the 11-miles of parkland that go along either side of the riverbanks. Although there are some restrictions on trail use during hunting season, there are miles and miles of picturesque dog-friendly trails to enjoy the rest of the time, including a 3-mile route along Rock Creek that enjoys the beauty of the limestone canyons and even takes you on a visit to a frothy waterfall. Alternatively, you may want to step out onto the bicycle trail that begins at Davis Creek Area and travels 10.5 miles along the river in a loop.

Rock Cut State Park

Rock Cut State Park

Leashed dogs are allowed at the pet-friendly Rock Cut State Park in Caledonia and Loves Park, IL, where the Rock River has carved out a number of craggy rocky formations into the surroundings. This 3,092-acre park contains two lakes that are popular among anglers and water-sports enthusiasts alike. Around the lakes, you'll discover the 40-mile Rock Cut Trail System ideal for pooches who love to explore. The trails vary in difficulty and terrain, with paved trails for less confident hikers and more difficult woodland pathways for outdoor enthusiasts. Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of wildlife that call the park home. Fido is welcome to join you on the trails as long as they are on a leash under six feet.

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Ferne Clyffe State Park

Leashed dogs are welcome at Ferne Clyffe State Park, a pet-friendly natural space in Goreville, IL. The 18 trails in the park wind around picturesque wooded area, streams and ponds. The park is also popular for fishing, picnicking and rock climbing.

West Street Sculpture Park

West Street Sculpture Park

Bring Fido to West Street Sculpture Park in Galena, IL, to walk on the trails. The park features two acres full of welded sculptures by John Martinson. There are maps available for self-guided tours.

Fox Ridge State Park

Fox Ridge State Park

Leashed dogs are allowed at Fox Ridge State Park, a pet-friendly park in Charleston, IL. This 2,064-acre park is home to 8 miles of scenic hiking trails that will take you up steep, thickly wooded ridges and through scenic valleys. One of the most popular things to do is to wander up the staircase to Eagle's Nest, leading to a deck overlooking the river.

Fort Massac State Park

Fort Massac State Park

Leashed dogs are allowed at Fort Massac State Park, a pet-friendly recreation space in Metropolis, IL. You and Fido can explore the 1,500-acres of wooded land at this park that offers excellent opportunities for picnics, camping, hiking, fishing and boating. There is a one mile loop trail through grassy woods or the 2.5-mile Hickory Nut Ridge Trail, the most picturesque hike in the park that runs alongside the Ohio River.

Franklin Creek State Natural Area

Franklin Grove, IL

Franklin Creek State Natural Area

Dogs are welcome at Franklin Creek State Natural Area in Franklin Grove, IL. This pet-friendly park spans 882-acres and is home to several large natural springs, hardwood forests, and jutting bedrocks. There are over four miles of trails to enjoy with Fido in the park, including the Mill Springs Trail, a unique, concrete-surfaced trail suitable for people of all mobility levels that leads to Mill Spring, the largest body of water in the park. Alternatively, you may want to try wandering on Pioneer Pass that takes in some of the stunning natural beauty of the area.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is a pet-friendly, 2,503-acre preserve in Darien, IL. It's one of the area's most popular forest preserves known for its Rocky Glen waterfall, Sawmill Creek bluff overlook, and extensive trails. Explore 11 miles of trails with your leashed pooch by your side and discover natural beauty along the way.

Schiller Woods

Schiller Park, IL

Schiller Woods is a dog-friendly pond and park located in Schiller Park, IL, on the Des Plaines Trail. Fido is welcome to join you, as long as he remains on-leash at all times. This park offers multiple picnic groves, hiking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the Model Airplane Flying Field, on the property.

Sangchris Lake State Park

Sangchris Lake State Park

Bring your leashed canine adventure buddy to Sangchris Lake State Park, a pet-friendly recreation area in Rochester, IL. This 3,000-acre park surrounds a man-made lake that is popular for fishing and boating. You and Fido can explore the scenic nature trails along the lakeshore.

Lowden State Park

Lowden State Park

Lowden State Park, a dog-friendly park situated in Oregon, IL, spans 207 acres and is named after Governor Frank Orren Lowden, who served during World War I. The park houses the iconic Black Hawk Statue, created by artist Lorado Taft, overlooking the Rock River Valley just north of Oregon. This 50-foot concrete-reinforced monument pays tribute to Native Americans, particularly Chief Black Hawk. For the best view of the statue, visit IL Rt. 2, where it appears especially striking during sunset.

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