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dogs and hiker
ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Tom Kotowski prepares to go home after hiking with dogs Bear (left) and Siena Brown.
 
   July 23, 2004
Hikes with dogs
When planning a hike with your dog, check to be sure that dogs are allowed on the trail. Try to steer clear of heavily used hiking trails — some people just plain don't like dogs. It's also wise to choose trails that frequently access lakes, rivers and ponds; a hiking dog needs lots of water. Here are some trails and tips to get you started.

Fletcher Canyon (Olympic Peninsula) Though much of the majestic Olympic Peninsula is off limits to dogs, Fletcher Canyon is located within the Colonel Bob Wilderness where you and your hound can explore into the forest primeval.
 
Leadbetter Point (Long Beach Peninsula)
In partnership with:
'Best Hikes with Dogs: Western Washington'

"Best Hikes with Dogs: Western Washington"
by Dan Nelson

Eighty-five dog-friendly trails on a variety of fun and challenging terrains (day hikes and backpacking trips). Crammed with tips on hiking with dogs, their special needs and more.

Paperback, 300 pages
$16.95
Buy the book

More Mountaineers books
Dogs and beaches go together nearly as well as dogs and Frisbees. At the often-forgotten Leadbetter Point State Park, your dog can frolic in the waves or chase sticks along the sandy strand to its heart's content.
 
Skyline Divide (Mount Baker)
This route represents some of the best combinations of trail features you'll find in the Pacific Northwest. You get to explore high alpine country, pristine old forests and sprawling alpine meadows. But don't forget to bring water for your dog.
 
Big Creek Falls (Taylor River) (Snoqualmie Pass)
This backcountry trail is less than an hour from Seattle. It's a dog-hiker's paradise because it lets human and canine walk side by side much of the way up a broad trail, through ancient cathedral forests and past magnificent waterfalls.
 
Noble Knob (Mount Rainier)
Enjoy meadows punctuated with stunning horizons capped by the snow-clad peak of Mount Rainier. Add in a large resident herd of elk; some pretty, doe-eyed mule deer; and a few hundred birds. The best part? You can bring your pooch, too.