The Well Worn Shoes

Wanderlust Welcome

  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Disclaimer
    • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Destinations
    • Canada
    • United States
      • Mountain States
      • North East
      • South
      • Southwest
  • National Parks
    • National Park Guides
    • Is This National Park Dog Friendly?
  • Adventures
    • One Day In
    • Bucketlist Travel
    • Dog Friendly
    • Roadtrips
    • Travel Guides
    • Hiking
  • Digital Nomad Lifestyle
    • Camper Life
    • Honest Reviews: Campgrounds
    • Digital Nomads
  • Shop

May 19, 2025

Paws on the Trail: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains

Planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park with your furry friend? While many trails restrict dogs, the Smokies still offer several dog-friendly hikes and scenic drives perfect for adventurous pups and their humans. From easy riverside walks on the Oconaluftee River Trail to scenic drives like Cades Cove Loop Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, this guide covers the best pet-friendly trails and outdoor experiences to help you explore the Smokies together. Discover insider tips, local spots, and must-visit places to make your Smoky Mountains dog adventure unforgettable!

Hi! I'm Vanessa, a 30 something, sunset chasing traveler. I'm here to inspire you to travel wherever, whenever, and with whoever you can. My Huskies, Loki and Freya are usually along for the ride. I have a soul that likes to wander, a desire to experience the unknown, and a curiousity to discover things off the beaten path. I hope you'll stick around for awhile!

Join the List

Let's be friends! I know e-mails can suck but mine won't and I promise cute pup photos too!

Connect

Recent Posts

  • The Best Things To Do In Camden, Maine
  • 6 Best Dog-Friendly National Parks to Visit This Winter
  • Wildlife Watching in Cades Cove: Your Complete Animal Guide
  • Paws on the Trail: The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains
  • The 15 Best Hikes In Utah

Categories

  • Destinations
  • Tips & Tricks
  • History
  • Adventure
  • National Park Love

Reader Favorites

One Day At Zion National Park

11 Fun Adventures In North Maine Woods

12 Fun Things To Do In Cape Breton Highlands

On the Blog

  • Destinations
  • Tips & Tricks
  • History
  • Adventure
  • National Park Love

Join the List

The Well Worn Shoes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Connect

New Mexico wasn’t on my radar. I’ll be honest, I d New Mexico wasn’t on my radar. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from the Land of Enchantment. Happy 114th Birthday to the state of New Meixco 🧡

And then it completely stole my heart.

⛰️Cloudcroft? A tiny mountain town tucked in the pines where we said “I do.” 
🌅And Ruidoso surprised us with its laid-back charm and mountain air that makes you want to stay forever.
✨White Sands feels like stepping onto another planet. 

These aren’t the places people talk about when they talk about the Southwest. But maybe that’s exactly why they hit different.

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones you almost skip.

📍 White Sands National Park, Cloudcroft & Ruidoso, New Mexico
Winter at Mesa Verde: beautiful…but read this firs Winter at Mesa Verde: beautiful…but read this first 🥶

Fewer crowds. Snow-dusted ruins. And yes, you can bring your dogs (kind of).

Here’s the honest truth about a winter visit:
🐾 Dogs are allowed on a few trails but most of the park is off-limits to pups
🚗 Roads into the park close in winter & chains may be required on icy days (we learned this one the hard way)
🏛️ No ranger-led tours down to the cliff dwellings — but the overlooks are still stunning

Is it the most dog-friendly national park? No.
Was it still worth the visit? Absolutely.

If you’re chasing solitude and don’t mind a little extra planning, winter is magic here.

Save this for your off-season Mesa Verde trip 📌

*Huskies are on 6 ft leads
This is Pretty Marsh, and it’s about to become you This is Pretty Marsh, and it’s about to become your new favorite spot in Acadia 🌲🌊

While everyone’s freaking out to get a reservation for a Cadillac Mountain sunset, this quiet little shoreline is out here delivering sunsets that genuinely made us stop talking mid-sentence. 

We stumbled on this place during our summer in Maine! The loons call across the water, the light goes golden, and for a minute you forget anyone else exists.

Go early enough to claim a spot on the rocks. Stay late enough to watch the stars come out.

📍 Save this for your Acadia itinerary 🌲🌊✨
Everyone fights for a spot on Cadillac Mountain. M Everyone fights for a spot on Cadillac Mountain. Meanwhile, we had this entire shoreline to ourselves. 🌅

Pretty Marsh is one of those places that doesn’t make the Acadia highlight reels, and honestly, that’s part of the magic. 

No crowds. No reservations systems. 

Just you, the rocks, and a sky that puts on a show every single night. And the loons - don’t even get my started on the loons 😍

Pro tip: Get there about 45 minutes before sunset. Bring a blanket, maybe some snacks, and just…stay awhile.

✨ Save this for your Maine or Acadia trip 📍
🤍 SAVE THIS for future road trips, slow mornings i 🤍 SAVE THIS for future road trips, slow mornings in the parks, and “we should totally go” plans.

If National Parks are on your 2026 bingo card, you’ll want these dates bookmarked 👇
On select days next year, National Park Service sites that normally charge an entrance fee will waive it, meaning you can explore for free.

🗓 2026 National Park Free Entrance Days
✨ February 16
✨ May 25
✨ June 14
✨ July 3–5
✨ August 25
✨ September 17
✨ October 27
✨ November 11

⚠️ A few important things to know before you roll in:
⏰Timed entry, reservations, and some activity fees may still apply
😅These days are often busier than usual (early mornings = your best friend)

Beginning in 2026, free entrance applies to U.S. residents only 

Which park would you hit first on a free day? 👀🌲 

Complete 2026 National Park Guide coming soon 🔥
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 The Well Worn Shoes · Theme by 17th Avenue