Dog walking in Danville

West Avon

Two furrific parks lie within a half-mile of each other on Highway 36 on the western edge of Avon, but we wouldn't recommend walking between them across the busy divided highway. The Washington Township Park is larger and slightly closer, about 5 miles from Danville, and it features an off-leash dog park. Your buddy will need to provide his vaccination records to sign up for a Paw Park Pass, but with three fenced areas and a convenient location, it's worth it. The park also features 5 miles of trails through natural scenery and along the creek to a historic 1876 bridge. There are two more miles of paved trails around the 9-acre lake at the Avon Town Hall Park. Be sure to clean up; convenient poo-disposal stations located along the trail.

South Center Street

If your doggo is tired of the same old crowd, try a new park. The off-leash Bark Park at Swinford Park in Plainfield is 11 miles from Danville, farther than the Paw Park in Avon but full of fresh smells and friendly pups for a doggy day out. Stop by the park office to sign up for an annual membership and get a self-service key card. Swinford Park also features a running trail for some intense on-leash exercise, and the playgrounds and athletic facilities mean there's always someone having fun nearby. If your pup is an introvert, check out bigger, wilder Hummel Park just up the road. Hummel is a 205-acre nature preserve with hiking and biking trails through the woods and an 18-hole disc golf course to challenge your Frisbee game.

Eagle Creek

About 22 miles from Danville, Eagle Creek Park in Indy's Eagle Creek neighborhood is the 6th largest city park in the nation, sprawling over 3,900 acres. That includes an oversized Bark Park, where the fenced enclosures for off-leash play include some pawesome agility equipment. Back on-leash, check out the 16 miles of hiking trails through wildflower meadows and forest and around Lilly Lake. The Fitness Trail also features 32 (human) exercise stations so you can keep your heart rate up even when walking short-legged friends. Grab a trail map from the park's website, as it shows not just the routes and lengths but also restrooms and water stations along the way. If your dogs like to paddle, rent a canoe and show them how it's done. Note that the park has a small daily fee and additional Bark Park entrance fee. Reduced-price annual memberships are available, and an annual Pooch Pass to the Bark Park is valid at all four of Indy's off-leash dog parks.

Downtown Amo

With trailheads in Plainfield and Amo — just 10 miles southeast and southwest of Danville respectively — the Vandalia Trail runs for 16 miles through Hendricks and Putnam Counties. The Amo trailhead is located in the middle of downtown, with parking on West Street near Vine Street. Vandalia is currently the longest stretch of the planned National Road Heritage Trail, which will eventually span border-to-border for 150 miles of uninterrupted hiking. This converted railway is now a peaceful path through the woods and meadows with infrequent road crossings. A separate equestrian trail occasionally merges with the main trail (so be ready for horse droppings if your pup is a member of the rolling-in-smelly-things fan club). The three-mile stretch from Amo to Coatesville uses an elevated boardwalk that rises up to a dramatic trestle crossing 30 feet above Crittenden Creek. The only restroom and water available are at the public library in Coatesville, so plan accordingly.