If you’re searching for dog-friendly activities and adventures in Columbus, we’ve got good news for you: there are options aplenty for you and your dog to have fun. Whether your pup is a gourmet foodie, an outdoor enthusiast, or prefers the finer things in life, you’ll find great experiences to share with your fur-baby around every corner.
Keep reading to take a look at some of the best doggy destinations and outings in and around Columbus.
Best dog parks in Columbus
Looking to treat your fur-baby to some off-leash fun? If you’re searching for “pawsome”
dog parks in Columbus, you’re spoiled for choice. Be sure to check out these 3 popular spots with your pooch.
Godown Dog Park
Columbus dog parks don’t get any better than
Godown Dog Park. This spacious park offers acres of grassy goodness for pups to explore and enjoy. There’s a 1-acre small dog area and 4.5 acres for large dogs, with plenty of trees, grass, boulders, and dirt for your pup to sniff out. And when you’re done enjoying the fenced off-leash areas, put your pup back on the leash and go check out the parks other 5 acres of beautiful forest.
Big Walnut Dog Park
Your dog will go nuts for
Big Walnut Dog Park. This uber-popular city dog park offers 3 acres of space where you can tire out your energetic pup. There are large and small dog areas to enjoy, and it’s also well-lit to help you and your pup stay safe if visiting after dark. There’s even a pretty pond you can take your (leashed) dog for a stroll around once you’ve finished their off-leash fun and games, so there are lots of good reasons to check out this Columbus favorite.
Three Creeks Park Dog Park
Another of Columbus’ much-loved outdoor doggy play destinations,
Three Creeks Park Dog Park is located at Sycamore Fields. There are fenced areas for small and large breeds, and this is a popular spot for well-socialized canines to meet some new “fur-iends”. So, bring your pup for an adventure and then sit back, relax, and watch them enjoy themselves!
Dog-friendly event in Columbus
Columbus Pet Expo
If you want to find out all about the latest and greatest pet products and activities, the Columbus Pet Expo has got you covered. This much-loved annual pet spectacular is a hit with lovers of all creatures great and small. Even better, your pup is welcome to attend.
The 2024 event will be held March 8-10 at the Ohio Expo Center’s Bricker Building. As well as heaps of great pet vendors and products, highlights include
dock diving, lap dog races, wiener dog races, a “sit and shake” photo contest, and a super-cute pet costume contest.
If you’re searching for a great day out with your pup, head along to the Columbus Pet Expo for a whole lot of pet-friendly fun.
Dog-friendly breweries in Columbus
The only thing better than quenching your thirst with a brew or 2, is doing it with your fur-baby right by your side. And if you want to wet your whistle, you’ll find several dog-friendly breweries in Columbus where pups are welcomed with open arms. Here are a few venues well worth checking out.
BrewDog DogTap
BrewDog venues have a well-earned reputation as some of the best dog-friendly pubs around, and it’s no different in Columbus. But while it has multiple locations around Columbus, our particular favorite is
BrewDog DogTap Columbus. This 42-acre site is home to a brewhouse, a craft beer museum, and some of the best brewery vibes anywhere in Columbus.
Your pup is welcome to join you on the patio while you eat, drink, and be merry. Even better, this site is also home to the 32-room DogHouse dog-friendly hotel. Rooms feature shower beers and in-room beer taps, making it the ideal destination for any dog-loving beer drinker.
Land-Grant Brewing Company
Next on our list of the best dog-friendly breweries in Columbus is Land-Grant Brewing Company. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome in the beautiful beer garden and patio area of its Columbus location, so your pup can sit by your side while you sip a House Beer Premium Lager or Penny Round German Pilsner. And with food trucks also on site, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.
Holy Trinity Brewing Company
If you’d prefer to have water turned into beer rather than wine, you’ll feel right at home at Holy Trinity Brewing Company. This Columbus favorite is housed in a historic downtown building, and your leashed pup is more than welcome to join you while you wet your whistle. Just keep in mind that there are also cats at this brewery, so if your pup isn’t tolerant of felines, it’s best to leave them at home.
Dog-friendly walks in Columbus
Want to get out there and pound the pavement with your fur-baby at your side? Slip into your walking shoes and check out these excellent dog-friendly walking trails in Columbus.
The Scioto Mile
If you and your pup want to explore Columbus on foot (or paw), there’s no better way to do it than to tackle the Scioto Mile. This picturesque trail winds its way along the downtown riverfront, taking in some of the city’s best parks and attractions. You’ll discover more than 175 acres of gorgeous parkland along the way, and this is a hugely “pawpular” trail for the canines of Columbus and their humans.
Coyote Run Trail
If you want to get away from the city and back to nature, load your pup in the car and head north to pretty Highbanks Metro Park. It’s there that you’ll find
Coyote Run Trail, a 3.5-mile walk that winds its way through beautiful forest and open fields. There are plenty of interesting sights and smells for your dog to experience, while some of the other trails in the park are also dog-friendly and well worth a look.
Goldenrod Pet Trail
Another highlight for nature lovers, the
Goldenrod Pet Trail is found in Blendon Woods Metro Park, about 15 miles northeast of downtown Columbus. Stretching for 1.4 miles, this pretty trail is specially designated for dogs. It offers an easy walk through ravines and open fields, and you and your pup will feel like the city is a whole world away. Be sure to check out this “pawsome” trail with your furry friend.
Animal shelter spotlight in Columbus
CHA Animal Shelter
Looking for a way to help create a better world for pets in Columbus? Look no further than CHA Animal Shelter. Established in 1975, this non-profit animal shelter helps pets in need in Central Ohio.
The shelter provides a safe place for the city’s abandoned and homeless dogs and cats, offering the essential care and shelter they need to get back on their feet. Then, through its long-running adoption program, CHA Animal Shelter gives these pets a second chance at happiness by matching them with loving pet parents.
It also operates an on-site spay/neuter surgical suite to help stop pet overpopulation and works with other Ohio animal welfare groups to help pets in rural shelters find their “fur-ever” homes. If you’d like to adopt an animal, host a fundraiser, donate money or goods, or even offer your services as a volunteer to help this excellent organization, head to the CHA Animal Shelter website.
