Dog walking in Bloomington

Downtown Bloomington

Downtown Bloomington is small but it has more than enough dining options and plenty of shopping and entertainment for everyone. Ferguson Dog Park is an off-leash, fenced area for dog to run and play together! Includes a drinking fountain, two dog wash stations, benches, and dog waste stations. Griffy Lake Nature Preserve is 1,200 acres that surrounds the 109-acre Griffy Lake, where you and your leashed dog can enjoy camping, fishing, picnicking, or hiking one of their many trails! If you and Fido are feeling hungry, there is no shortage of dog-friendly restaurants in the area, including Buffa Louie’s At the Gables, Rush Hour Station, Farm Restaurant, or Big Woods to name a few!
Keep reading

Kirby

Kirby is a small but very open community that is near Monroe County Airport and Highway 45. Karst Farm Dog Park allows pups to romp and play off-leash at this fenced-in dog park that includes a separate small dog area to accommodate pooches of all sizes! The local PetSmart hosts fun seasonal events and provides professional obedience training onsite. Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth, and Upland Brewing West Side Beer Bar allow dogs to accompany their owners outside on their patios! Guests and visitors from out of town can find dog-friendly lodging at Candlewood Suites.

Clear Creek

Conveniently located off Interstate 69, Clear Creek is a small community that provides easy access to parks and trails to be enjoyed by humans and doggies! Bloomington Rail Trail is one of 1600 old railroads and corridor routes that have been repurposed into walking and hiking trails to serve as exercise and outdoor recreation for citizens. Leashed dogs are welcomed to enjoy all trails with their human companions. Clear Creek Trail is another of the 1600 nationwide trails that were once old railroads, making it another great option to walk your pooch in the Clear Creek area!

Dolan

Dolan is a very open and spacious neighborhood that is located off Highway 37, near the Oliver Winery and plenty of streams and lakes. Ferguson Dog Park is an off-leash, fenced area for dog to run and play together! Includes a drinking fountain, two dog wash stations, benches, and dog waste stations. Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve is 800 acres of wetland and wildlife areas that is home to endangered animals like the bald eagle, Indiana bat, Kirtland snake and rare orchids. There are many hiking trials that run through the area, and leashed dogs and their parents are welcomed to enjoy all unrestricted parts of the nature preserve.

Nashville

The town of Nashville, Indiana offers residents and visitors plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.  Nashville is surrounded by state forests and state parks. Brown County State Park has about 12 miles of well-marked hiking trails and provides picnic areas, drinking water and restrooms. Leashed dogs are welcome to hike the State Park and take in the views! Yellowwood State Forest is a 23,326-acre forest preserve that supports a variety of wildlife; dogs are welcome as long as they are kept on-leash and cleaned up after.