Dog walking in Houghton

East Houghton

East Houghton is home to the Michigan Tech campus and the Nara Nature Park. There are several waterfront parks in the neighborhood along the paved four-mile Houghton Waterfront Trail, which links the waterfront areas of West, East, and Central Houghton. The East Houghton Waterfront Park, located right next to the dog-friendly Super 8 Hotel, has grassy areas, a waterfront boardwalk, a covered pavilion area with bathrooms and showers, and a pier. The trail continues east toward Nara Park and passes more piers and beach areas along the way. Your dog can stay by your side as long as you keep them on a leash. You will also need to bring your own waste bags and water.

Central Houghton

Central Houghton is where you will find the city's famous Lift Bridge, which you can walk across with your dog if you're feeling adventurous. If you're feeling more mellow, you can stop for coffee and a meal at 5th & Elm, which has a beautiful dog-friendly patio area. Try the pannukakku, a Finnish custard pancake that's a local favorite! Within a few blocks of 5th & Elm, there are two dog-friendly hotels, the Quality Inn and Suites and the Magnuson Hotel Franklin Square, as well as two beautiful parks. You'll enjoy majestic views of the waterway from Bridgeview Park and Huron Street Waterfront Park, where you will find large grassy areas, a boardwalk, and fishing piers. Your dog will need to be leashed and you will need to bring your own waste bags and water.

West Houghton

Roy's Pasties and Bakery is located along the Houghton Waterfront Trail just west of the Lift Bridge in West Houghton. This restaurant has a beautiful dog-friendly outdoor dining area where you can enjoy a wide range of sweet and savory pastries while you take in the water views with your pup. As you continue along the trail, you can view some mineral samples at the Verna Mize Park. Next, the Raymond Kestner Waterfront Park features an elaborate and impressive "Chutes and Ladders" playscape that's great for children, and grassy picnic areas and sandy beach areas that are great for dogs. You will need to bring your own waste bags and water and keep your dog on a leash in both of these parks.

Hurontown

Further inland, in the Hurontown neighborhood, you can enjoy Houghton's most pawsome shopping experience at Erickson Feed & Seed. This local store sells food and supplies for a wide range of animals, from cattle to backyard birds. You can shop their wide-ranging selection of dog food, toys, supplements, and grooming goods with your pup by your side, as long as you keep them on a leash. Hurontown Park on the west side and the Peter Bungi Recreation Complex on the east side of the neighborhood have several sports fields, as well as large grassy areas where you can run with your pup. You will need to keep your pooch on a leash and bring your own waste bags and water. You can also find the pet-friendly Country Inn and Suites in this part of Houghton.

Chassell

Just south of Houghton, in the far north corner of Chassell, lies a hidden treasure for you and your pup to discover: The Pilgrim Community Forest. This 276-acre natural area was established in 2014 and features pristine forest areas along the banks of the Pilgrim River, where fishing for trout is allowed. A three-mile trail that runs throughout the nature reserve is groomed for hiking in summer and cross-country skiing in winter. You can find the trailhead at the point where Paradise Road and Pilgrim Road meet. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the forest reserve but you will need to bring your own waste bags and water.