Dog walking in Ontonagon

White Pine

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White Pine is quite a large neighborhood, and encompasses the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. This park was established in 1945, and boasts 60,000 acres that feature everything from secluded lakes to the largest virgin hardwood-hemlock forest in the entire country. There are 19 hiking trails that you and Fido can choose to take in this park, beginning with the mile-long Visitor Center Nature Trail. For a longer walk, the 4 mile Escarpment Trail boasts some of the park's best scenery, while the 16 mile Lake Superior Trail is one of the most challenging trails in the park. If you and your pup need somewhere to stay, the Americinn Silver City is in this neighborhood, and allows dogs of any size in guest rooms for a small fee. 

Lake Roland/ Toivola

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The South Range neighborhood of Lake Roland/ Toivola is about a half hour drive from Ontonagon, and is where you will find the Twin Lakes State Park. This 175 acre park is extremely well-maintained, boasting everything from a campground to one of the warmest inland lakes in the Upper Peninsula. There is a 1.5 mile nature trail for you and your pooch to explore here, as well as a sandy beach on the edge of Lake Roland. If your pup would like to do more walking, the 8.4 mile Freda Grade Trail is not too far away, and will show the two of you everything from the Redridge Steel Dam to the Salmon Trout River. 

Bruce Crossing

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The small town of Bruce Crossing is about a 30 minute drive from Ontonagon, and is home to a couple of pawtastic walking trails. The Bergland to Sidnaw Rail Trail is an impressive 43.5 miles long, and while you and your pooch will need to cross a few steep bridges and trestles, the incredible views make the challenge worthwhile. For a shorter walk, give the Little Falls Trail a try. This is also a rail trail, meaning that it follows along a portion of unused railroad, and stretches out for 6.5 miles, ending at the Ottawa National Forest. The forest itself is also worth exploring, covering just under a million acres and featuring everything from picturesque rolling hills to magnificent roaring waterfalls, although dogs do need to be kept on a lead here. 

Baraga

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About 42 miles east of Ontonagon is the small town of Baraga, where you will find the Baraga State Park. The park extends out for 56 acres, overlooking a beautifully scenic section of Keweenaw Bay. There is plenty for you and your pooch to do here, from fishing to camping to water sports, as well as a short nature trail for the two of you to explore. If you need somewhere nearby to grab a bite to eat and spend the night, Carla's Inn and Restaurant is the place to go, as this dog-friendly motel offers up ten guest rooms along with a high quality restaurant that also does room service.