Arcola Heights Park is a lovely park to take your dog to for a fun afternoon filled with exercise and exploring. The park has a great hiking trail and a 9-target disc golf course. Your dog is more than welcome to explore the park with you if he remains on leash the entire time. The park is open from 6 a.m. until thirty minutes before sunset. Located in a more wooded area of Arcola, this park features flat terrain that is sure to be a hit with your pup. There’s not shortage of snifftastic space here!

Square Lake Park is a pawsome park to take your dog for a great day out. The park features a swimming beach, fishing pier, picnic areas, and BBQs. Square Lake Park is known for the clearest waters in Minnesota, but with that comes strict rules for swimming in the lake. Besides the lake, you and your dog can explore the County bike route which is perfect for a nice walk. You can choose two trails to explore, the St. Croix Scenic Byway which is 1.6 miles or the Gateway State Trail which is 3.1 miles. Remember that your dog needs to stay on leash at the park and is not allowed inside the lake.

This neighborhood in nearby Stillwater is on the outskirts of Arcola, and is a great place to take your dog for an afternoon trip. Pine Point Regional Park is home to the Gateway Segment of the Willard Munger Trail, a lovely trail for you and your pup to explore.  The trail is asphalt, and spans 18.3 miles from Cayuga Park to Pine Point Regional Park. The trail is a mixture of wooded area and urban countryside, which gives you and your pup interesting and varying scenery during your stroll. If you get tired along the trail, there are benches to rest on. Be sure to bring water for you and your dog.

If you and your pup are looking to go wine tasting, then you must check out Northern Vineyards Winery in Stillwater. The tasting room is dog friendly both inside and outside. The outside deck boasts a beautiful view of the St. Croix River. Stillwater is less than ten minutes away from Arcola, so your pooch will not mind taking a short drive for a fun adventure. If wine tasting isn’t your style, Stillwater still has a few dog-friendly eateries the two of you can check out and enjoy while you are out and about. Consider Luna Rossa Trattoria, Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop, or The Freight House which all welcome your pup to dine with you.

Lake Elmo Park Reserve is a fantastic place to let your dog explore. Lake Elmo is less than twenty minutes away from Arcola, and the great park is boasts allows dogs to wander around on-leash. The park is over 2,100 acres and filled with beautiful wildlife and landscaping. Your dog is allowed on the trails if you clean up after him, but he is not allowed in the campgrounds or on the ski trails in the winter. If you are visiting in the winter, there will be designated trails open that you and your dog can hike. Make sure to bring water when exploring Lake Elmo Park since you may not hike close to available water.