Dog walking in Dunmore

East Mountain

The largest park in all of Scranton, Nay Aug Park, is certainly a mutts-visit! Situated in East Mountain, Scranton’s University District, the park has something for everyone -- a small amusement area for non-furry children, a museum for history buffs, and even a zoo! You and your pooch won’t be able to enter the latter two attractions, but there’s no need to get too "melan-collie" -- Nay Aug Park also boasts miles of trails for you and your leashed buddy to sniff and explore. Don’t leave without checking out the Nay Aug Gorge, a fascinating canyon gouged out of the landscape during the last ice age.

Downtown

No trip to northeast Pennsylvania would be complete without walking a stretch of the Lackawanna Heritage Trail! You’ll find a trailhead in historic Downtown Scranton, right by the Electric City Trolley Museum. The route meanders alongside the river of the same name for seventy miles, passing by industrial ruins, abandoned settlements, and small towns along the way. The route is mostly shaded by gorgeous, mature trees, making this a furrific exercise option at any time of the year. Your pooch will need to be leashed, of course, and remember to bring bags and water!

South Side

South Side Scranton is diverse, quietly residential, and thriving -- and home to the furrific Connell Dog Park! This off-leash area is a little bit no-frills, but there’s still plenty of room for your fur-ball to romp and burn off their excess energy. There’s a separate small dog area too, so your pooch can play and socialize no matter their size. As an added bonus, there’s also plenty of parking! On the downside, though, the park doesn’t have a water fountain or waste bag station, so you’ll need to bring your own bags and bottle.

Eale's Preserve

Fenced dog parks and paved walking trails are all very well, but sometimes a pup just needs to get back to nature -- and Eale’s Preserve is a pawfect place to do just that. The preserve offers far more than just woodland -- it’s one of the best examples of heath barrens in the eastern United States, and the scrub pines and rock cairns combine to give the impression of an almost otherworldly landscape. The terrain is pretty rocky, so watch your step! The Blueberry Trail is the most accessible and provides breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys.

Clark's Summit

Clark’s Summit might look like just another sleepy borough on the outskirts of Scranton, but you’d need to be barking mad not to bring your doggo here! The highlight of the area is Abingdon Dog Park, and as soon as your pup gets past the gates, you’ll be glad you made the seven mile drive. The park is a pup’s paradise -- if your pooch likes to swim as part of their off-leash adventures, they’ll have a whale of a time splashing about in the small pond. There are some short trails to sniff and explore, too, as well as a separate small dog area, and bags and water are provided.