Dog walking in Blountville

Avoca

10 miles north of Blountville is the twin city of Bristol. Sitting directly on the Virginia-Tennessee state line, this area has a fun, quirky attitude with a pleasant climate. There is plenty to do outdoors for you and Fido! Start your trip at the regional Bark Park, located at the Charlie Robinette Park. You’ll find a bunch of benches for you to relax while your pup runs through one of the two fenced-in areas. From there, you can head into the Steele Creek Park via one of the trail entrances at Rooster Front. Together with your leashed pup, you can hike alongside the water on the aptly named Lakeside Trail.

West View Park

Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City make up what is known as the Tri-Cities region within Tennessee. Kingsport is just a short 25-minute drive from Blountville and is an ideal option for pet parents who may be considering new stomping grounds, as it has plenty to offer your four-legged family member. Dogwood Park, the resident bark park, provides exclusive memberships to their three-acre park, complete with agility equipment for members to use. If you find yourself in Kingsport but can't access the park, don't worry! You can still visit one of the facilities in town, like the Boatyard-Riverfront Park, a 19-acre park with lovely views of the adjacent Holston River.

Mountain Home

Approximately a 30-minute drive from Blountville in the other direction is Johnson City. Here, you’ll find the hidden gem of Mountain Home, an entirely separate community with its very own zip code. The Willow Springs Park nearby houses the local bark park, Johnson City Dog Park, with ruffly 2 acres for Fido and their friends to run around and play in. You’ll need to provide proper documentation to join the park, so be sure to bring vaccination papers with you! If you get hungry, stop by Scratch Pizza for a pie on their pet-friendly patio! Leashed doggie diners are welcome!

Downtown

Pre-fur to stick to the busier side of town? Drift over to the Downtown area in Johnson City. Here, you’ll find the spacious Founder's Park, where you can take Fido for a walk through the sculpted green space. The park is favored among locals, and you’ll likely run into other pet parents utilizing the five-acre greenway for daily walks as well! For a more rugged hiking adventure, try the Tweetsie Trail, with an entrance just off Legion Street. Once you’ve checked out the trail, venture back to Downtown to end the day with a craft beer from JRH Brewing Company. They are incredibly pet-friendly, welcoming dogs both inside and on the back patio!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Want to explore the South Highlands without having to leave Fido behind? You are welcome to bring Fido along during a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, but there are limitations as to what Fido can do. Because of the high population of wildlife and animals throughout the park, pets are only allowed on two of the National Park's hiking trails: the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail. During your hike, Fido must remain on a leash no longer than six-feet – this is for their safety! The two trails span around 3 miles roundtrip, each, which can be perfect for a brisk walk through the scenic nature.