Trail of Tears State Forest

Bring your family (furry members, included) to the Trail of Tears State Forest for your next outdoor adventure. Despite the name, this facility makes for a great getaway filled with hiking, horseback riding, and picnicking out in the woods. This park actually takes its title from tragic historical events that took place here back in the 1800s, when Native American peoples were forced out of the land by settlers, hundreds of them later succumbing to the harsh conditions of the winter combined with limited food supplies. During war times, the forest was home to work camps and, in more recent years, a correctional facility for youth was built here.

Thankfully, things are peaceful now in these woods, and only the ruins from former structures remain. What you will find here are 14 basic campsites that welcome both two and four-legged guests, with 4 of the sites also accommodating wheelchairs, as well. Each lot has a picnic table, fire ring, and access to drinking water, but no hookups are offered. Nightly rates for camping are $8 and you'll have to dish out another $5 to reserve your site ahead of time.

When you're not checking out all of the crumbling buildings in the forest's historical site, you and Fido can hit the trails. One of the pathways is specially set up just for cross-country running, perfect for the human-pup duo that loves to get their daily run in! Other fun activities here include horseback riding or firing up the grills in the shelters provided on-site and having a get-together in the wild.

Doggos are allowed on all of the campsites, but they must stay on a leash no longer than 10 feet during their stay. Also, have a word with your furry buddy and let them know they need to keep it down during nighttime hours so other campers get a good night's sleep. As always, be sure to clean up after your woofer throughout your trip to keep this forest a wonderful place to visit.

For an adventure filled with good times, head to Trail of Tears State Forest!