Kanawha State Forest

The Kanawha State Forest is nine thousand three hundred acres of protected forestland near Charleston in West Virginia. There's a whole array of activities to get involved in here which include hiking, camping, and fishing to name but three. Other outdoor adventure activities are geo coaching, hunting, and biking. 

The most popular with pet parents is walking the twenty-five miles of forest trails with their furry friends. Yes, dogs are allowed in the forest, but they do have to be leashed. The Kanawha State Forest is a fantastic place for taking an assistance dog for some well earned outdoor time. 

A particular trail, named the Spotted Salamander Trail, has been prepared for those with visual impairments or who are physically challenged. The trail is paved, and there are nature stations which are Braille orientated. No working dog or handler needs to miss out on enjoying fresh air and getting in touch with nature here. 

If you're considering taking longer than a day's sojourn in the forest then the West Virginia State Parks Department has pet-friendly cabins and cottages for hire in some areas but not in the Kanawha State Forest. At Kanawha, the only option for staying longer is camping out overnight. 

There are forty-six different spots on one campsite in the forest which are open from April right the way through to December. All spots have picnic tables and fire pits, but only fifty percent of the spots have hookups for water and electricity. From Memorial Day through to Labour Day, you'll need to make a reservation. 

It's great for pet parents to be able to spend time with their fur baby in a forest. But it doesn't mean a pup can revert back to its genetic wild state and start acting like a wolf. There's no howling permitted between the quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM and as untamed an environment as it may be, no poop should be left lying around either.