Welcome to Dog City, USA, where tail wags are part of the landscape.
Asheville invites you and your four-legged sidekick to explore together, where daily walks turn into small adventures. This guide points the way to scenic hikes, open-air parks, pet-friendly patios, and local shops where dogs are greeted like locals—because around here, they are.
Where are Pet-Friendly Trails Near Asheville?
- The Blue Ridge Parkway has trails for every experience level, and pets are welcome as long as they are leashed and owners clean up after them. So plan accordingly, and don’t forget to bring water for you and your pet.
- Check out the Craggy Pinnacle trail at Craggy Gardens (milepost 364.4 on the Parkway), which ends at a 180-degree breathtaking view. Or take your pet to Graveyard Fields Loop, where they can enjoy splashing around in the cool creek or swimming below one of the two waterfalls.
- Waterfalls are part of everyday adventure in the Asheville area, and many of the region’s most beloved cascades are reachable on dog-friendly trails. In DuPont State Recreational Forest, leashed pets can join you on wide gravel paths to cinematic favorites like Triple Falls. In Pisgah National Forest, roadside favorites like Looking Glass Falls and gentle hikes to Moore Cove Falls make it easy to pair a splash stop with a scenic drive.
- Check out our Asheville Hike Finder, and sort by “Pet-Friendly” to see the full list!
What are the Parks & Attractions Your Dog Can Visit?
- Biltmore allows leashed dogs on its grounds, and owners can also enjoy the trails at the North Carolina Arboretum, though only service animals are allowed in the buildings or garden areas of both attractions. Please respect each area's pet policy; pick up after your pet, and never ever leave your furry friend in the car.
Nearby Chimney Rock State Park is a pet favorite, with miles of trails suitable for all levels. The Park borders the Rocky Broad River and is an excellent place to let your dog cool off from the summer heat. As long as they are leashed and accompanied at all times, pets are allowed on all of the trails. They are not permitted in the elevator, restaurants or gift shops (service animals are allowed on the elevator). Do not leave pets in vehicles.
*Chimney Rock State Park is now open after Hurricane Helene. The park is open Friday–Monday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with gates closing at 7 p.m. All visitors must reserve tickets online in advance. Use NC 9 through Lake Lure for access, and note that all active Annual Passes will be extended. Visit chimneyrockpark.com for updates and FAQs.
- Explore the city with your four-legged companion on the Urban Trail. The fully interactive trail is marked by 30 stations decorated with plaques and sculptures, each describing an interesting fact about the city. Visitors may choose to walk the trail with a guide or rent an audio narration of the tour.
- Leashed dogs are welcome to wander with you through the River Arts District, where former industrial buildings now house working studios and galleries along the French Broad River. The adjacent greenway and riverfront corridors are popular for walking and biking and are often shared by families and dogs, making this one of the city’s most relaxed places to explore together. Pause at outdoor sculpture gardens, follow the mural-lined streets, and stroll the riverside path—but keep pets leashed and ask before entering studios, as individual artists set their own pet policies.
What are some Pet-Friendly Places to Eat?
Most area restaurants allow pets to tag along with their humans if they stay on their patios or decks. There are even Asheville eateries, such as Twisted Laurel and Posana, that have menus just for dogs!
Check out the Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company, which serves award-winning craft beers, or downtown hotspot Posana, where Fido can lounge on an outside patio. Peruse used books while sipping fine wine or champagne at the Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.
A few of the other area restaurants that allow pets on their outside decks or patios include:
- The Jerusalem Garden Café
- Sunny Point Cafe
- Wicked Weed Brewing
- Carmel's Restaurant and Bar
- West End Bakery
- Westville Pub
Check out a full list of restaurants in the Asheville area.
Where Can You Stay with Your Dog in Asheville?
From boutique downtown hotels to historic inns and cozy cabins, Asheville makes it easy to travel with your dog. Many properties offer thoughtful touches like beds, bowls, treats, and nearby walking areas, and some waive pet fees altogether. Always confirm size limits, fees, and whether pets can be left unattended before booking.
- Aloft Asheville Downtown: Right in the heart of downtown, this hotel welcomes both dogs and cats with no pet fee and provides beds and bowls through its ARF (Animals Are Fun) program.
- The Omni Grove Park Inn: A historic mountain retreat where up to two dogs (60 lbs. max) can stay in designated rooms, with pet relief areas and expansive grounds for on-leash walks.
- 1900 Inn on Montford: The pet-friendly Griffin Cottage includes dog beds, bowls, and a garden-opening patio in a quiet neighborhood near downtown.
- Hotel Indigo Asheville Downtown: A stylish, centrally located stay where well-behaved dogs (under 80 lbs.) are welcome for a small fee, making it an easy launch point for downtown walks.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Asheville-Biltmore: Set near Biltmore Estate, this property offers green space and walking areas ideal for dogs who prefer room to roam.
- The Log Cabin Motor Court: Dog-friendly historic cabins with kitchens and wooded grounds for relaxed, on-leash exploring just north of downtown.
Watering Bowls (and Bars) for You and Fido
Many bars and breweries in Asheville allow dogs inside including Urban Orchard, Highland Brewing, Burial Beer, Green Man Brewery, Hillman Beer, French Broad River Brewery and Fleetwood's.
For a unique experience, check out Wagbar, which seamlessly blends the concepts of an off-leash dog park and a bar, offering a social space for dogs, their owners, and anyone seeking a canine-friendly atmosphere.
Paw-fect Shopping for Furry Friends
Reward good behavior or show your devotion with a special treat from Asheville’s assortment of pet boutiques and stores.
- The Bone-A-Fide Pet Boutique in nearby Black Mountain offers a wife variety of homemade treats, toys and other goodies for dogs and cats, and even pet birthday cakes.
- Patton Avenue Pet Company is a full-service pet supply store packed with food, gear, treats, and toys across three Asheville locations.
- And when it's time to kick back, stop by Woof Gang Bakery for snacks or The Hop Ice Cream Cafe in North or West Asheville for a special puppy ice cream.
