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Tails & Trails: Explore Dog-Friendly Hikes at Smith Mountain Lake

When you visit Smith Mountain Lake, please bring your dog. We love them! And your pup will adore it here, too.

These regional trails are great picks for a casual walk or heart-pumping hike with your four-legged friends.

Please remember to always keep your dog leashed, bring plenty of water and pick up after your pet!

Peaks of Otter

This popular landmark just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and convenient to the Appalachian Trail offers seven scenic hikes of varying lengths and levels of difficulty.

Falling Creek Park

The 10-mile trail network at Falling Creek Park was designed for all kinds of adventures, including hiking, trail running and mountain biking. The trails range from easy to advanced.

Booker T. Washington National Monument

Take a 1.5-mile walk along the meandering Jack-O-Lantern Branch Heritage Trail, which runs along fields, forests and a babbling creek.

Waid Recreation Area

Located near Rocky Mount, Waid Park features more than 7 miles of trails that wind along the peaceful Pigg River and through the quiet Franklin County countryside.

Grassy Hill Nature Area Preserve

With 1,300 acres and 6.6 miles of well-maintained trails to explore, Grassy Hill in Rocky Mount is an ideal choice for beginners or families with young children.

Ringgold Rail Trail

At 5.5 miles, this scenic trail in Pittsylvania County follows part of the right-of-way of a railroad that was an important transportation route for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Its flat terrain makes it ideal for walkers. It’s also wheelchair accessible.

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