Dog-friendly, near you

Dog-friendly hikes near Charlotte

Looking for somewhere to hike with your dog around Charlotte? Here are the 25 closest places where a leashed dog is welcome, pulled from every national forest, park, BLM area, wildlife refuge, state park, and dog beach we have verified, and sorted by rough distance from downtown.

Each one is checked for its own dog rule, so you can see at a glance where dogs are fully welcome and where a few limits apply. Distances are a straight-line estimate, so real drive times will run a bit longer.

25 places within ~150 miles, nearest first
KIMODog-friendly

Kings Mountain National Military Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
31 miles away · National place
COWPDog-friendly

Cowpens National Battlefield

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
56 miles away · National place
NCLimited access

Chimney Rock State Park

Partly, leashed dogs can hike most trails, but they're not allowed in the elevator or the Sky Lounge at the chimney formation itself.
81 miles away · State park
NCDog-friendly

Grandfather Mountain State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
82 miles away · State park
GUCODog-friendly

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
83 miles away · National place
NCDog-friendly

Mount Mitchell State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
88 miles away · State park
CARLDog-friendly

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
90 miles away · National place
TNDog-friendly

Roan Mountain State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
96 miles away · State park
CONGDog-friendly

Congaree

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
97 miles away · National park
SCDog-friendly

Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
97 miles away · National forest
NCDog-friendly

National Forests in North Carolina

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
100 miles away · National forest
NISIDog-friendly

Ninety Six National Historic Site

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
100 miles away · National place
SCDog-friendly

Caesars Head State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
102 miles away · State park
BLRIDog-friendly

Blue Ridge Parkway

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
102 miles away · National place
VADog-friendly

Grayson Highlands State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
104 miles away · State park
SCDog-friendly

Table Rock State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
106 miles away · State park
NCDog-friendly

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
108 miles away · State park
VADog-friendly

Hungry Mother State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
120 miles away · State park
SCDog-friendly

Devils Fork State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
121 miles away · State park
NCDog-friendly

William B. Umstead State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
125 miles away · State park
ANJOLimited access

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

Leashed pets are allowed on the Homestead grounds and on the roadways and sidewalks of the National Cemetery. There are no trails open to pets.
129 miles away · National place
BOWADog-friendly

Booker T Washington National Monument

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
130 miles away · National place
SCDog-friendly

Oconee State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
131 miles away · State park
GADog-friendly

Black Rock Mountain State Park

Leashed dogs welcome on most or all trails.
147 miles away · State park
GALimited access

Tallulah Gorge State Park

Partly. Leashed dogs can hike the rim trails at Tallulah Gorge, but they're banned from the gorge floor.
148 miles away · State park
Planning a bigger trip? See the full NC dog trail guide for every dog-friendly park and trail in the state.

Common questions

Where can I hike with my dog near Charlotte?

There are 25 verified spots within about a 150-mile radius of Charlotte where leashed dogs are welcome, including national forests, state parks, and in some cases dog beaches. The closest ones are listed above, nearest first.

Are there dog-friendly trails close to Charlotte?

Yes. State parks and national forests near Charlotte are usually the most reliable, since most welcome a leashed dog on the trails. The list above ranks them by distance so you can find the nearest.