Some states are simply easier than others if you hike with a dog. It comes down to how much public land they have and how much of it welcomes a leashed dog.
We ranked all 50 by the number of verified dog-friendly places in each, across the national parks, forests, BLM land, and state parks. The big Western states run away with it, thanks to millions of acres of forest and BLM country.
Pick your state below for the full guide, or use this as a road-trip planner.
Wherever you are, your state guide breaks down every dog-friendly park and trail, with the closures called out.
Lots of national forest and BLM land, which almost always welcome leashed dogs, plus a dog-friendly state park system. The national parks matter less, since most limit dogs anyway.
Colorado has a strong claim, with eight national forests and a deep bench of BLM land, all open to a leashed dog. Other Western states like Oregon, Idaho, and Montana are close behind.