Dog-Friendly Cleveland Travel Guide
Cleveland, Ohio is home to some of the most dog-friendly restaurants, hiking trails, and city experiences in the Midwest! Home of the Cleveland Browns, the city is even represented by their Bullmastiff mascot Swagger. With the Cuyahoga National Park in such close proximity as well, dog lovers have access to both city adventures and nature explorations with their best four-legged friends.
Here are some of our favorite spots to visit in Cleveland!
Hiking in Cleveland
One of our favorite things about Cleveland is that you never have to travel far to find a hiking trail! The Cleveland Metroparks system has protected park land in the surrounding suburbs – whether you live on the east or west side of downtown, you’re sure to find a Metroparks trail system nearby. Most all are dog-friendly, and have well-defined hiking trails to give your dog an escape from the concrete city life. One of our favorites is the Rocky River Reservation – you can hop on almost any trail and hike to some beautiful views of the valley!
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the few National Parks in the country that allows dogs on hiking trails! Some of our favorite hikes in the CVNP are Brandywine Falls and the Ledges – no matter the season, you’re sure to enjoy the beauty of such a huge forest setting with natural rock formations, waterfalls, and rivers running through the trails.
Hocking Hills State Park is another great one for a day trip! You’ll find more waterfalls, hidden swimming holes, cave formations, and a variety of trees, plants, and wildlife no matter which trail you choose!
City Life in Cleveland
If you’d rather hit the city for the day, but can’t imagine leaving your pup behind, don’t worry! There are a ton of awesome options to make a day of fun with your dog in the city.
Bow Wow Beach is a must do – bordering Lake Erie near Edgewater, there is a special section of the beach reserved for off leash fun. The dogs love swimming in the warmer months, and can run around to their heart’s content with their new friends! As a heads up – it is not an official dog park, so there is no fence around this beach area. Be sure your dog has a reliable recall and can listen to come back to you with so much fun surrounding them!
If you’re on the east side of town, downtown Chagrin Falls is a fantastic way to spend the day. With a plethora of dog-friendly shops and boutiques, your dog will love the attention and pets they command at every stop. You can grab a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants, or snag a pup cup from Jeni’s Ice Cream or Starbucks to enjoy near the roaring Chagrin Falls waterfall.
Keep an eye out for the local sports events announcing their dog-friendly game days – the Lake Erie Captains and the Monsters have both frequently hosted nights where dogs are invited to enjoy the game as well!
Patio Days in Cleveland
One of the best ways to spend a beautiful spring day is enjoying some food and drinks on a patio with your dog! It would be difficult to find a patio that does not allow dogs – almost all welcome well-behaved and leashed dogs. We always bring some EarthBites to reward our dogs for their good behavior!
One of our favorite spots is Terrestrial Brewing Company – they even hosted a “Puppy Bowl” on Super Bowl Sunday in the past and frequently have dog-related events! Platform Beer Company and the Flying Monkey are also great options – most of the time, they’ll let you bring your dog inside or out on the patio to enjoy a drink or two!
If you’re near downtown, you can head to the Flats to enjoy the day near the water. There are plenty of patio options, and many places have live music to enjoy on the weekends! Moving over to the Ohio City area, you can’t miss grabbing a pup cup from one of the local ice cream joints – Mason’s Creamery and Mitchell’s Ice Cream are must visits!
The ultimate winner of “Best Dog Friendly Patio” award would go to Luxe Cafe, in my opinion – they host a dog friendly “Bow Wow Brunch” every Sunday all summer long, and even have menu options for the four-legged guests!
Have fun!
No matter what you decide to do during your visit to Cleveland, you’re sure to have a blast with your dog by your side! Cleveland is quickly growing into a bustling and energetic city that leads their area in both dog-friendly activities, as well as a huge plethora of business, restaurants, and shops that allow your dog to enjoy the day just as much as you (if not more!).
In the area? Check out our dog-friendly guides to Michigan and Tennessee!
