New England has rich history, culture, fascinating cities, scenic villages, and outdoor adventures at every turn. It’s a brilliant place to explore white sand beaches, lighthouses, lakes, and panoramic mountain views with your best furry travel companion! Read on to learn about our top pet friendly things to do in New England.
New England is known for its quaint cities, beautiful nature, and rich history. Composed of six states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, each has its own culture and claim to fame. From the peaks of the mountains to the crashing ocean shores, I am thrilled to share some of my favorite adventures in dog friendly New England!
Dog Friendly New England
Covered Bridges – Throughout New England
One of the most recognizable landmarks of New England is the covered bridge. Originally created to protect the deck from harsh New England winters, covered bridges have a distinctive style.
Though you don’t need to make a plan to stop at a covered bridge, they really are a must-do when traveling in New England! And almost every bridge is perfectly pet friendly!
Some of our covered bridge adventures have been simple — a regal pose and some time to sniff around a new place. Others have involved a hike, or picnicking on the sand or rocks under the bridge. Covered bridges offer the perfect opportunity to get a great photo of your dog with a quintessential New England landmark. Be sure to stop at a few on your adventure.
Gillette Castle – New Haddam, Connecticut
Gillette Castle State Park is our favorite destination in Connecticut. This state park was once owned by William Gillette, a famous actor in the early 1900’s. Later purchased by the State of Connecticut, the park now surrounds the famous Gillette Castle and has a visitor center, museum, hiking trails, and picnic areas. There are even live theater events and walking tours available to visitors!
Within the state park, leashed pets are welcome on the trails and in the picnic areas. We love meandering through the woods, catching glimpses of the Connecticut River from high above, traversing the ponds, and discovering the rustic bridges.
Though pets cannot go inside the buildings or on the decks, we also enjoy wandering around outside the castle. It seems there’s always something new to admire in the intricate details and spectacular architecture of this fieldstone structure.
DO MORE ⇒ Visiting Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport with Dogs
Cape Cod – Massachusetts
Cape Cod is a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean off the southeastern corner of Massachusetts. It’s a popular summer destination known for its laid-back lifestyle, fantastic beaches, lighthouses, ponds, villages, seafood shacks, and dockside restaurants.
We love Cape Cod most in the off-season, when it’s much less crowded. This might be the most dog friendly place in New England. Especially in Provincetown, which is located on the very tip of the peninsula.
Our Cape Cod memories include beaches, lighthouses, and Nickerson State Park. But we’ve also visited gardens, windmills, and even gone shopping with the dogs.
While there are unlimited options to choose from, our favorite dog friendly beaches are Town Neck Beach with its gorgeous boardwalk, and Cahoon Hollow Beach requiring a long walk down a dune. One aspect of Cape Cod I love is the dunes, a spectacular and unusual site in New England.
DO MORE ⇒ Explore The Pet Friendly Freedom Trail in Boston, MA
Halibut Point State Park – Rockport, Massachusetts
Halibut Point State Park is a coastal park north of Cape Cod with a granite quarry, almost three miles of trails, and expansive views. There is also a visitor center and a tower that looks like a lighthouse.
Halibut Point is one of our favorite destinations in Massachusetts. The trail begins in the woods before arriving at the tower and runs into the quarry. We never miss the opportunity to take photos at the tower before appreciating the unusual geological features of the quarry.
The trail loops around the quarry providing numerous opportunities to stand on the rocky ledges and admire the panoramic views.
As the trails head down to the shore, the rocks can be challenging for those with mobility issues. But for dogs, they provide great opportunities for rock jumping, tidal pool exploring, and lounging to appreciate the soothing sound of the crashing waves.
If you are a fan of a rocky shoreline, this definitely a place to include on your itinerary!
White Mountains – New Hampshire
The White Mountains cover about a quarter of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine. With 48 peaks of over 4,000 feet, they are are popular for skiing, hiking, and ATVing.
For a short visit to the White Mountains, take a drive on the Kancamangus Highway. Some of the best stops along the way are the Rocky Gorge, Lincoln Woods, and Sabbaday Falls.
For those looking to stretch their legs, you’ll find endless hiking trails for all ability levels. Many hikes even include lakes, waterfalls, and flowing water. Some of my favorites are Arethusa Falls, the Basin-Cascade Trail, Ripley Falls, the Ammoonsuc Trail, and Lonesome Lake. And almost every hike in the White Mountains is pet friendly! This is one dog friendly place in New England you simply can’t pass up.
DO MORE ⇒ Visiting New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington With Dogs
Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park – Freeport, Maine
Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park spans approximately 250 acres on a peninsula between Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. It contains various ecosystems and is known for the local ospreys that nest on Googins Island. Open year around, the park is popular for bird watching, walking, educational programs, and picnicking.
Freeport is known as the home of L.L. Bean, a retailer that sells outdoor clothing, shoes, and equipment. That might be why we’ve only recently discovered Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park. With miles of trails, ospreys flying above, and brilliant water views, we love the variety of terrain.
Several trails provide opportunities to get close to the water, whether by way of a sandy beach, stairwell, or jagged slopped rocks. But my favorite thing about Wolfe’s Neck Woods are the views of Casco Bay from high above the shore.
The dramatic colors of the water, almost tropical in places, contrast with the texture of the rocks creating a magnificent scene.
If you are a lover of geology, an avid birdwatcher, or a fan of a rocky shoreline, you won’t want to miss this place!
Acadia National Park – Bar Harbor, Maine
Acadia National Park encompasses 47,000 acres in Northeastern Maine. It is popular with fall foliage seekers, winter skiers, hikers, and those who enjoy fishing.
We have absolutely loved our visits to Acadia National Park — it’s definitely one of the most beautiful, dog friendly places in New England. The landscape is unique and gorgeous, with trees emerging from the rocky shore and waves crashing dramatically into the boulders. And exploring at sunrise or sunset adds a magical touch to the spectacular scene.
READ MORE ⇒ Exploring Acadia National Park with Dogs
We are far from experts on this park. However some of our adventures have included hiking around Jordan Pond and visiting Cadillac Mountain.
There are several mountain climbs we are excited to try when we return. Most of Acadia is dog friendly, including the park shuttle. But a few places are not, so make sure you do some research.
If your goal is to visit one of America’s most dog friendly national parks, Acadia should definitely be on your New England itinerary.
Dog Mountain – St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Dog Mountain is a 150-acre dog friendly haven on a mountaintop in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The property was owned by the talented artist, furniture maker, sculptor, and author, Stephen Huneck.
Sadly, Huneck died at just 61. However, his vision lives on with Dog Mountain’s Dog Chapel, art gallery, and numerous pet friendly trails, ponds. They even host dog friendly events, including parties and concerts.
The Dog Chapel is a healing place for everyone who’s loved and lost a pet. Photographs and notes to departed pets cover the walls several layers deep. And each detail of the chapel is exquisite, from the dog carvings on the pews, to the the stained glass windows, to the statues.
The second thing to love about Dog Mountain is the gallery, which contains artwork and numerous other products created by Huneck. The best part of this gallery is that dogs can shop by your side. All of the proceeds help to keep Dog Mountain in business, so be sure to support this wonderful place.
READ MORE ⇒ Another Visit To Dog Mountain
Finally, you won’t want to miss the trails, pond, and other features throughout the property. The trails are simple, but scenic, especially in the autumn months. There is also a beautiful pond where dog friends often gather to play. And you’ll find dog statues in various places, dog carvings adorn the fence, and other special treasures scattered around. I can promise that you have never seen anything like it!
Lighthouses – Throughout New England
Lighthouses are another classic sight as you travel throughout New England. Designed to assist ships with navigation, lighthouses are symbols of the area’s naval heritage.
All of the New England states have lighthouses, with Maine featuring the most. In order to have a true New England experience, you must visit a lighthouse. And you will be happy to find that many lighthouses are pet friendly!
Some of our lighthouse adventures have involved views from afar. Others have included hiking to or around a park in which one is located. And of course all of these visits included dozens of photos to memorialize our trip and these stunning structures.
I hope you and your dog will take the opportunity to visit New England. I can promise that you will not regret it!
About the Author: Heather Parsons is a dog rescue mom, blogger, outdoor lover, and a true Patriots fan! She and her dogs spend their free time exploring dog friendly New England, capturing the moments through words and photographs. You can learn more about these locations and follow Heather’s adventures at adventuresofshadowandwilma.com. All photos in this post belong exclusively to Heather Parsons.
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