Virginia hides a strange kind of magic in its geography: you can start the morning among wild ponies at 5,000 feet and finish the day letting sandy paws chase bay ripples. Fewer than 20 of Shenandoah’s 500-plus trail miles ban dogs.
One state park now hands out ranger badges to good pups. From limestone arches to fossil beaches, here are 18 stops where leashes are welcome and the scenery keeps changing.
1. Hike the highlands at Grayson Highlands State Park
Wild ponies grazing on open grassland make this southwestern Virginia park feel like Scotland. Near Mouth of Wilson, the high meadows sit close to Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain.
Leashed dogs, six feet maximum, can join you on most trails, including Appalachian Trail sections. Try the Rhododendron Trail at roughly 1.3 miles…