We've done Skyland with the dogs several times. Technically dogs must be leashed on the trails, but we let ours off to splash around in the water.

There's a nice website called Bring Fido. It has lots of information about traveling with dogs and where they are allowed.

http://www.bringfido.com/

Anonymous wrote:West Virginia baby. I was visiting friends there, and we all had our dogs off leash. I asked what the leash law was, and they just laughed. They said there was no such thing. There are a lot of nice places near the New River Gorge. I was looking at cabins in that area just the other day. I can't recommend one specifically though because we haven't stayed in them yet. Don't use the state parks because most of them don't allow pets in the cabin, and the state parks are more likely to require the dog to be on leash.

Agree. Consider the Black Bear Resort in Davis, WV (dog friendly cabins). Hike with dog at Blackwater Falls State Park.

Anonymous wrote:Try lost river national park and lost river modern in Lost river West Virginia. Where so you hike off leash locally? We are looking for places so we aren't limited just to vacations

NP here. It's not quite "local", but within 90 minutes of DC. I love the Virginia Arboretum out 66.

http://blandy.virginia.edu/arboretum

Acres and acres of rolling hills, horse trails, and off leash space to run. It's an incredible gem in this area!!

Anonymous wrote:Any state or national park will require leashes by law.

This is outside your travel ratio, but have always wanted to go there. http://barkwells.com/

That place looks amazing!!

Any state or national park will require leashes by law.

This is outside your travel ratio, but have always wanted to go there. http://barkwells.com/

West Virginia baby. I was visiting friends there, and we all had our dogs off leash. I asked what the leash law was, and they just laughed. They said there was no such thing. There are a lot of nice places near the New River Gorge. I was looking at cabins in that area just the other day. I can't recommend one specifically though because we haven't stayed in them yet. Don't use the state parks because most of them don't allow pets in the cabin, and the state parks are more likely to require the dog to be on leash.

Try lost river national park and lost river modern in Lost river West Virginia. Where so you hike off leash locally? We are looking for places so we aren't limited just to vacations

We'd like to spend a weekend this summer within a 3-4 hr drive of DC with our kids and dog. We are thinking someplace like Deep Creek Lake. We are open to renting a house or camping. We'd like to be able to hike, play in the water, and other outdoor activities. At home we often take our dog hiking off-leash, and he loves being able to romp and run off the trail, but he never strays out of sight and he is friendly with other dogs - he plays at a dog park nearly every day. Is there anyplace we can bring our dog for a weekend trip where we are allowed to leave him off peash while we hike, and he can splash in the water off leash. Thanks in advance for your recommendations.