Trails, Lodging, and the Gear We Don’t Leave Home Without
Pippin Jack-Flash Cheney, our Golden-on-the-Go, had a grand time in 2011, taking more than 20 road trips, sniffing out great Oregon adventures, great places to stay, and new accessories to wear.
If you’re planning your own pet-friendly travels in the New Year, we offer up this summary of Oregon Trails, Lodging, and the Gear We Don’t Leave Home Without.
As you pack your bags and mark your maps, remember Pip’s Rules to Live By: Play often, sniff everything, and expect something good to happen.
CENTRAL OREGON
GOOD DOG! RIVER TRAIL: Just off the Cascade Lakes Highway in Central Oregon, this trail system – known as Good Dog! – offers the unbound beast in your dog (and in you) hours of exploring, romping, and running amuck.
Nearby Pet-Friendly Lodging: Shilo Inns & Suites; Bennington Properties (Sunriver).
Gear of Choice: Ruff Wear’s Quencher Cinch Top is a great dog bowl on the go for long hikes. Just fill it with your buddy’s favorite kibble, pull the drawstrings closed, and head out.
ELK LAKE: The full moon beckons us to the water. Pip does like to go kayaking, as all good water dogs do. He nestles himself on a blanket in the front of the boat and rests his chin on its lip, watching the lake go by underneath him. I like to think he dreams of mermaids, but maybe it’s birds and bunnies he’s pining for.
Nearby Pet-Friendly Lodging: Elk Lake Resort
Gear of Choice: If your dog likes to retrieve, try Ruff Wear’s “Gourdo” floatable throw toy. The rope lanyard makes it easy to throw and pick up to avoid the slobbery rubber end.
LAKE BILLY CHINOOK: Pip loves a boat ride! He’ll even ride the “biscuit,” towed very slowly behind the boat, with a chaperone on board. If you don’t have a motorboat, don’t worry. The shores offer great opportunities for splashing, playing and picnicking.
Nearby Pet-Friendly Lodging: Best Western Inn, Madras
Gear of Choice: Ruff Wear Float Coat is for active dogs who frequent the water, the “Big Eddy” float coat is designed for swimming in rough or fast-moving water, day or night.
MEADOW CAMP: Stop along the river for a picnic next to the Deschutes River as it flows downstream through the canyon, into the city of Bend, and beyond.
Nearby Pet-Friendly Lodging: Shilo Inns & Suites
Gear of Choice: Ruff Wear Grip Trex dog boots set the standard in paw wear for dogs who hike, bike, run, or explore the great outdoors with their humans.
Todd Lake @USFSTODD LAKE: The Deschutes National Forest unleashes its restrictions on dogs each autumn, and that means you and your pup can run amuck in the Three Sisters Wilderness Area to a beautiful, sparkling, alpine lake.
Nearby Pet-Friendly Lodging: Shilo Inns & Suites, Bend: Elk Lake Resort
Gear of Choice: Your dog worked hard; give him a super comfy ride home with a Tiger Dreamz luxury pet bed. This faux fur “throw” is easier to toss in the car than a standard dog bed, and will give your dog a soft place to curl up on the way to and from the trailhead.
COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
BOARDMAN MARINA PARK: Beaches, swimming area, and three miles of paved walking paths make a great stop or destinations if you’re traveling along the Columbia River Gorge. Read more about the greater Boardman area in “Meet Me on Highway 730.”
Nearby Pet-Friendly Lodging: Roadway Inn; Boardman Marina Park RV Campground
Gear of Choice: Ruff Wear’s Square Ball is great for high-energy dogs. The beveled edges and hefty weight of this square-shaped ball allow the toy to gain momentum and travel far.
WATERFALL DRIVES & HIKES: Road Trip! Five spectacular falls tumble through the historic Columbia Gorge Highway, and we wanted to see them all. We found some with short easy trails, others with longer, steeper hikes, and one two-mile straight-up trek to the top (Multnomah Falls).
Nearby Pet-Friendly Lodging: Columbia Gorge Hotel
Gear of Choice: You’ll want to keep you dog on a leash during these hikes. The Easy Walk dog harness is designed to gently discourage your dog from pulling while walking on a leash.
PART TWO:
Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, Linn County, Eugene, Cascades & Coast, and Mt. Hood Territory. READ PART TWO...
TRAVEL RESOURCES
Visit Bend
Visit Central Oregon
Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association
