The Blue Ridge Mountains offer some of the most spectacular views to be found in the U.S. You and your pet can enjoy this region in so many ways. First off, whether you choose to stay at a hotel in a city like Asheville or go cozy and rural in a cottage in Brasstown, you’ll find lots of pet-friendly lodgings to choose from.

If you’re looking for spectacular views and opportunities to hike with your pet, visit Chimney Rock Park. You can marvel at its towering cliffs and the 404-foot-high Hickory Nut Falls and take advantage of its miles of hiking tails. With your pet on a 6-foot leash, he’s welcome everywhere except the park buildings and in the elevator that rockets up 26 stories to the top of Chimney Rock.

If you’re interested in more of a wilderness adventure, you and your pooch can explore the Pisgah National Forest, over half a million acres that stretch across western North Carolina and encompass rivers, gorges, and mountain outlooks. The Bent Creek trailhead is located just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville. Your pet must be in a 6-foot leash.

For those who prefer to sightsee by car, by all means explore the area via the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at its many scenic outlooks. Also, located along the parkway is Grandfather Mountain, a private park that offers incredible 360-degree views, as well as opportunities for hiking. If you can, time your visit for early to mid-June when the rhododendrons are blooming, or in October, for the unforgettable foliage. Your pet is welcome to explore with you, on a 6-foot leash.

Transylvania County is known as the Land of Waterfalls, which is not surprising, since it’s home to 260 of them. You and your pet can make a tour of some of the largest: Connestee Falls, off U.S. 276 South, which are twin falls 110 feet high; High Falls, at 125 feet high, off Yellow Gap Road; and Whitewater Falls, off NC 281 South, near Sapphire, the highest waterfall on the East Coast, topping 441 feet.

If you’re in the mood to do some low-key ambling, you and your pet can explore the 65 gardens and hiking trails of the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville or the 262 acres of farmland of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock.

Finally, if the timing is right, be sure to catch the Annual Any and All Dog Show in Tryon, usually held in October. Your pooch is welcome to compete in a host of categories, including Best Tail Wagger, So Ugly It’s Cute, and Dog That Would Rather Be At Home, with all entry fees going to benefit the Foothills Humane Society.

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