55We had a lovely time at this spot! It was our first visit, and we made a rookie mistake by following the curvature of the road to a different, locked gate instead of staying straight on 86th. Fortunately for us, the host kindly responded ASAP to help us find the actual entrance. The setup is great, with a clearing with chairs and water to serve as a base from which to explore the various trails. The trail with the bridge was closed for repairs (can’t fault a host for maintaining their spot!), so we have something to look forward to next visit. After an initial circuit to familiarize ourselves, we ended up keeping our pup on a long lead. He is sometimes a “choose your own adventure” type and there were definitely places here and there where he might have decided to follow his curiosity out of bounds. It didn’t matter—we had fun!Kristin O.
Kristin O.
May 2023
We had a lovely time at this spot! It was our first visit, and we made a rookie mistake by following the curvature of the road to a different, locked gate instead of staying straight on 86th. Fortunately for us, the host kindly responded ASAP to help us find the actual entrance. The setup is great, with a clearing with chairs and water to serve as a base from which to explore the various trails. The trail with the bridge was closed for repairs (can’t fault a host for maintaining their spot!), so we have something to look forward to next visit. After an initial circuit to familiarize ourselves, we ended up keeping our pup on a long lead. He is sometimes a “choose your own adventure” type and there were definitely places here and there where he might have decided to follow his curiosity out of bounds. It didn’t matter—we had fun!
55It was clean and a great place to do some off leash hiking with my dogs! Liked how there were trash cans in several places to throw away my dogs poo bags. Highly recommend and will definitely be back soon. justina y.
justina y.
April 2023
It was clean and a great place to do some off leash hiking with my dogs! Liked how there were trash cans in several places to throw away my dogs poo bags. Highly recommend and will definitely be back soon.
55I brought home a foster dog a few weeks ago and was trying to figure out how to get her to burn off some energy. The dog park would be too much. Luckily, I saw a post for this spot. I decided to get a monthly membership and I'm happy I did. It's been great letting her and my two dogs run around on the trails. There are so many smells to keep them busy and the owner keeps a Chuckit/ball in an open seating area to add to the fun. angela g.
angela g.
April 2023
I brought home a foster dog a few weeks ago and was trying to figure out how to get her to burn off some energy. The dog park would be too much. Luckily, I saw a post for this spot. I decided to get a monthly membership and I'm happy I did. It's been great letting her and my two dogs run around on the trails. There are so many smells to keep them busy and the owner keeps a Chuckit/ball in an open seating area to add to the fun.
55We didn't get to utilize all the trails because we were a little confused with the map and only found short loops. We will definitely be back to explore other areas. Can see how if you have a mischievous dog they would possibly have the opportunity to get out of the fencing but our dogs were fine.Allison M.
Allison M.
April 2023
We didn't get to utilize all the trails because we were a little confused with the map and only found short loops. We will definitely be back to explore other areas. Can see how if you have a mischievous dog they would possibly have the opportunity to get out of the fencing but our dogs were fine.
55We had an amazing time during our visit. The trails are maintained quite well considering this is a private property. And there was adequate fencing where it was needed. We also appreciated the little seating areas throughout. We will definitely be back!Jes S.
Jes S.
April 2023
We had an amazing time during our visit. The trails are maintained quite well considering this is a private property. And there was adequate fencing where it was needed. We also appreciated the little seating areas throughout. We will definitely be back!
55We had our first sniffspot visit today and wow. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful property with us. it was such a relaxing time not having to worry about other people and dogs. thank you again heather u.
heather u.
April 2023
We had our first sniffspot visit today and wow. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful property with us. it was such a relaxing time not having to worry about other people and dogs. thank you again
55It was fun exploring the wooded trails! Lovely spot. Kept my dog on a leash, but I could see taking a dog off leash if recall is fairly good.Catherine J.
Catherine J.
April 2023
It was fun exploring the wooded trails! Lovely spot. Kept my dog on a leash, but I could see taking a dog off leash if recall is fairly good.
55Such a dream! Our Golden loved getting all his sniffs in at this amazing location. The directions are easily to follow and the trails were well maintained! I loved being able to let him off leash and explore without the risk of encountering anyone! Will definitely be back! Hyebin D.
Hyebin D.
April 2023
Such a dream! Our Golden loved getting all his sniffs in at this amazing location. The directions are easily to follow and the trails were well maintained! I loved being able to let him off leash and explore without the risk of encountering anyone! Will definitely be back!
55This is the best Sniffspot we’ve been to! Tons of room to run and trails to explore. We took our boy here to celebrate his 1st birthday and he did NOT want to leave! We will be back! Kimmie H.
Kimmie H.
April 2023
This is the best Sniffspot we’ve been to! Tons of room to run and trails to explore. We took our boy here to celebrate his 1st birthday and he did NOT want to leave! We will be back!
55Great place. We could see horses in the distance and hear a dog in the distance but there was thick brush to deter my reactive dog from investigating, and it looked like the facility was fully fenced. My dog really enjoyed the off leash time. It was unusually warm so it was a nice touch that there was a cooler of water for my pup to drink and a picnic table in shade.Alexis G.
Alexis G.
April 2023
Great place. We could see horses in the distance and hear a dog in the distance but there was thick brush to deter my reactive dog from investigating, and it looked like the facility was fully fenced. My dog really enjoyed the off leash time. It was unusually warm so it was a nice touch that there was a cooler of water for my pup to drink and a picnic table in shade.
55This spot is great! It was easy to find with the hosts directions, very clean, private, and fences were exactly where you would want them to be. It was a warm day, so the water and chairs were appreciated. We also found a ball that added to all the fun! It’s still there for the next sniffer to find! Can’t wait to come back! Rebekah J.
Rebekah J.
May 2023
This spot is great! It was easy to find with the hosts directions, very clean, private, and fences were exactly where you would want them to be. It was a warm day, so the water and chairs were appreciated. We also found a ball that added to all the fun! It’s still there for the next sniffer to find! Can’t wait to come back!
55This was our first time trying out Sniffspot and we enjoyed Paul’s spot! Our GSD had fun romping around the trails and exploring all the smells. We appreciated the fresh (and cool, despite how hot it was outside!!) water for our pup. We did not see areas where our dog could have successfully exited the sniffspot, in case anyone is worried about that. Do plan for this to be more of a spot to roam the trails than to throw a ball. As you would expect for the area, the growth alongside the trails includes blackberry bushes (read: thorns), so beware your pup’s paws if they veer off course. And if you go in the evening, bring some bug spray! ;)Victoria B.
Victoria B.
May 2023
This was our first time trying out Sniffspot and we enjoyed Paul’s spot! Our GSD had fun romping around the trails and exploring all the smells. We appreciated the fresh (and cool, despite how hot it was outside!!) water for our pup. We did not see areas where our dog could have successfully exited the sniffspot, in case anyone is worried about that. Do plan for this to be more of a spot to roam the trails than to throw a ball. As you would expect for the area, the growth alongside the trails includes blackberry bushes (read: thorns), so beware your pup’s paws if they veer off course. And if you go in the evening, bring some bug spray! ;)
55Loved this spot! Great place to let your pup explore trails off-leash without worrying about running into others. The host provided chairs, toys, water bowls, and sanitizer. I cant wait to visit again :)Chelsea G.
Chelsea G.
April 2023
Loved this spot! Great place to let your pup explore trails off-leash without worrying about running into others. The host provided chairs, toys, water bowls, and sanitizer. I cant wait to visit again :)
How do Des Moines's private dog hiking trails work?
Private rentals by the hour
Our hosts are locals that are renting their yards and private land to dog owners
Trust and safety first
Spots are designed for safety and both hosts and guests are reviewed after each visit
Designed for private play
Only the people and dogs in your booking are allowed in the spot during your visit
Reactive dogs welcome
Many of the spots we list are designed with sensitive dogs in mind
Become a Sniffpass holder!
Get discounts on all bookings at all spots by buying monthly credits! Learn more!
FAQ about our Des Moines dog hiking trails
Are dog hiking trails safe?
While public dog parks have a number of safety issues, such as aggressive dogs, inattentive owners, disease transmission and general cleanliness, Sniffspot dog parks are much safer than a city or county park. With a Sniffspot off-leash area all bookings are private for just you and dogs you bring with you and we require all dogs to be vaccinated (or have equivalent titers). All Sniffspot locations are vetted and reviewed by guests so you can find the perfect place for you and your dog. 93% of reviews on Sniffspot visits are 5 stars. Our hiking trails tend to be outside the city, which lends to more privacy, but it is also important to follow typical hiking safety precautions, such as potentially having trail maps.
How can I find dog hiking trails in Des Moines?
There are 14 dog hiking trails in the Des Moines area. The most popular dog hiking trail is The Woods of Spadoni Hill. You can browse all of our dog hiking trails here.
How do I know if a dog hiking trail works for my dog?
Sniffspot provides the tools to find the ideal spot. Start by applying basic filters, such as fencing 6 feet tall and distractions, to find a dog park with trails that works for your dog. You can also filter by size if you are looking for a certain acre park, an expansive off-leash dog park. If your dog doesn't have good recall, you can visit one of our fully fenced dog hiking trails. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, you can visit one of our dog hiking trails where there are no dogs audible or visible nearby. Since you are looking for trails, make sure to check photos to see if it the spot has flat trails or gnarly trails. You can also browse by specific amenities, if you are looking for a view or a beach, for instance, or other activities or fun features. You can check whether the spot has off or on street parking, the regular park hours, whether it has paved trails or a modern restroom.
What are the requirements to bring my dog to a Sniffspot dog hiking trail?
In order to hike the trails, we require that all dogs have basic vaccinations or equivalent titers. We do not permit dogs with a bite history. We require that guests sign our waiver and agree to follow our safety rules.
Will there be other dogs at the Sniffspot hiking trail at the same time as me?
Sniffspot only allows one booking at a time and any host dogs are required to be kept away from the spot during visits. We also enforce 30 min time buffers between bookings.
How much do Sniffspot hiking trails cost?
Dog hiking trails in the Des Moines area range from $16.0 and $16.0. The least expensive dog hiking trail is The Woods of Spadoni Hill. The most expensive dog hiking trail is The Woods of Spadoni Hill. Each host sets their own price, so you can check the price on the specific Sniffspot dog park listing.
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