55We enjoyed walking around on the trails. The only area that could pose as a problem is the area with the horse fencing. But it did look as though they were working on securing that fence lone better. Dani M.
Dani M.
March 2023
We enjoyed walking around on the trails. The only area that could pose as a problem is the area with the horse fencing. But it did look as though they were working on securing that fence lone better.
55Dogs had a great time and there was enough space to tucker them out. Location was easy to find and was grateful for the clear parking signs. our dogs have good recall so we felt pretty secure the whole time, but would not suggest this site to any one with escape artist dogs because they can easily get out in some spots. All in all it was worth the trip and much safer than a dog park. Highly recommend! Sadie S.
Sadie S.
March 2023
Dogs had a great time and there was enough space to tucker them out. Location was easy to find and was grateful for the clear parking signs. our dogs have good recall so we felt pretty secure the whole time, but would not suggest this site to any one with escape artist dogs because they can easily get out in some spots. All in all it was worth the trip and much safer than a dog park. Highly recommend!
55Easy to find, lots of sitting areas with water, hand sanitizer, poop bags. We explored everywhere and loved finding the hidden bridge. Our pups loved it! Would definitely book again. Susan C.
Susan C.
March 2023
Easy to find, lots of sitting areas with water, hand sanitizer, poop bags. We explored everywhere and loved finding the hidden bridge. Our pups loved it! Would definitely book again.
55Our husky loved it. We live out near the woods, yet with being attacked by off leash dogs, I no longer enjoy most areas. I kept my pup on a leash the first 40 min. He loved it. At the end of our visit, I let him off leash a bit. We have to be careful as he has high prey instinct and will take off with squirrels, etc. It wouldn't have been too much of an issue, yet there are some areas that aren't fenced.Cynthia H.
Cynthia H.
March 2023
Our husky loved it. We live out near the woods, yet with being attacked by off leash dogs, I no longer enjoy most areas. I kept my pup on a leash the first 40 min. He loved it. At the end of our visit, I let him off leash a bit. We have to be careful as he has high prey instinct and will take off with squirrels, etc. It wouldn't have been too much of an issue, yet there are some areas that aren't fenced.
55Instructions and directions were easy to follow. Well maintained and SO MANY beautiful trails. Our pup had the best time. Plenty of water stations (3 or 4) and sitting areas placed within the trails. 10/10 will be back Nicole B.
Nicole B.
March 2023
Instructions and directions were easy to follow. Well maintained and SO MANY beautiful trails. Our pup had the best time. Plenty of water stations (3 or 4) and sitting areas placed within the trails. 10/10 will be back
55Such a great, well maintained place to visit! Even though my dogs are dog and people friendly, sometimes I'm not! This is a wonderful, peaceful place to wander through the woods with quiet thoughts and best friends literally sniffing everything ❤️ Also over the months I've visited off and on I'm pleased to share that the host is continually improving his Sniffspot. Little saplings planted all along the trails, trails are well groomed, driveway gravel is fresh and flat, plenty of trash cans, water and even poo bags if you forgot your own. Lovely day to enjoy the sunshine and quiet. Highly recommended!Laura M.
Laura M.
March 2023
Such a great, well maintained place to visit! Even though my dogs are dog and people friendly, sometimes I'm not! This is a wonderful, peaceful place to wander through the woods with quiet thoughts and best friends literally sniffing everything ❤️ Also over the months I've visited off and on I'm pleased to share that the host is continually improving his Sniffspot. Little saplings planted all along the trails, trails are well groomed, driveway gravel is fresh and flat, plenty of trash cans, water and even poo bags if you forgot your own. Lovely day to enjoy the sunshine and quiet. Highly recommended!
55This is a lovely wooded spot, with numerous side trails and a little wooden bridge on one of the trails. Our dogs enjoyed jumping over downed trees and making their way through the various paths, and we enjoyed sitting in the chairs a bit after exploring. We enjoyed having our own private area without worrying about encountering other dogs, joggers, and vehicles!Dale Y.
Dale Y.
March 2023
This is a lovely wooded spot, with numerous side trails and a little wooden bridge on one of the trails. Our dogs enjoyed jumping over downed trees and making their way through the various paths, and we enjoyed sitting in the chairs a bit after exploring. We enjoyed having our own private area without worrying about encountering other dogs, joggers, and vehicles!
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 :)
55Had a doctor visit today and told him about Paul’s wonderful place.. all of a sudden he and the new practitioner didn’t care about me and only wanted more details about your wonderful place for their dogs!! Expect them to visit soon!Susan C.
Susan C.
April 2023
Had a doctor visit today and told him about Paul’s wonderful place.. all of a sudden he and the new practitioner didn’t care about me and only wanted more details about your wonderful place for their dogs!! Expect them to visit soon!
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.
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 Wide Open Spaces at The Holler. 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 $10.0 and $10.0. The least expensive dog hiking trail is Wide Open Spaces at The Holler. The most expensive dog hiking trail is Wide Open Spaces at The Holler. Each host sets their own price, so you can check the price on the specific Sniffspot dog park listing.
Download Sniffspot iOS and Android Apps
Download the Sniffspot app
Check out Sniffspot dog hiking trails in nearby cities