55My dog had a great time! We will definitely be back. She had so much land to explore and she loved swimming in the river! Thank you for sharing this spot for our furry friends. :)Maddie P.
Maddie P.
February 2023
My dog had a great time! We will definitely be back. She had so much land to explore and she loved swimming in the river! Thank you for sharing this spot for our furry friends. :)
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Great open, yet shaded area along the river. Perfect for dogs with noses who love tall grass & roam freely! There isn’t necessarily a specific trail but the openness made it easy to keep eyes open.
Caution to the humans: because of the tall grass, recommend wearing long-pants or tall socks if that kind of thing concerns you. Otherwise, it’s a great spot!Maggie P.
Maggie P.
April 2023
Great open, yet shaded area along the river. Perfect for dogs with noses who love tall grass & roam freely! There isn’t necessarily a specific trail but the openness made it easy to keep eyes open.
Caution to the humans: because of the tall grass, recommend wearing long-pants or tall socks if that kind of thing concerns you. Otherwise, it’s a great spot!
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Lovely spot for a flat walk with nice shade. Great for older dogs. You can hear the road from the spot, but it’s still very peaceful. Will definitely be back!Tristan R.
Tristan R.
May 2023
Lovely spot for a flat walk with nice shade. Great for older dogs. You can hear the road from the spot, but it’s still very peaceful. Will definitely be back!
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Once you find the road you can travel the road pretty much to the river. We had a good time. Be sure you watch your dog if you take him off leash as not all the edges are jumpable.Kathryn M.
Kathryn M.
May 2023
Once you find the road you can travel the road pretty much to the river. We had a good time. Be sure you watch your dog if you take him off leash as not all the edges are jumpable.
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Dogs absolutely loved it! Will definitely have to come back. Just be aware that an occasional kayak/SUP may be coming down the river. Wear outdoor shoes because the shore can be muddy. Destiny C.
Destiny C.
June 2023
Dogs absolutely loved it! Will definitely have to come back. Just be aware that an occasional kayak/SUP may be coming down the river. Wear outdoor shoes because the shore can be muddy.
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55We had so much fun! Pup loved zooming in the fields, sniffing in the woods, and splashing in the riverbed. Make sure your dog has good recall & is not a flight risk before taking them off leash here, as there is no fencing. Overall a very fun adventure. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you!Becca D.
Becca D.
June 2023
We had so much fun! Pup loved zooming in the fields, sniffing in the woods, and splashing in the riverbed. Make sure your dog has good recall & is not a flight risk before taking them off leash here, as there is no fencing. Overall a very fun adventure. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you!
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Awesome spot to run or swim! Google maps will tell you to turn into the opposite side of the street from where the property is. Easy directions if you pay attention to what the host added to the listing info. Valerie A.
Valerie A.
June 2023
Awesome spot to run or swim! Google maps will tell you to turn into the opposite side of the street from where the property is. Easy directions if you pay attention to what the host added to the listing info.
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Lots of room for the pups to roam and explore. Only one good entrance to the river for the dogs to swim but it was a nice little cove, so we didn’t have to worry about the current.
Two happy pups for sure Steve M.
Steve M.
June 2023
Lots of room for the pups to roam and explore. Only one good entrance to the river for the dogs to swim but it was a nice little cove, so we didn’t have to worry about the current.
Two happy pups for sure
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Nice spot with river access and wooded areas for pups to romp. There’s a table and little grill, but no chair. The river side is super muddy, obviously- I wish I had brought an extra towel for the dogs! It was a wide, slow-moving spot, safe and shady for dogs and humans to enjoy the water. Google Maps told me it was on the other side of the street, so I drove around a little, but the host’s directions are right on. Katherine S.
Katherine S.
July 2023
Nice spot with river access and wooded areas for pups to romp. There’s a table and little grill, but no chair. The river side is super muddy, obviously- I wish I had brought an extra towel for the dogs! It was a wide, slow-moving spot, safe and shady for dogs and humans to enjoy the water. Google Maps told me it was on the other side of the street, so I drove around a little, but the host’s directions are right on.
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Great little spot for your pup to swim. Just be prepared for mud near the water and take some bug spray, but a seriously shady and peaceful spot!Brienne S.
Brienne S.
July 2023
Great little spot for your pup to swim. Just be prepared for mud near the water and take some bug spray, but a seriously shady and peaceful spot!
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Great place. Lots of room to run! My Tigger loved it. It wasn't buggy at all. I brought my rainboots because the reviews said it was muddy. Only place it's muddy is on the river bank. If you want to go down there with your dog while they swim rainboots are a good idea. Otherwise it's grass everywhere.Nancy K.
Nancy K.
July 2023
Great place. Lots of room to run! My Tigger loved it. It wasn't buggy at all. I brought my rainboots because the reviews said it was muddy. Only place it's muddy is on the river bank. If you want to go down there with your dog while they swim rainboots are a good idea. Otherwise it's grass everywhere.
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55This place was perfect for my reactive dog who loves the water. I had a long leash so she could explore the woods and she loved the creek! Apple Maps did take me to the gas station, but I found it shortly after. It is further back on the same road and the directions were helpful! Alysha K.
Alysha K.
August 2023
This place was perfect for my reactive dog who loves the water. I had a long leash so she could explore the woods and she loved the creek! Apple Maps did take me to the gas station, but I found it shortly after. It is further back on the same road and the directions were helpful!
Riverside - 16 acre mix of fields/woods/trails on the French Broad River | Sniffspot
55Perfect private spot to enjoy the river. Luna loved all the smells and having so much space to run. Melanie G.
Melanie G.
August 2023
Perfect private spot to enjoy the river. Luna loved all the smells and having so much space to run.
How do Pisgah Forest'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 Pisgah Forest 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 Pisgah Forest?
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.
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