A grinning dog trots in the woods, happily slobbering with bright eyes and a flailing tongue. His paws are muddy. His belly is wet. His pant informs you that he’s half exhausted and half elated. He pauses ahead of you on the trail and meets your gaze. You are both smiling.

“Good boy.” You think.

“Good human.” He replies.  

Few things bring me a purer sense of well-being than this moment. Yesterday, maybe you abandoned your furry companion at home for hours. Last week, maybe your pooch ate your favorite shoe. But today, in the forest, all betrayals are forgiven.

It is a beautiful thing. A daily walking meditation. A kinship of mongrel and man. 

If you have a dog, you know the feeling.

It can be difficult to make time and space to get your pup all the exercise and fresh air he desires (honestly, it can be challenging to get yourself all the exercise and fresh air you desire). Luckily, there are many beautiful, approachable, and relatively-short hikes near Traverse City to help you both get your fix.

If you’re visiting Traverse City or if you’re a local looking for a new dog-walking spot, I highly recommend these five trails. They are my go-to places when a game of fetch or a jaunt around the block just won’t do.

1.     Pelizzari Natural Area – 3.2 Miles 

This is a perfect spot when you have less than an hour for a quick excursion (although there’s plenty to explore if you have more time!). It is located near the base of Old Mission Peninsula (about 5 minutes from downtown Traverse City). It is a quiet haven that has rolling hills, old growth hemlock forest, open meadows, and hilly pine stands.  

2.     Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area – 5-6 Miles

This wooded treasure is a part of Traverse City’s history as it was part of the former State Psychiatric Hospital grounds. Today, it is part of the overall redevelopment of what is now called The Village at Grand Traverse Commons (definitely consider making time to stop before or after your hike for coffee, brunch, wine, or beer). There are several trailheads to start from (all listed here) and loops to choose from. I enjoy climbing up the Old Orchard Trail from the Barns Area Trailhead for a great view of downtown Traverse City. It’s a great place to go if you really want to tire your dog (and yourself) out, there are a lot of hills.

3.     Old Mission Lighthouse Park and Old Mission Point Park – 5 miles

The 19-mile drive up Old Mission Peninsula to arrive here is just as lovely as the hike itself. On the way up, you will enjoy views of East and West Grand Traverse Bay and rolling hills of vineyards, farmland, and wineries. The hike is a peaceful wooded route that wraps around the tip of the peninsula. In summer and fall, it is a perfect place to take dogs to swim. In winter and spring, it’s a lovely venue to snowshoe or cross-country ski with your furry friend. In all seasons, it offers beachfront views of Grand Traverse Bay and the opportunity to stop by Old Mission Lighthouse.   

4.     Maple Bay Natural Area – 1-2 Miles

This trail/beach sits between Traverse City and Elk Rapids (about 10-15 minutes northeast of Traverse City). In summer, this is a excellent place to take your pup hiking and swimming. The wooded trail opens up into a beautiful beach along West Grand Traverse Bay. It’s wonderful any time of year, but if you visit in August you’re in for an extra treat: a show-stopping blooming sunflower field.  

5.     Boardman Valley Nature Preserve 1.5 Miles (adjacent to more than 8 miles of trail)

Just south of Traverse City, this 90+ acre preserve runs along the Boardman River. You can access the trail through the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA – South Y parking lot. It’s a quiet oasis that is close to town. It is attached to the Miller Creek Nature Reserve and Grand Traverse County Natural Education Reserve—offering more than 8 miles of hiking pathways in total.

There are so many more where these five came from. What are your favorites?

(p.s. Science has my back: we love our dogs and they love us back.)