By Katie Gillis
Spring is finally here and I’m pretty sure everyone is ready to get outside and enjoy some warm temperatures! With that in mind, I thought I would give you a roundup of all the great places on the Seacoast that you can bring your dog to enjoy the outdoors! This is Theo, my cuddle buddy and the sole reason I know so much about dog parks. Read on to discover 6 Theo-approved spots to walk you dog on the Seacoast!
Theo is a very energetic dog and refuses to go a day without playing, so my husband and I have made sure we always have a place to go to let him run it out. Our go-to is the beach, but that can get tricky in the summertime when tourists take over. Our next go-to is the woods, but that can get tricky in the spring when ticks are ravenous. That’s why we find it helpful to always have a few spots up our sleeve that we know will work, depending on the season, traffic, temperature or proximity to our favorite ice cream stand (with doggie-cones of course).
1. Plaice Cove – Hampton, NH
Plaice Cove is a picturesque little beach right off Route 1A in Hampton. The beach is dog-friendly, but you can only park there if you have a Hampton resident sticker on your car. Not a Hampton resident? Head to North Beach and join the 500 other walkers who enjoy this lovely stretch of sand every day, pooch by their side. Although not technically dog-friendly, I’ve never seen this beach without a dog on it.
2. White’s Lane Trail – Hampton, NH
See how happy that puppy is?! That could be you! White’s Lane in Hampton is a great 3-mile trail for snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or just taking a walk and enjoying the quiet. It’s also the perfect place to let your dog go nuts chasing chipmunks and frolicking in the snow. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that the Seacoast doesn’t have any wilderness to explore. When you’re done breathing in nature you can make your way to North Beach for a glimpse of the beach in winter, which will be like a scene from The Perfect Storm or flat like a lake, depending on the day.
3. Wagon Hill Farm – Durham, NH
The next stop on our journey is a tad farther West, in the town of Durham. It’s a bit of a drive from the Seacoast, but it’s worth it. With clean trails, picnic tables, a bathroom, doggie bag stations and water access, it’s a hot spot for dog-lovers far and wide. Off-leash hours are 8-10am every day. Check their website for full description.
4. Stratham Hill Park – Stratham, NH
Stratham Hill Park is not just the place you go for kettle corn and pig chasing. These fairgrounds are also home to a beautiful park equipped with miles of well-groomed trails, bathrooms, a parking lot and lots of friendly faces. The main entrance to the park is where the “hill” is located and you can climb to the top for a quick hike and view from the top of the fire tower. The back side of the park is where most of the dog-play happens and can be accessed using Jack Rabbit Lane.
5. Philips Exeter Academy Trails/Gilman Park – Exeter, NH
Gilman Park itself is not much to look at but it brings you to miles of well-groomed trails that pass behind Philips Exeter Academy. There is a small pull-off parking area and water access to the Exeter River, which is great for cooling Fido down after a long run.
6. Route 33 Dog Park – Portsmouth, NH
Are you a Pierce Island Dog Park veteran? I feel your pain. We were devastated when that park closed. It was Theo’s favorite place in the world (see photo below)! The closing of the Pierce Island Dog Park has left many dog-owners searching for new places to let their pooch play. Luckily, the town of Portsmouth has been nice enough to open a new off-leash dog park right off Route 33 in Portsmouth. The park features 5 acres of trails and a parking lot. It’s on the left right after Dodge Ave. Check out this article for more info.
Bookmark this post now! That way whether you’re venturing out with (wo)man’s best friend or just looking for a mind-clearing walk in the woods, you’ll always know where to go.
Have a favorite dog-friendly spot you think we should know about? Let us know over on Facebook or Instagram @EveryDropNH!
Like what you’re seeing? Follow Katie on Instagram @katiejgillis and check out her healthy lifestyle blog Dinner’N’Dancing.
This post was originally published in March, 2017 by Stay Work Play NH.
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