Fayetteville welcomes dogs with open arms, making it the perfect destination for you and your furry friend. Embrace the dog-friendly spirit of our area as you embark on a memorable adventure together. Here’s your comprehensive guide to exploring Fayetteville with your four-legged pal.
Around Town
Start your day with a fresh cup of coffee at Water Stone Outdoors, where their dog-friendly patio welcomes you. Take a leisurely stroll around town, making use of conveniently placed doggie waste stations along the main streets. If your furry friend is well-behaved on a leash, bring them along for shopping at Adventure’s Station, Ace Adventure Shop and Water Stone Outdoors. Leashed dogs are also welcome in the Visitor Center! Water Stone Outdoors has a whole doggie section with dog lifejackets leashes and more.
Off-Leash Fun at the Dog Park
Discover Fayetteville’s dog park within the Charlie McCoy Fayetteville Town Park, located off Park Drive. Utilize the second entrance for easy access to separate areas designed for large and small dogs to play and socialize off-leash.
Dog pictured Kona @Kona- Ice
Dog pictured Charlie @Sara Yoke
Dining With Your Pooch
Indulge in delicious meals while sharing quality time with your pup at these dog-friendly eateries:
- Cathedral Cafe: Enjoy outdoor dining with water provided for your furry companion.
- The Take Out & Stache Ice cream: Savor your meal at an outdoor picnic table, sitting along with your pet.
- Burrito Bar: Dine amidst outdoor seating and music, welcoming well-behaved leashed pets.
- Bridge Brew Works: Delight in the large dog-friendly outdoor space while savoring craft brews.
- Arrowhead Bike Farm: Enjoy craft beer and sandwiches, accompanied by nearby hiking trails.
- The 304 Restaurant: Experience outdoor dining that warmly welcomes your pets.
- Freefolk Brewery: The Freefolk Brewery offers outdoor seating that is dog friendly
@Jacki Wright at the Freefolk Brewery
Adventure Activities with Your Dog
Paddleboarding
Mountain Surf Paddle Sports, based out of Fayetteville, rents paddleboards and offers lessons that you can take with your dog, as long as your pup is comfortable around water!
Dog pictured Ringo @arrittm
Take A Hike
There are many dog-friendly hikes in the area. All of the hiking trails within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve are dog-friendly for leashed pups. Long Point Trail is both beautiful and popular with dogs. But on this trail, there are overlooks with drop-offs and there can be heavy traffic, so it depends on your dog’s temperament and how comfortable you feel taking them here. If you want to avoid the overlooks, the Town Park Loop Trail is a great option. Dogs also love splashing around the creek off Wolf Creek Trail. Additionally, the Burn Wood Loop Trail is a great option if you want to avoid walking along the edge of the Gorge with your dog.
@Jacki Wright on the Kaymoor Trail
Splash and Play
If your dog loves the water, Fayetteville offers plenty of aquatic opportunities. A popular watering hole that has amazing views of the New River Gorge Bridge is Fayette Station. Take Lansing and Edmond Road off Route 19 to Route 82 Fayette Station Road and work your way into the Gorge. Drive over an old blue bridge crossing the New River and on the other side, you will see signs to park at Fayette Station. This area is also a fun spot to watch rafters go by and for your pup to splash close to the bank, avoiding the current. There are rapids in this area, so it is important that you keep your pets leashed and close to the riverbank. Wolf Creek is another good watering hole to take your dog. Water Stone Outdoors has dog life jackets available to buy for added safety.
Take a Jet boat tour from the Hawks Nest Lake back up the New River to enjoy incredible views of the New River Gorge Bridge. This activity is pet friendly for leashed pets.
@Andy Stein at New River Jet Boats
Where to Stay with Your Pooch
- Hotel: Quality Inn New River Gorge allows pets for an additional fee per night. Quiet crated pets can be left unattended for short periods.
- Vacation Rentals: Opt for dog-friendly accommodations like Bear Mountain Cabins & Campground, The Stokes , New River Gorge National Park Suite, Cozy Downtown Rental, Fayetteville Guest Suite, The LilyPad, Hot Tub Hideaway Escape, to the New River Gorge, Cottage on Vaglio, Smith House Room, Sunny Fayetteville Home, Fayetteville Vacation Rental,and the Cottage by the Gorge
- Camping: Choose from Rifrafters Campground, The Outpost New River Gorge and Bear Mountain Cabins & Campground.
Vet Care
Fayetteville Veterinary Hospital ensures the well-being of your furry family member.
Doggie Daycare/ Boarding
When you want to bring your pet along, but you also want to try activities that are not pet friendly you can take advantage of our local doggie day care and boarding facilities.
Barks and Boops Boarding: The New River Humane Society operates a doggie day care and boarding facility so your pet can be taken care of while you adventure around the New River Gorge.
Hide & Seek Dog Retreat: Located close by to Fayetteville in Beckwith you can take advantage of their boarding facilities.
Capture your unforgettable Fayetteville dog adventures by using #furitville on social media for a chance to be featured on our pages!
Dog Day OUt
Don’t have your own dog, you can take advantage of an awesome program through the Fayette County Humane Society where you can break a dog out of the shelter for a day! Come down and take a dog from the shelter and keep them for the day, take them on a hike, to the park, to get a Pup Cup, anything you want to take them to do, after your done you bring them back to the shelter by 4 p.m. It gives them a chance to get out of the shelter for the day and for other people throughout our community to see them which could lead to an adoption, it has happened before and can happen again! So if this is something you would be interested in doing, come on down to the Fayette County Humane Society for information.
