Dog-Friendly Activities in Illinois

The Montrose Dog Beach is Chicago's first legal off-leash beach. Located on the Northwest corner of Montrose Beach, this area is fenced and offers free dog waste bags and a dog-wash area. Montrose Dog Beach is open during all regular Chicago Park District hours, but morning hours are the most popular. DFA tags are required for all dogs.

You and your pooch can see the Windy City from the water aboard a Seadog Cruises Chicago by Hornblower speedboat. Departing from Navy Pier, Seadog Cruises offers a variety of dog-friendly event tours throughout the year. Check their website for a current schedule of SeaDog cruises.

Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, IL, is full of dog-friendly hiking trails that wind through canyons, amazing views, and waterfalls. Leashed dogs are welcome to join you at this popular recreation area as you explore these scenic trails. Pet parents are reminded to clean up after their pup and to bring water for them as they shouldn't drink from any natural water sources.

Bring Fido aboard one of the dog-friendly Shoreline Cruises boats in Chicago, IL, for a tour on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River. Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome on classic lake cruises and architecture cruises. The classic lake cruise will highlight historic lakefront sights and attractions along Lake Michigan. The architecture cruise will take you down the Chicago River to see buildings such as Tribune Tower, Wrigley Building, Trump Tower, Marina City and more. Dogs aren't permitted on special event or fireworks cruises. Cruises depart from multiple locations depending on cruise and time. Call or visit website for exact departure location.

Whether you are looking for a place to hold a pet-friendly special event, or just want to spend an afternoon taking in nature's beauty, Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, IL, offers all of that and more. It has 1500-acres of meadows, woodlands, gardens, hiking trails, farmsteads and amazing sculptures. Day visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking and bird-watching. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash that is 6-feet in length or shorter. Please remember to clean up after your pup.

Mercury's Canine Cruise in Chicago, IL, offers a dog-friendly boat tour on weekends, where leashed pups can join you on a scenic ride along the city's waterways. Enjoy live narration featuring Chicago’s history, architecture and pet-friendly highlights. Dogs are welcome on laps, seats, or the deck, with water bowls and a newspaper-lined pet restroom provided. Cruises run seasonally—check their website for the current schedule. Tickets are available online or dockside the day of the tour.

Chicago Riverwalk in Chicago, IL, is dog friendly. This pedestrian waterfront hike spans from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street in downtown Chicago, encompassing restaurants, a public art gallery and a museum right on the riverwalk.

Nordstrom in Chicago, IL, is pet friendly. Leashed dogs are allowed inside this shop located inside the Shops at Northbridge. They sell a variety of clothing, shoes and accessories.

Yorktown Center is a popular dog-friendly shopping center in Chicago’s Western Suburbs in Lombard, IL. Shoppers and their four-legged friends can enjoy a fun shopping and dining experience year-round. In addition to letting you shop with your best friend, restaurants located within Yorktown Center will also allow shoppers to dine alfresco with their pooches on their dog-friendly patios, and the Center has comfort stations throughout the mall that contain bags, wipes and garbage cans for shoppers' convenience.

Take a trip to the country and enjoy the view at the dog-friendly Galena Cellars Winery & Vineyard in Illinois. Book a tour, relax in the tasting room or deck, and experience how Galena Cellars wine is made. There’s always fun happening at the vineyard. Leashed dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas of the vineyard. Call ahead for seasonal hours.

Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve is a pet-friendly, 2,503-acre preserve in Darien, IL. It's one of the area's most popular forest preserves known for its Rocky Glen waterfall, Sawmill Creek bluff overlook, and extensive trails. Explore 11 miles of trails with your leashed pooch by your side and discover natural beauty along the way.

Leashed dogs can join you at Giant City State Park, a pet-friendly park located within Shawnee National Forest in Makanda, IL. This park features stunning sandstone bluffs and numerous hiking trails that you and Fido can explore.

Fido can play off-leash at Maxwell Dog Park in Normal, IL. This fenced dog park has a separate small dog area, water fountains of all sizes (seasonally available), benches and trees. Please remember to leash your pup outside of the dog park and clean up any mess after them. After heavy rains and snow melt, the dog park may be closed.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a former nursery in Rockford, IL, that features a combination of plants native to the midwest and from around the world. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are allowed on the pet-friendly grounds. Please clean up after your pet. Pets may NOT be left in cars during your visit.

The dog-friendly Shawnee National Forest covers more than 270,000 acres in parts of ten counties in southern Illinois. The National Forest Service and Illinois Department of Natural Resources maintain dozens of natural areas for recreational use and several wilderness areas. From the 90 foot Pomona Natural Bridge to the remains of a Mississippian Native American village at Millstone Bluff, there are hundreds of miles of hiking trails to choose from. Trails range in length from the 150+ mile River to River Trail that runs between Battery Rock on the Ohio River and Devil's Backbone on the Mississippi River, to the easy one-fourth mile Observation Trail at Garden of the Gods. Dogs must be leashed at all times.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is a pet-friendly place in Collinsville, IL. Fido can join you while you explore 800 acres of fields, marshes, and historical man-made mounds. There's a 10-mile trail and a 6.2-mile trail with informational markers and picnic tables along the way. Parking is available at the museum.

Batavia Bark Park in Batavia, IL, offers three acres of fully fenced space where dogs can run and play off-leash. The park features a pavilion, shady trees and a small beach area for extra fun. While no permit is required and admission is free, dogs must be leashed when entering and exiting the park.

Wag 'N Paddle is an indoor climate-controlled park and heated swimming pool designed for dogs in Naperville, IL. This pet-friendly park is perfect for pooches who love to paddle and play. The 9,000-square-feet park is monitored by staff to make sure dogs and their owners are on their best behavior. In addition to providing a pool and park to play in, they also offer a number of swimming classes in the pool for senior dogs and training sessions with qualified dog trainers for all levels of pooch in the park too. Fido can gain unlimited access to the indoor dog park for a membership fee, and for for an extra fee can enjoy private swimming sessions. There are a number of other pricing options available on their website for regular and one-time users.

Jackson Bark is a dog park located in Jackson Park, just south of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL. The fenced park features agility equipment and toys for Fido to enjoy.

Naperville Riverwalk in Naperville, IL, features 1.75 miles of brick paths, fountains, bridges, meeting and event places, outdoor sculpture and artwork, recreational facilities, and celebratory memorials. Leashed dogs are welcome on the Walk, and there is plenty of shade and water spigots available along the way. Great place unwind and relax. Nearby Riverwalk Cafe welcomes dogs on their patio and offers a simple doggie menu.