It’s a Dog’s Life: Pup-Friendly Outings & Goods in Snohomish County
BY RICHARD PORTER
You love your dog. And your dog loves you way more than you know. Look at those big loyal eyes staring at you.
Snohomish County is a great place to be if you walk on four legs, pant, and have a certain thing for chasing cars.
Let’s see what our county has in store for pets and the people that love them. Let’s go fetch!
OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS
Time to get outside with Fido! Like humans, our four-legged friends need to get fresh air, social time and plenty of exercise to feel like the best version of themselves. These outdoorsy options will get your pooch feeling great and will give you a chance to commune with your fellow dog lovers.
Japanese Gulch in Mukilteo has an off-leash dog park that’s quite popular with outdoorsy types. Next to the park is 147 acres of woodsy trails, just waiting for on-leash exploration.
Everett offers a brand-new off-leash dog park at the south entrance to the Lowell Riverfront Trail. Take your dog for a social romp, then leash them up for a mile-long stroll on a paved path next to the Snohomish River. Enjoy glimpses of Mount Baker, and the occasional harbor seal, otter, or heron.
Marysville’s Strawberry Fields off-leash dog park offers some serious acreage for Rover. If you’re traveling the I-5 corridor (as most folks do for dog hiking or camping), this destination is an easy jaunt right off the freeway. Perfect.
Off Leash Area Edmonds is one of the few off-leash parks that provides a scenic and pleasant non-threatening place for dogs and their owners. Dogs are permitted to run free, swim, meet new friends and play.
RESTAURANTS & BREWERIES
Pints and Pups… okay, hear me out on this. This is the ideal setup for well-behaved dogs of any breed.
Owners pay a $5 fee to get their dog in. Then humans and their pets can get a drink (craft beers for the bipeds, doggy-style, non-alcoholic beers for the quadrupeds). Chill while your doggo romps around with buddies on the Astroturf. Be sure to check their website ahead of time to make sure that your dog meets all requirements like up-to date vaccinations, and can meet proper behavior codes.
Everett is a virtual hotspot for dog-friendly bars.
The Independent, Scuttlebutt Taproom, At Large Brewing, and Toggles Bottle Shop are all dog-positive places to wet your whistle. At Large has a big patio and Toggles has roll-up windows, perfect for letting your pup sniff the salty air of Everett while you catch up with some craft brews.
These establishments are all within about a three-mile radius, so if you pace yourself, you can visit a few of them while you’re in town. Please drive (or walk) responsibly.
SELECT PET SHOPS & GOODS
Admit it: you love to spoil your pup. No judgment, because you’re in good company. The average American spends $1,480 on their dog every year. That goes above and beyond basic medical expenses to include the good stuff, like chew toys, adorable Halloween costumes, and cushy beds. Here’s where to treat Rover when you’re in Snohomish County.
Bridges Pets in Snohomish is a gift shop par excellence for dog lovers.
They sell all manner of toys and supplies, all in a customer service-forward, boutique-style setting. Anything that you can think of – yep, they sell it, including the cushiest of doggy beds (fun fact: dogs of all ages dream).
Sam’s Cats and Dogs Naturally is a health food store for cats and dogs, specifically. It’s not the mega-chain type of big box that caters to lizards, birds, and the rest of the domestic menagerie.
As such, they really pride themselves on selling raw and organic foods. If you want your pup to feed like the king or queen they are, then be sure to treat them (and their 1,700 taste buds) to Sam’s delicious gourmet treats.
DOG-FRIENDLY HIKES & TRAILS
Our woods are crisscrossed with so many paths for humans and canines to explore. Where to start? A good place is with basic trail etiquette for dogs. Research and respect leash laws, which can vary by hiking trail. Yield your dog’s right-of-way to other hikers. And leave no trace on the trail – and, you got it, that includes dog poop. Enjoy!
Lord Hill Park, nestled between Snohomish and Monroe, is a 1,463 acre wooded park interlaced with walking paths through a nature preserve. Heybrook Lookout in Index is a relatively short but rewarding hike to a 1,700-foot fire lookout with panoramic views. If you’re not keen on elevation gain (or your old doggo has arthritic knees) take it easy on the relatively flat Centennial Trail, which runs 30 miles from Snohomish to Arlington in Snohomish County.
Have fun out there with your furry bestie! And remember, when you’re done exploring, you can always sit and stay in Snohomish County.
It’s a dog’s life here, after all, and that’s a good thing.
