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Location Options

There are many fun options around Bloomington for a field trip. Here are some ideas! I can always choose for you as well if you pick out the amount of time.

Griffy Lake

One of my favorite field trip locations: Griffy Lake Nature Preserve. The loop trail  is approximately 2.4 miles in length, but has many interconnecting trails to make the trip longer or shorter as your dog prefers. Dogs can wade in shallow creeks or even paddle around in the deeper waters of the lake. NORTH side of town

Karst Farm Park

Karst Farm Park has many trails and paths to explore. There are often other dogs in the area to meet with, and certainly lots of interesting smells! The Greenway offers a long path for a run if your pup has a little extra energy.

McCormick's Creek

This is such a fun area for active pups–especially those that love to play in the water! With trails that follow a creek, get up close to a water fall, and allow a bit of cave an rock exploration, this is the #1 field trip for adventurous pups! They will never get bored, no matter how many times they return. Perfect for a two-hour field trip. *$7 entrance fee. FAR NORTHWEST side of town

Pate Hollow Trail

Let’s go to the Paynetown State Recreation Area and hike the Pate Hollow Trail! The trail is dog friendly, and although the main loop is 6 miles long, there are smaller loops within it that are 3 miles and 4 miles. This is a nice long trail for active pups! Ideal for two-hour field trips. SOUTH EAST side of town.

Beanblossom Preserve

Let’s take a walk down the boardwalks of Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve. In the spring and summer, the area is alive with birds, insects, and amphibians. Not to mention, the beautiful native flora that lines the paths. This area is best suited for calm dogs taking a shorter hike. FAR NORTH side of town.

IU Campus

We are so lucky to live by this beautiful campus! During the school year, this is a great field trip for pups to get better at socializing with new people and sometimes other dogs. In the off season, it’s still a stunning area to explore, with wooded paths, boardwalks, lots of stairs, and some creek play. CENTER of town.

Leonard Springs

If you have never been to Leonard Springs Nature Park, there are water falls and creeks for your water-loving pups, as well and wooded trails to explore! This is perfect for an immersive hiking experience in a short amount of time. SOUTHWEST side of town.

Switchyard Dog Park

If your pup is experienced around other dogs and would like an opportunity to roam free, the Switchyard Dog Park is the perfect place to get out some zoomies and make some new friends! This field trip is one hour long, unlike all others which are 90 or 120 minutes.