Trails & Walks

Leashed walks, marsh boardwalks, and forest trails where dogs are welcome.

26 placesEvery place checked Oct 2026

Campus walks

Open grounds and big shade trees. Each college's own pet policy, checked.

Campus · Downtown

College of Charleston campus

Pets are permitted on campus grounds

Good to know: no pets inside college buildings; clean up immediately.

Campus · Downtown

The Citadel campus

Dogs: Visitors may bring animals onto college property

Good to know: not on athletic practice fields, drill areas, or resident play areas; not on Summerall Field when it's in official use; no pets in academic, administrative, or athletic buildings; never left unattended or tied up.

Trails and walks by area

Mount Pleasant 8

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Palmetto Islands County Park trails

Dogs: Leashed

Dog park on site

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Laurel Hill County Park

Several miles of unpaved trails · Lake overlook

Dogs: Leashed

Good to know: no restrooms: bring water; if an alligator is sunning on a trail, take another route; $1 per person.

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Marsh View Trail

Off-leash dog park · Short trail · Views of Sullivan's and Isle of Palms

Dogs: Official off-leash dog park on the trail; leash elsewhere

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Memorial Waterfront Park

Off-leash dog park · Under the Ravenel Bridge

Dogs: Official off-leash dog park; leash elsewhere

Good to know: leash fines $163.50+; no dogs on the pier.

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Shem Creek Park boardwalk

Dogs: Town leash law covers all public areas

Good to know: floating dock closed since Oct 1, 2026 (storm damage).

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Kearns Park Trail

0.7-mile easy loop · Wando River forest · Free

Pets are welcome; town leash law applies

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Pitt Street Bridge Park

Sunset spot · Fishing pier

Dogs: Welcoming to pets; keep them on the leash

Trail · Mount Pleasant

Patriots Point Nature Trail

0.9-mile easy trail · Marsh observation tower · Waste bags · Free

Pets listed as a trail feature; dog waste bags at both ends

Good to know: bug spray in warm months.

Ask Hound itBrunch on Folly with a 70 lb lab? Just ask.Ask now →

Downtown 5

Trail · Downtown

White Point Garden (the Battery)

Iconic walk · Off-leash mornings and evenings

Dogs: Official off-leash area dawn to 9am and 5pm to 11pm only

Trail · Downtown

Brittlebank Park

Off-leash area · River views

Dogs: Official off-leash area, dawn to dusk

Trail · Downtown

Hampton Park

Loop path · Fenced dog run next door

Dogs: City ordinance Sec

Good to know: no animals on athletic fields or tennis courts.

Trail · Downtown

Colonial Lake

Dogs: City leash ordinance

Trail · Downtown

Waterfront Park

Dogs: City leash ordinance

Summer walks: go early or late, and bring water for your dog. Heat warning signs →

West Ashley 4

Trail · West Ashley

Old Towne Creek County Park

Boardwalk · Marked trails

Dogs: Leashed

Trail · West Ashley

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

Leash 6 ft max · About 6 miles of trails

Pets allowed in most outdoor areas, leash 6 ft max

Good to know: no pets in the Animal Forest; $12 adults, $7 youth 6-15.

Trail · West Ashley

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

Leash 6 ft max · About 6 miles of dirt and gravel trails · Gardens

Dogs: Leashed dogs welcome on 66 acres

Good to know: no dogs on any tours; admission charged.

Trail · West Ashley

West Ashley Park trails and off-leash area

Off-leash area · Trails

Dogs: Official off-leash area, dawn to dusk

Good to know: no swimming or jumping off docks.

Johns Island 3

Trail · Johns Island

Stono River County Park

1.5 miles of wooded trails · Marsh boardwalks · Drinking fountain

Dogs: Leashed

Good to know: no trash cans: pack out dog waste; $1 per person.

Trail · Johns Island

Johns Island County Park

Dog park on site

Dogs: Leashed (general park rule)

Good to know: walkers may use only the yellow trail loop; other trails are for horses.

Trail · Johns Island

Angel Oak Park

Dogs: Leashed pets allowed in designated areas

Good to know: not on or around the tree itself; closed holidays.

Near ponds and marsh, keep your dog close. Alligators live here. Gator safety →

James Island 1

Trail · James Island

James Island County Park trails

Dogs: Leashed, cleaned up after, under control

Dog park on site

Good to know: no pets in spray play; $2 per person.

North Charleston 1

Trail · North Charleston

Wannamaker County Park and North Trail

Dogs: Leashed

Good to know: North Trail is unpaved and uneven; follow the posted direction of travel; no pets in sprinkler area.

Daniel Island 1

Trail · Daniel Island

Daniel Island trails

Multi-use trails

Dogs must be on a leash and in your control at all times

Good to know: no e-bikes, scooters, golf carts, or motorized skateboards.

Awendaw 1

Trail · Awendaw

Francis Marion National Forest trails

Dogs: Keep it under physical restraint at all times on trails

Good to know: hunting season: put hunter orange on your dog; ticks, snakes, poison ivy: bring water.

No dogs allowed here

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walkway (Wonders' Way): Pets prohibited
Mount Pleasant Pier: Pets not allowed on the pier. The surrounding park is dog friendly.
Middleton Place: Pets are not allowed (free-roaming livestock and predators)
Caw Caw Interpretive Center: Pets, other than service animals, are not permitted
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (Morris Island lighthouse view): No pets
Charles Towne Landing's Animal Forest: No pets. The rest of the site allows leashed dogs.
Magnolia Plantation tours: No dogs on any tour. The grounds allow leashed dogs.

Questions people ask

Are dogs allowed on Charleston trails?

Yes, on a leash: we list 26 trails and walks that welcome dogs. A few well-known spots don't: Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walkway (Wonders' Way), Mount Pleasant Pier and Middleton Place. The full list is above.

Can I walk my dog on a college campus?

Yes, on a leash at College of Charleston campus and The Citadel campus, under each college's own pet policy.

Is it safe to walk my dog in the heat?

Take care on hot days: walk early or late, bring water, and never leave a dog in a car, even in winter. Heat stroke signs include heavy panting, dry or sticky gums, and staggering. Heat warning signs →