The Willmar Lakes Area is a beautiful region located in the heart of Minnesota that offers a variety of pet-friendly activities and places for you and your furry friends to visit. With unique locations and local businesses that cater specially to our four-legged friends, you’re sure to find the right adventure for you and your pal.

Up first, the one location in the area that focuses solely on dogs: the Willmar Dog Park. Unleash your dog’s energy (and, quite literally, your dog) at Willmar’s dog park located right next to the Lions Park near Swansson Field Complex. The dog park is a fenced-in area with 2.5 acres of land for your dogs to roam freely. With a large dog area, a small dog area, pet waste baskets, benches and a trash container, the dog park is the ideal spot to spend an afternoon with your best friend (a.k.a. your dog).

If you are looking for something a little more relaxing, you can take your pet for a stroll along the many trails across the Willmar Lakes Area. Start the morning with a brisk hike through Sibley State Park, accompanied by the only hiking buddy who will never complain that you woke them up too early. Immerse yourself on the nature trails of Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, bringing your dog along for your personal mission to identify as many species of ducks as you can along the way. Your dog might even spot a few before you do. Or take your dog out on one of the many bike/walk trails across the area, from the Glacial Lakes State Trail to the numerous trails in the local towns. Whichever road you choose, your furry friend is sure to jump at the opportunity to spend some quality time exploring with you.

Looking for a place to rest your feet and enjoy a cold one with your pet? We’ve got you covered. Dogs are allowed on the patios of all three of our local breweries (Goat Ridge Brewing Co., Intuition Brewing, and Foxhole Brewhouse). Goat Ridge not only has delicious craft beer and food, it also has a riverside patio that is a prime location for those 4-legged friends. Enjoy an afternoon or evening on a picnic table by the river while your fur friend scopes out some fish. The Willmar Lakes Area also has a variety of local restaurants that welcome dogs at their outdoor tables, including LuLu Bean’s Coffee House, The Goodness Coffee Company, Culver’s, Dunn Bros Coffee, Dairy Queen and A & W! Don’t forget to order that pup-cup for your puppy pal!

Finally, if you are looking for a place to stay, there are plenty of pet-friendly hotels and campgrounds in the Willmar Lakes Area. A few of these might have some size restrictions for the pet and require a small pet deposit in case of any damage. Please check the details of the lodging property’s pet policy that you are interested in before booking. There are also a variety of dog grooming and boarding options as well in the Willmar Lakes Area (if you need these services).

In conclusion, the Willmar Lakes Area is a great destination for pet owners looking to travel with their pets. With plenty of pet-friendly activities and accommodations, you and your furry friends are sure to have a great time exploring all that this beautiful region has to offer.

For more helpful tips, check out The Complete Guide to Traveling with a Dog on the American Kennel Club website.