Dog Friendly Places

With all the accommodating restaurants, hotels, parks and dog runs, LaSalle County is the perfect place to take a trip with your furry friend. Here’s a convenient guide to some of the best dogfriendly locations in the region.

DOG PARKS

RIVER RUN DOG PARK

1930 N. 2753rd Rd. • Ottawa This new dog park, located inside Ottawa’s Heritage Harbor, features two divided sections for small and large dogs, bags for cleaning up accidents, water to keep your pooches hydrated and plenty of rolling hills to run and explore.

ROTARY DOG PARK

2837 East 5th Rd • LaSalle Conveniently located off of I-39, this two-part dog park features ample room for your dog to run and play, benches and plenty of shade. This park is only a ten-minute drive from the entrance of Starved Rock, and even closer to the I&M Canal. You’ll find several restaurants in nearby LaSalle and Peru that offer dog-friendly patio seating.

HARDSCRABBLE LIONS CLUB DOG PARK

820 James St. • Streator This dog park features a large shelter, picnic tables, benches, a waste station and a water fountain to keep your furry friends hydrated. There’s also a separate area of the park to accommodate smaller dogs.

WIGGLY FIELD DOG PARK

2600 Plank Rd. • Peru This spacious dog park features running water (during spring and summer), lights, benches, and complementary doggie bags to clean up any messes. You’ll also find a large dog ramp inside the run!

DOG WALKING:

STARVED ROCK STATE PARK

2668 East 875th Rd. • Oglesby Many blogs cite Starved Rock as one of the top destinations for hiking with your dog in the Midwest! The River Trail, that’s conveniently located off the recently restored Parkman’s Plain lot, is one of the more popular canine hikes. The dogfriendly outdoor Veranda at the Lodge even offers a special “doggy menu”. Dogs must be leashed inside the park!

MATTHIESSEN STATE PARK

2500 IL-178 • Oglesby Matthiessen State Park offers plenty of fun locations for leashed dogs to explore, like a series of dells filled with enough water to cool off in, prairie-lined trails and a large waterfall. If you’re bringing your dog, consider parking in

Dayton Bluffs

Hardscrabble Lions Club Dog Park

the North parking lot, which is conveniently located next to the stairs down to the park’s dells.

SPRING LAKE PARK

1389 E. 1569th Rd. • Streator Spring Lake is the perfect destination for a small hike with your Dog. The park features a system of 12 trails, most of which are half-mile loops or shorter, the beautiful Spring Lake Falls and a very stable wooden rope bridge. Keep your eyes peeled: the wooded areas are home to more than 85 bird species, as well as deer, foxes, coyotes, beavers, snakes, frogs and wild flora.

BUFFALO ROCK

1300 North 27th Rd. • Ottawa Buffalo Rock offers sweeping vistas and over 290-acres of scenic prairie. The park’s trails wind through massive earthen sculptures, heavily forested paths, water pumps, open grassy areas. Be sure to take your dog past the Buffalo pen, where they can see two live bison, a sight they likely won’t see anywhere else!

DAYTON BLUFFS PRESERVE

2997 IL-71 • Marseilles The five-mile trail system of Dayton Bluffs Preserve offers a fairly rugged hike, with some narrow trails, steep treks, ridges and ravines. However, the trails pose only a moderate challenge and should be a suitable hike for most dogs and owners. A portable bathroom is available in the parking area, the park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

DOG FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN SRC

THE LONE BUFFALO

812 LaSalle Street • Ottawa (815) 324-9549

RED DOG GRILL

411 Great Loop East Drive • Ottawa (815) 434-4406

STARVED ROCK LODGE’S VERANDA

1 Lodge Lane • Oglesby (800) 868-7625

UPTOWN GRILL

601 1st Street • LaSalle (815) 224-4545