Doug Gelbert, author of 22 books on hiking
with your dog, has brought his pack to the Pittsburgh area to
sniff out the area's best tail-friendly parks and trails for
the new book, DOGGIN' PITTSBURGH: THE 50 BEST PLACES TO HIKE
WITH YOUR DOG IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
Pittsburgh can be a great place to hike with your dog. Within
a short drive your canine adventurer can be climbing forested
mountainsides that leave him panting, trotting in impossibly
green ravines, exploring the estates of America's wealthiest
families or circling lakes for miles and never lose sight of
the water. DOGGIN' PITTSBURGH explores the region's top trails
with your best friend in mind...
- Where can your dog see the busiest stretch
of whitewater east of the Mississippi River from the trail?
(page 19)
- Where can your dog hike through the only
preserved battlefield from Pontiac's War?
(page 94)
- Where can your dog view deadly insectivorous
plants? (page 51)
No Dogs!
Is there any more dispiriting day for
a dog owner than driving to a new park and encountering the dreaded
"NO DOGS" sign? DOGGIN' PITTSBURGH tells you
the parks that don't welcome dogs. Also packed inside these 116
pages are...
...dog-friendly campgrounds
...tips on outfitting your dog for a hike
...tips on practicing low impact hiking with your dog
...and much more.
What makes a great place to take your
dog hiking?
Well, how about a paw-friendly
surface to trot on? Grass and sandy dirt are a lot more appealing
than asphalt and rocks. A variety of hikes is always good - long
ones for athletic dogs and short ones for the less adventurous
canine. Dogs always enjoy a refreshing place to swim as well.
For tail-friendly parks our guides describe the trail options
for your dog, evaluate park traffic from other users, tell you
whether you will need a guide dog to find your way around and,
of course, tell you how to get to the park.
While walking the dog, Gelbert also brings
along generous helpings of local history, botany, geology, architecture
and more. So what are you waiting for? Your dog will want
to see the original "Slippery Rock" (page 21), hike
through the deepest gorge in the Eastern United States (page
67), find the best doggie swimming hole in southwestern Pennsylvania
(page 65)...
Ask for DOGGIN' PITTSBURGH:
THE 50 BEST PLACES TO HIKE WITH YOUR DOG IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
(Cruden Bay Books; ISBN: 9780981534657; $12.95) in your favorite bookstore. Or order
directly from us - click on the link below for our online store.