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We are relocating from Massachusetts to the Raleigh area and I am wondering where we may find dog-friendly places to both walk dogs and allow them to swim.
On leash, there are many options - you can take your dog just about anywhere you go. But I'm guessing you mean where can you let your dog run free off leash.
There are several dog parks where you can let your dog off leash legally. I've used the one in North Raleigh in Millbrook Exchange Park. While good fun, none that I'm aware of have the space for walking or the water for swimming.
While not strictly "legal", I've seen plenty of people with dogs off leash at some of the county parks. In all the parks, you are supposed to keep your dog on a 6 foot leash, and may receive a fine if you don't. That said, Blue Jay Point has miles of easy hiking trails along the shore of Falls Lake, and there are quite a few good spots for your dog to swim. The same with trails around Lake Crabtree, although I'm not sure I'd want my dog swimming there with the PCB runoff. There are also many hiking opportunities in Umstead Park.
There is a group of dog owners who meet on Saturday mornings over at Jordan Lake. The dogs walk maybe 1.5 - 2.0 miles through the woods, and then either romp at the lake's edge, or in the case of Labs, actually go swimming.
We've had no problems letting them off-leash, and there will be as many as 15-20 dogs some Saturdays -- most weekends, it's about 10. They get along well, and the owners seem to enjoy the comraderie.
We used to take our dog to swim at Umstead Park at a beach that was not on the trail map. We were paranoid to let him actually off-leash, so we put him on a 50 foot lead so he could swim freely but still be tethered to us.
The best place I know is off Highway 751 at the wildlife overview location. On sat mornings you can meet a group of dog walkers, and it both allows the dogs to run free and play, while you walk and get to meet people from the area. It was great for my dog, and me.
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Jordan Lake Group
