Truck stops with hiking trails! For dogs and their truckers.

My dog needs a nice long off leash hike like once a week, otherwise he gets really anxious, squeaky and annoying in the truck. So I've been finding truck stops with a nice hiking trail nearby where I can go walk a couple of miles and let him roam around and do dog stuff.

I've compiled a little list for y'all. Check it out.

THE EAST

Village truck stop
I-81 exit 54, Virginia
This one is really cool - the Appalachian Trail passes right through the parking lot. I've made it maybe 2 miles, as far as the wooden bridge past the train tracks, but you could hike literally all the way to Maine or Georgia if you have a long 34 hour reset.


Pilot
I-80 exit 97, Pennsylvania
Cut across the Holiday Inn Express parking lot, and you end up on a whole network of infrequently used jeep trails going up into the hills.


Midwest

Story City I-35 SB rest area
I-35 milepost 119, Iowa
(Like 40 miles north of Des Moines)
Midwest is pretty sparse on hiking trails, unless you want to walk around in a corn field. But this one is neat. Behind the rest area there is a nice and long trail going down to a creek.

Bonus mention: I-57 southbound rest area around mm 76, Illinois
Not real hiking here, but it's right on the shore of a beautiful lake. Great place to let the dog swim, or even go in and swim with him if the weather is hot.

West

Wyoming welcome center
I-80 exit 401 (just past the Nebraska border)
Awesome trails going up to the top of the pine bluffs, with a nice view.


Cle Elum, WA
I-90 exit 84
Rail trail type of thing going to some abandoned mines. This one is a little involved. You can park the truck all along the rail tracks, and then walk to the trailhead. Check out the pic for directions. The town itself is pretty neat too.


Weed, CA Pilot
I-5 Exit 745, California
This one isn't really a hiking trail per se, but behind the Pilot is an abandoned (or extremely rarely used) rail line that goes through the woods and has some beautiful views of Mt. Shasta.


And of course, there are all the desert truck stops. I didn't include them, because you can just randomly walk off into the desert from virtually all of them. Just watch out for the poisonous bitey things.

Anyway, that's my list so far. I'm sitting here broken down and bored at a Freightliner dealer that's not even open until Monday, and I already caught up on the latest GOT episodes, so I figured I'd write up my list and share with y'all.

Oh, and of course let me know about any other similar truck accessible spots for me and Tommy the dog.

 

Oh word, I see what you're saying. Western Maryland Rail Trail is right there. We'll have to check it out sometime.