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The winter months can be challenging when it comes to finding fun dog-friendly activities! Never fear, DOCC has put together the ultimate list of dog-friendly ski resorts, lodges, and cabins in and around Maryland that make for perfect dog-friendly weekend getaways! All of these dog-friendly finds are less than three hours away from Baltimore! There's SNOW much fun just waiting to be had!! If you visit any of these dog-friendly winter wonderlands in the DMV, be sure to tag us on Instagram and let us know how it went! Stay warm out there, friends! 🐶🧣🧤
Wisp Resort - McHenry, MD
If skiing or snowboarding is your thing, then Wisp is the place for you! Located in Deep Creek Lake, MD, Wisp takes just about 3 hours to get to and trust us, it's worth the drive! Not a fan of shredding it up on the mountain? Wisp offers snow tubing, a mountain coaster (it's FUN), and a fully-stocked lodge for those of us that prefer to eat, drink and watch. 😅 You can stay right on the resort with up to 2 non-aggressive dogs under 40 lbs! Pet rooms are limited and advanced notice is required! So, give Wisp a call to check for availability and prepare for an additional $50 non-refundable fee charged per stay. Not too shabby for these incredible views, right?!
While you're in Deep Creek, check out Short Story Brewing and sit outside with you pup (if you dare 🥶)!
Savage River Lodge - Frostburg, MD
Savage River Lodge is an incredible dog-friendly oasis located in Frostburg, MD just under 3 hours from Baltimore! SRL welcomes pets of any size for an additional fee of $30 per pet, per night. Keep in mind that only select cabins are pet-friendly and availability varies! Guests with pets must call (877) 411-3436 prior to booking to verify the availability of a pet-friendly room or risk not being able to check in with a pet and/or incurring any associated cancellation penalties. Get this...both dogs AND cats are allowed, so we don't have to worry about our feline friends missing out on any snowy adventures!
Savage River Lodge offers a dog wash station, acres of regular and cross-country skiing trails, a HUGE frisbee field, and even a dogs-only Bone Appetit food menu. Well-behaved cats and dogs are welcome to hang in their rooms alone for a few hours. Each morning of your stay, your pup will be woken up to a homemade Bodhi Biscuit from the kitchen. This place is KILLING us with cuteness. 😍
Head out to Savage River Lodge this winter for an adventure in wine or whiskey tasting on their extensive trails with light hors d'oeuvres along the way. This popular event is offered on select weekends of the year (rain or shine), and the best part?? Leashed pets are welcome! Hoomans must be at least 21 years old to participate (obvi).
Cost: $42 plus tax
Blue Moon Rising Cabins - Deep Creek Lake, MD
Cozy dog-friendly tiny home cabins in Deep Creek Lake with amazing views and hiking trails? Ummm, yes, please! This entirely dog-friendly resort is less than 3 hours from Baltimore and is just as amazing in the summer as it is in the winter. Blue Moon Rising is the coziest, quaintest escape from city life and our friends at Blue Moon Rising have confirmed that there is no limit on the number of dogs or size of dogs you are able to bring, as long as they are well-behaved. Choose from 14 different cabins, all featuring a unique design and personality.
How about a SLEIGH RIDE? Yep, you got it. Pleasant Valley Dream Rides has you covered and you can book your horse-drawn, snowy ride here.
Read more about dog-friendly activities to do and see in Deep Creek including an off-leash dog park, local dog-friendly eateries, and hiking trails here.
Shenandoah Yurt - Stanley, VA
Truly a one-of-a-kind experience in a gigantic, dog-friendly (with $50 fee and pre-approval) YURT just minutes from Shenandoah National Park. Obviously, there's tons of nature to explore and hikes to take with the pups but this luxury yurt also offers an outdoor hot tub perfect for stargazing, archery, e-bikes available to rent, a pool table, a full kitchen, board games, and so much more! Nearby, there's skiing and snow tubing at Massanutten Ski Resort, Luray Caverns (where small dogs are permitted to be carried on the tour with you!), and the incredible Skyline Drive. It's quite literally like nothing we've ever seen before. Take a look for yourself at the photos below!
DOCC pro tips?
1. Take a car with 4-wheel drive just to be safe!
2. All unbooked nights go on a SUPER sale four nights before check-in - follow the Yurt on Facebook or Instagram for those updates!
Seven Springs Mountain Resort - Champion, PA
Wake up to snow-covered mountains calling your name and set foot into a snowy winter playground like nowhere else when you book a winter getaway to Seven Springs! Exceptional skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing, top-rated terrain parks, plenty of indoor fun, snowshoe tours, snowmobile tours, & SO much more are waiting for you in this Pennsylvania winter wonderland!
Similar to Wisp Resort, this sister resort offers a select number of dog-friendly rooms at their on-site resort lodge. Call and check for availability and pricing, and expect to pay an extra fee per pet, per room.
Arctic Paws Dog Sled Tours - East Stroudsburg, PA
Okay, this is an INSANELY COOL winter activity...have a Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Alaskan Husky, or Samoyed? You can BYOD (bring your own dog) to experience the joy of your Northern Breed dog running with the pack and pulling you on a dog sled! Yes, we said WITH the pack! How cool is that? Click here for the requirements your dog should meet and pricing.
All dog sled photos are by Inner Heart Photography.
Don't have one of the breeds listed above? You can still go sledding with over 10 rescued huskies that work for Arctic Paws! Check out full details here and give this experience a try the next time you're in the Poconos. We're begging you...please tag us in your awesome photos!
The Getaway House - Shenandoah and Shenandoah North Location (new!) in Virginia
We're sure you've heard of the famous Getaway Tiny Houses...but did you know that they're dog-friendly?! For just a cleaning fee of $40, bring your dog along to our closest Getaway House locations near Shenandoah National Park - just over 2 hours from Baltimore. With tons of outdoor trails and hiking to explore, the Getaway House experience provides the perfect opportunity to unplug and reconnect with your best friend,
Be sure to stay with your dog at all times, keep them on a leash when outdoors, and always clean up after them. Getaway House does ask that you do not leave dogs inside the tiny house alone if you leave the area. Remember, we have to follow these rules strictly to ensure places like this stay dog-friendly for a long time!
Honey House Luxury Glamping - Hedgesville, WV
Honey House is a luxury glamping husband-wife company (they're from Baltimore!) that manages multiple incredible off-the-grid cabins less than two hours away in West Virginia! The Honey House, Happy Place, Rainbow Ridge, Magick Mountain and Doggy Heaven cabins are ALL dog-friendly and offer tons to do with your pup in nearby Berkeley Springs and Martinsburg, West Virginia!
Cold Weather Packing List for Your Dog
Some hand-picked, safe, and inexpensive winter essentials for your dog. Heading to one of the above snowy destinations? You'll definitely want to grab these! *Please note that this post contains affiliate links. We link only to products that we truly believe in!*
Musher's - apply this on your dog's paw pads before going outside to play in the snow! Use a wipe or warm cloth on paw pads after coming inside to remove any salt or other contaminant from paws.
MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Washer - when you need something a bit more heavy duty than a towel. Fill up with warm water and simply stick your dog's paws into the cup for a quick wash immediately after coming inside from a snowy walk. You never know what chemicals and contaminants are in salt and snow...better to be safe and give the paws a quick dip!
Natural Dog Company PawTection Dog Paw Balm - perfect for the on-the-go, this non-toxic wax stick provides a layer of protection between your dog's paws and the cold ground!
Outdoor Dog Hiking & Running Boots - for our serious hikers out there! These boots will protect your pup's paws in any weather, on any hike, and will aid in keeping them warm, too!
Rechargeable Hand Warmers - humans, this one's for you! We recently discovered rechargeable hand warmers and were skeptical at first, but quickly became hooked. Keep them in your coat pocket for walks and hikes with or without your dog during the winter months and thank us later.
We strongly recommend that you visit the website of any resort/cabin before visiting for the latest hours and policies, and to ensure their pet policy! Please remember to bring poo bags and pick up after your pet when nature calls. Also, remember that not everyone may be as obsessed with your dog as you are and to respect fellow vacationers' space. Let's be responsible pet owners so that we can continue visiting these beautiful places with our dogs for years to come!
If you visit one of these dog-friendly winter getaways or one that isn't listed above, we'd love to hear about your experience! Reach out to us at hello@dogsofcharmcity.net or on Instagram.
Staying Local? Here are some dog-friendly indoor activities close to home:
Pet Depot - indoor swimming for the win! Stay close to home (Timonium), warm, and get your dog in the pool for some of the best exercise they can possibly get! Come on, we're all craving a swim at this point, right?!
Dog-Friendly Breweries - ...are always a great idea! Check out our HUGE list of Dog-Friendly Breweries in Maryland and see which ones allow dogs inside!
Second Chance - the beloved 200,000+ square foot retail outlet selling recycled furniture, construction material, and more is 100% dog-friendly! If you're looking for furniture, materials for a project, or just want to walk around indoors with your pup in the winter, the employees at Second Chance are more than happy to see you & your dogs!
Lowe's or Home Depot - okay...maybe not the most riveting experience, but if you're working on training with your dog in the winter, these stores are dog-friendly and provide warmth, plenty of space, and a good level of friendly distraction!
Check out our full list of over 100+ DOCC Verified businesses that are dog-friendly indoors here.
Looking for more dog-friendly places in Maryland to visit with your dog? Check out these posts:
Dog-Friendly Breweries in Maryland