Fayette Friends of Animals launches leashed dog hiking series in Ohiopyle

A leashed hike through Ohiopyle’s Great Gorge Trail will give high-drive dogs a safer outlet than a free-for-all dog park, with Fayette Friends of Animals opening its Dog Days of Summer Hiking Series on Sunday, May 17.

The outing will begin at 9 a.m. at Ohiopyle Coffee Co. on Sherman Street, where participants will gather before stepping onto the trail at 9:30 a.m. The group will finish with lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Twisted Spoke Cafe on Grant Street, turning the hike into a social, structured morning instead of a quick walk-and-go scramble.

Fayette Friends of Animals is keeping the format simple and practical. The hikes are free to join, and the shelter says well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Participants are asked to bring water, proper footwear and waste bags, and pre-registration is required. For owners managing overstimulated dogs or handling a pup that is still learning trail manners, that structure matters as much as the mileage.

The series also fits the setting. Ohiopyle State Park covers about 20,500 acres, draws millions of visitors each year and offers 79 miles of trails. The Great Gorge Trail is one of the park’s hiking options, with the Youghiogheny River Gorge drawing many of the people who come for a day outdoors. State park pet rules require owners to pick up after pets and keep dogs under control, which makes a leashed group hike a natural match for the park’s shared-use environment.

Fayette Friends of Animals says the series is part of its broader mission as a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter in Fayette County. The organization says it has been giving animals a second chance since 1998, and the hike adds an outreach layer to the exercise itself, linking dog-friendly recreation with support for shelter animals.

That combination is what gives the series its appeal for owners of energetic dogs. The outing offers movement, socialization and a controlled setting, while the lunch stop at Twisted Spoke Cafe, which markets itself as a family-friendly Ohiopyle stop near the park, extends the event into a community hangout. For dogs that need more than a backyard sprint, it is a clean model: clear rules, steady pacing and a place to practice being calm in public while still burning real energy.