Hocking Hills is one of the most legitimately dog-friendly destinations in the Midwest. The state park allows leashed dogs on nearly every major trail, dozens of rentals welcome pets, and several restaurants have outdoor patios where dogs are welcome.
Unlike many national parks and wilderness destinations, Hocking Hills State Park is remarkably pet-friendly. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails leading to Old Man's Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, Rock House, and Whispering Cave — essentially all of the iconic hikes. The rental inventory has followed suit: a significant share of cabins, A-frames, and some domes allow pets, usually for a modest per-stay fee.
Below: pet-friendly rentals map, which trails allow dogs (and which don't), what to pack, local vets, and critically — what Ohio and federal law say about service animals and emotional support animals in short-term rentals.
Use the filters after the map loads to narrow to properties that accept pets. Always confirm the pet policy and any applicable fees directly with the listing before booking.
Dogs must be on a leash of 6 feet or less at all times in Hocking Hills State Park. Waste bags are required — pack in, pack out.
Ohio State Nature Preserves prohibit dogs, even leashed. This is the main exclusion to keep in mind.
None of the local clinics operate 24-hour emergency services. For true overnight emergencies, the nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital is MedVet in Columbus, roughly an hour north on US-33.
Address: 161 Iron St, Logan, OH
Phone: (740) 385-4565
Notes: Full-service animal hospital; accepts emergency cases and routine care during business hours.
Address: 11389 State Route 664 N, Logan, OH 43138
Phone: (740) 385-4631
Notes: Small animals, emergency services, preventative care. Saturday morning hours.
Location: Logan, OH
Notes: Has served the Logan and Southeastern Ohio community since 1996. Saturday availability.
Hours and availability change. Call ahead before driving in, and verify current hours and emergency policies at time of booking. We don't maintain live clinic hours on this page.
The rules here are frequently misunderstood, particularly by short-term rental hosts. Ohio law is broader than federal law on this topic, so what applies to your stay depends on both — and which platform you book through.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability — guiding someone who is blind, alerting someone who is deaf, interrupting a PTSD episode, alerting to a seizure, and similar. Only dogs qualify as service animals under federal ADA. Staff or hosts may ask only two questions: whether the animal is required because of a disability, and what task it has been trained to perform. They may not ask for documentation or proof of training.
Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy animals whose sole function is to provide comfort are not service animals under the ADA. Federal ADA does not require short-term rental hosts to accommodate ESAs. The Fair Housing Act protects ESAs in traditional long-term housing (typically leases of 30+ days), but short-term vacation rentals are generally treated as transient lodging and fall outside FHA protection.
This is where it gets important for Hocking Hills specifically. Ohio Administrative Code §4112-5-02(C) defines an "animal assistant" as "any animal which aids the disabled" — a definition broader than the federal ADA definition of service animal. Under O.A.C. §4112-5-06(A)(4), it is illegal to deny any disabled person the attendance of an animal assistant in a place of public accommodation in Ohio. The practical effect: under Ohio state law, ESAs may be treated more like service animals in places of public accommodation than federal law alone would suggest.
Both major platforms require hosts to accommodate service animals regardless of pet policies, and hosts are not allowed to charge pet fees for service animals. Both platforms treat emotional support animals with more discretion — hosts may often charge pet fees for ESAs or decline them, depending on state and local law.
If you're traveling with a service animal or ESA and have any concern about a host's policies, communicate in writing before you book and save the confirmation. If you're a host who wants to understand your obligations precisely, consult an attorney familiar with Ohio disability law and the specific circumstances of your property — this page is editorial guidance, not legal advice.
Most pet-friendly properties charge a per-stay pet fee, typically ranging from $25 to $150 depending on the property and number of pets. Some high-end rentals charge per pet, per night. Check the fine print on the listing before booking — platforms display the fee at checkout, not always in the nightly rate.
Most hosts require pets not be left unattended for extended periods, and some rentals have explicit "no dogs left alone" clauses. Check the house rules. For Conkle's Hollow specifically (which doesn't allow dogs), consider booking a rental with a fenced yard or bringing a family member who can stay with the dog.
Several Logan, Laurelville, and Hocking Hills-area restaurants have outdoor patios where leashed dogs are welcome during warm months. Policies vary and change — always call ahead or confirm at the door before bringing your dog.
Southeast Ohio has a healthy skunk population and it happens. Local hardware stores in Logan stock skunk-odor-removal products, and the de-skunking formula (hydrogen peroxide + baking soda + dish soap) works better than tomato juice — search for the Chemistry.org recipe before you need it.
Yes. Southeast Ohio has established populations of American dog ticks, black-legged (deer) ticks, and lone star ticks. Check your dog (and yourself) after every hike between March and October. Year-round flea and tick prevention is recommended if you visit frequently.