A Full Day of Adventure in Brevard — With Your Dog 🐾
One of the best parts of RV travel is bringing the whole family along — especially your four-legged family members.
Most RV parks (including ours!) welcome pets and even offer special amenities just for them. But what truly makes our area special for pet-loving travelers is that the entire community embraces dogs.
After spending nine months traveling the U.S. in our RV — with our dog and cat in tow — we quickly learned most National Parks do not allow dogs on hiking trails. For us, that was tough. Our Border Collie/Australian Shepherd, Sienna, lives for hiking and “herding” us along mountain bike trails.
That’s one of the many reasons we feel so grateful to call this area home – both Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest welcome dogs on the trails (just keep them leashed and follow posted guidelines). Even better…many of our local restaurants, breweries, and wineries happily welcome dogs as well.
So if you’re visiting with your adventure companion, here’s a full day itinerary for both you and your dog to enjoy— fully tested and enthusiastically approved by Sienna herself. Fair warning: it’s a FULL day of fun!
🥐 Breakfast in Downtown Brevard
Start your morning at Bracken Mountain Bakery in downtown Brevard. This cozy local favorite uses organic flour and specializes in European-style breads and pastries alongside American classics — all made fresh daily.
Grab a danish for yourself and a homemade dog biscuit for your pup. Then enjoy a stroll through town. Many of the local retailers in town are pet-friendly, so feel free to stop in if something catches your eye while window shopping.
🌲 Morning Hike: Cat Gap Loop
Head into Pisgah National Forest for the Cat Gap Loop Trail — a roughly 5-mile natural trail hike that’s a favorite among dogs (and humans).
This moderate loop winds through beautiful forest with laurel canopies, several creek crossings and waterfalls. The steady elevation gain makes it a satisfying workout without being overly strenuous. And the streams along the way? Perfect for splashing, cooling off, and those joyful mid-hike zoomies.
🍺 Lunch Stop: Ecusta Brewing
After your hike, refuel at Ecusta Brewing Company, conveniently located just about a mile from the Pisgah entrance.
Their large outdoor patio and covered deck are pet-friendly, making it the perfect spot to relax after the morning miles. Grab a craft beer, or a bit to eat at Gordingo’s located inside the brewery, and enjoy swapping trail stories while your pup rests at your feet.
💦 Afternoon Hike: High Falls
Next up: DuPont State Recreational Forest for the popular High Falls Trail.
This relatively short and accessible hike leads to one of the most iconic waterfalls in the region. The wide, rushing cascade is breathtaking, and there are plenty of scenic spots to pause and take photos. While swimming right at the falls isn’t recommended, there are nearby areas where dogs can splash in the crisp mountain water and cool off.
It’s one of the most photographed spots in the forest — and for good reason.
🎶 Afternoon Brew & Live Music
If you’ve still got energy, swing by Oskar Blues Brewery for a lively afternoon atmosphere.
With covered outdoor seating, a spacious yard, and frequent live music, it’s a fun place to unwind. Dogs are welcome outside, so your adventure buddy can relax while you sample some local brews.
🐕 Back to Camp: Our Dog Park
Return to your campsite to freshen up — and if your pup still has energy to burn, head over to our large on-site dog park.
With plenty of room for fetch, agility features for extra fun, and toys available, it’s the perfect space for one last burst of play. Afterward, stop by our Welcome Center for a special dog treat (and complimentary refreshments for the humans, too).
🌿 Dinner at The Pavilion
End your day at The Pavilion Restaurant & Corner Bar.
This unique dining experience takes place in a covered, open-air pavilion on a beautiful farm beside a mountain stream. Surrounded by lush trees and the soothing sounds of the creek, it’s the perfect place to wind down.
Because it’s fully open-air, all tables are pet-friendly — your dog can relax beside you as you enjoy a peaceful, unrushed meal. One gentle warning: don’t come here if you’re in a hurry. This is a place for slowing down and savoring the moment.
Whoa… now that’s a full day of adventure.
We truly love welcoming camper pets — and so does our entire community. If you’ve been looking for a destination where your dog is more than just “allowed” but genuinely welcomed, Brevard might be your perfect spot.
We hope to see you — and your fur baby — soon. 🐾
