Monon Trail Dog-Lover's Guide
The Posh Pooch
Gourmet green-bean biscotti for dogs—where else but Carmel? Canine Cloud Nine, less than a block from the Monon crossing, also styles and dyes fur and paints nails—that’s right, a mani for your Maltese. In SoBro, Good Dog Hotel & Spa pampers pets with a deshedding treatment or bubbly bath, no overnight stay required. Indulge her guilt-free at Huddles Frozen Yogurt with creamy (and healthy) goodies in flavors such as organic banana–peanut butter.
Canine Cloud Nine. 110 W. Main St., 317-999-5444
Good Dog Hotel & Spa. 5345 N. Winthrop Ave., 317-255-2525
Huddles Frozen Yogurt. 1356 E. 86th St., 317-587-1499; 110 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-581-9206
The Grumpy Guy
Westfield’s lonesome stretch of Monon north of 161st Street offers the solitude some dogs need—and the gravel surface, which won’t be paved until later this year, gives his paws a break from hot asphalt. The trailhead at Quaker Park has drinking fountains equipped with dog bowls. As long as you avoid the morning and evening bicycle rush, the southern stretch of the Monon is also light on traffic, and the locally baked gourmet treats at nearby City Dogs Grocery might put him in a friendly mood. Plus, they come from the same kitchen that whipped up a birthday cake for Butler’s mascot.
Quaker Park. 175th St. and Dartown Rd.
Southern stretch of the Monon. starting at 10th St.
City Dogs Grocery. 884 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-2287
The Friendly Fella
Your best buddy can party in Broad Ripple, too: The deck and patio at Plump’s Last Shot is a happening scene for sociable dogs, with water bowls and servers who’ve been known to bring biscuits; Locally Grown Gardens in SoBro, right on the trail at 54th Street, will also welcome your pal with a cool drink of water. Patience probably isn’t his strong suit—so don’t tell him about the rad dog park planned for Carmel’s Central Park, tentatively set to open next summer or fall; for now, he can make do with the park’s winding nature trails.
Plump’s Last Shot. 6416 Cornell Ave., 317-257-5867
Locally Grown Gardens. 1050 E. 54th St., 317-255-8555
Central Park. 116th St. and Range Line Rd.
The Good Sport
Active animals gear up for long hikes at Broad Ripple’s Rusted Moon Outfitters with Ruffwear products like dog packs, booties, leashes, and portable cloth bowls; employees’ pets share from their bin of treats. Just north of the Village, rugged dirt trails crisscross the 84-acre Marott Park Woods Nature Preserve; some lead to the sandy banks of Williams Creek, great for splashing and wading. Further north, you can pick up Carmel’s Hagen-Burke Trail near the U.S. 31 crossing and follow a scenic waterway into the 90-acre Cool Creek Park for hilly, wooded paths.
Rusted Moon Outfitters. 6410 Cornell Ave., 317-253-4453
Marott Park Woods Nature Preserve. 75th St. and Westfield Blvd.
Cool Creek Park. 151st St. and Cool Creek Pkwy.
Photo by Tony Valainis
This article appeared in the June 2013 issue.
