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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.

Since first joining Indianapolis Monthly in 2000, West has written about a wide range of subjects including crime, history, arts and entertainment, pop culture, politics, and food. His feature stories have twice been noted in the Best American Sports Writing anthology and have received top honors from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. “The Collapse,” West’s account of the 2011 Indiana State Fair tragedy, was a 2013 National City and Regional Magazine Awards finalist in the category of Best Reporting. He lives on the near-east side.
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