St. Cloud Countdown - Dog Friendly Things to Do in Central Minnesota

We’re sharing 10 fun things to do with your dog in the Greater St. Cloud area! FOUR places to talk a walk, THREE dog friendly breweries, TWO restaurants where you can dine with your dog, and ONE awesome spot for a pup cup. 

We spent a [hosted] late September weekend in St. Cloud, which is just over an hour northwest of the Twin Cities, an easy drive on I-94. This was a special trip for us because it was our first time staying in a hotel as a family of five (parents, Bert, Ernie, and now baby sis). The Best Western Plus Kelly Inn took great care of us with dog treats at the front desk and a sweet welcome gift for the boys in the room. Make this your dog friendly stay when you visit! 

JUMP TO: PARKS | BREWERIES | RESTAURANTS | ICE CREAM

Now to the countdown, starting with…

4 GREAT PLACES TO TAKE A WALK 

Quarry Park and Nature Preserve - Waite Park, MN 

Central Minnesota has a history of being a major granite quarrying area, and Saint Cloud Red Granite stone was a hot building commodity starting in the mid 1800s. This park is the site where five different companies quarried granite over about a hundred years, and it includes some historical mining equipment and interpretive materials. The coolest part of this park is the twenty quarries that still exist today. Trails loop around the quarries (which now look like super deep pothole lakes) through woods and prairie landscape. Humans can swim, fish, and even SCUBA dive in two of the quarries, but dogs are not permitted in the water. 

$5 daily entry fee - purchase pass at parking lot kiosk. Open 8 am - 30 mins past sunset daily.

Lake George Park - St. Cloud, MN 

Check out walking and biking paths, beautiful lawns, a great playground and splash pad, and a boathouse with kayak and paddle boat rentals at Lake George Park, right in the heart of downtown St. Cloud. The outdoor concert area hosts a free concert series called Summertime By George on Wednesday nights in the summertime. 

Free - open 6 am - 10 pm daily

Beaver Island Trail - St. Cloud, MN 

This paved five mile trail runs right alongside the Mississippi River as it winds through St. Cloud. The Riverwalk section is a half mile portion of the trail just behind the convention center that features interpretive signage about the river’s role in the city’s history. Catch great views of a historic railroad bridge spanning the river that was built in 1872 by what is now the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad (then the Saint Cloud, Saint Paul, and Pacific Railroad)! 

Free - open 24 hrs 

Warner Lake County Park - Clearwater, MN

Go for a woodsy stroll or bring a picnic lunch to enjoy along the shores of Warner Lake. This quiet and pretty park is just a nice spot to spend an hour. Gravel/sandy trails are stroller friendly, and pups are allowed most places except for the swim beach and inside park shelters. There are a couple of pleasant campsites available for nonprofit youth groups only.

Free - open 6 am - 11 pm daily

3 FUN BREWERIES TO VISIT WITH YOUR DOG

Beaver Island Brewing Co. - St. Cloud, MN 

Downtown adjacent, this brewery is a quick walk from Lake George Park as well as the Beaver Island Trail. Patio is dog friendly! We really liked the Marzen and the Peanut Butter Sweet Miss Stout. Great beers for fall!

Bad Habit Brewing Co. - St. Joseph, MN 

Bad Habit is about 20 minutes west of St. Cloud in the college town of St. Joseph, home to the College of Saint Benedict. Bennies and Johnnies from nearby St. John’s University in Collegeville. There’s a big dog friendly patio here with some grassy space for lawn games! 

Back Shed Brewing - Waite Park, MN 

This brewery is about 10 minutes west of St. Cloud, and it’s just over a mile from Quarry Park and Nature Preserve. Large and comfortable dog friendly patio with live music most weekends.

Related: see our post Everything You Need to Know About Taking Your Dog to a Brewery for plenty of good advice on how to set your pup up for success at a brewery.

2 DOG FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS

Molitor’s Quarry - Sauk Rapids, MN 

The super pleasant and shady patio at Molitor’s is perfect for lunching with your pup. Enjoy the big menu with something for everyone, and then wander over to the quarry pond where you can feed the fish. There’s a playground for the littles and lots of space to roam since Molitor’s is a wedding venue as well as a restaurant. In the fall, visit in the evening without your dog to check out Molitor’s Haunted Acres if you’re up for a seasonal scare.

Rock Creek Coffeehouse - Sauk Rapids, MN 

Caffeinate and start your day with a seasonal latte and breakfast burrito at Rock Creek. Pups welcome on the patio, or swing through the drive through to get on with your adventures.

1 YUMMY PUP CUP 

Mr. Twisty - St. Cloud, MN & Sartell, MN

What better way to wrap up our St. Cloud countdown than with ice cream! Mr. Twisty puts googly eyes on the swirly tops of their cones and cups - a totally delightful and adorable addition to a yummy treat. Pup cups available for doggos, and plenty of goodness for humans too. 

Clearly there is a lot to see and do in the Greater St. Cloud area. We hope you have a great time exploring with your dog!