By Alana Richelle, WPRO Contributor

The dog days of summer are still a while away, but now is the perfect time to take your pooch to the park. Here’s our list of the best places to walk Fido around Rhode Island. 

RAIL TRAIL: Washington Secondary Trail, previously a railroad track, spans Cranston to Coventry, providing over 14 miles of trail. Dogs will have to share the path with bike riders on this former rail line.

HORSE CROSSING: Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick offers 18 miles of intersecting trails. Sand packed trails through the forest lead to Long Point, where dogs can roam the beach of Greenwich Cove and explore the waters of Greenwich Bay. Dogs beware: You may encounter horses on the forest trails!

OFF LEASH: Haines Memorial State Park located in the East Bay contains not only paths to walk your dog on, but also a separate ‘Paws Path’ dog area. This area is fenced in, accommodating owners who want to let their dogs off the leash for a while.

CLIFF HIKE: For more adventurous dog walkers, the 3.5 mile Cliff Walk in Newport is at your fingertips. The Cliff Walk contains beautiful mansion views, as well as open cliff faces, but with the walker’s focus it can be easily navigated. At the end of the hike lies Reject’s Beach, where your dog can go for a dip.

PEACEFUL & PRETTY: Wilcox Park located in Westerly is for those who want a relaxing dog walk. No bikes or rowdy behavior are allowed, so there will be no disruptions to walking aimlessly. The park contains a meadow, perennial gardens, monuments, and a fish pond containing waterfowl.