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Animal Rescues in Red Wing

Red Wing sits on the Mississippi about an hour southeast of the Twin Cities. Two things about walking a dog here are genuinely counterintuitive, and both are worth knowing before you set off.

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Dogs, bluffs and one trail that says no

Two Red Wing facts do most of the work on this page, and both are the opposite of what you’d assume.

The Cannon Valley Trail does not allow pets. Not “leashed dogs welcome” — none. The trail’s own site says so in capitals. It’s 19.7 paved miles linking Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing, it’s the region’s best-known trail, and a wheel pass is required for anyone 18 or over from 1 April to 1 November at $7 a day or $30 for the season. All of which is moot if the dog is in the car.

The dog park has moved. The city relocated it from A.P. Anderson Park after learning, in collaboration with the Prairie Island Indian Community, that an Indigenous cemetery is located on eastern portions of that park. The current site is described by the city as temporary — on 12th St. at the upper Athletic Field where the ice rinks are, with separate areas for small and large dogs. “Temporary” is the city’s word, so it’s worth a call before you drive.

Where you can walk

Red Wing’s real strength is bluff country, and the city’s parks list is unusually good for a town this size:

Leash and clean up, and check the city’s park pages for current rules before you plan around one.

On the rescue side

Organizations down here draw adopters from a wide area, including the metro, and a Saturday can reasonably cover more than one if you phone ahead. Browse Minnesota listings or Wisconsin for the other side of the river. We’re an independent directory, unaffiliated with anyone listed here.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bike the Cannon Valley Trail with my dog?
No — and this catches people out, because it's exactly the sort of paved rail trail that usually welcomes leashed dogs. The trail's own site states plainly that no pets are allowed on the Cannon Valley Trail. If you've driven down specifically for that, plan a different walk.
Where is the Red Wing dog park now?
It moved. The city relocated it from A.P. Anderson Park after learning, with the Prairie Island Indian Community, that an Indigenous cemetery lies on eastern portions of that park. The city's facility page gives the current site as a temporary one on 12th St. at the upper Athletic Field where the ice rinks are, with separate small and large dog areas. Because it's described as temporary, ring the city before you rely on it.
What's the best walk here with a dog?
Memorial Park is the usual answer — the city lists hiking trails and views over the community, the river and the bluffs. Levee Park is the flat option, with trails and benches right on the Mississippi downtown. Neither of the city's pages states a pet policy, so keep a lead on and check with the city if it matters.

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