Tails on the Trails

Enjoy dog-friendly activities and explore a seasonal pet expo with your four-legged friend.

During Tails on the Trails events, guests can bring their dogs to explore an on-site pet expo featuring dog-oriented shopping from vendors representing local businesses and organizations. Learn about opportunities to adopt dogs, connect with local animal shelters about volunteering options, and take your dog out on the Arboretum’s trails.

The upcoming Tails on the Trails pet expo event will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Dogs are allowed on the trails until sunset.

Highlights

Connect with vendors and organizations in your area and shop for training and grooming supplies, fun accessories, and homemade treats.

Attend Puppy Yoga and Dog Yoga sessions led by Reset Vibes Yoga and Pilates.

Watch the video above to see The Morton Arboretum from a dog’s POV. Bring your furry friends to explore the smells, sounds, and sights of the Arboretum’s 16-miles of trails.

Admission

Purchase member dog admission for Sunday, May 3.

Purchase Arboretum general admission and dog admission for Sunday, May 3.

Dog admission is $7 per dog ($6 per dog for Arboretum members). Each dog needs a ticket. Dogs are only permitted on Arboretum grounds on designated Dog Admission Days and Tails on the Trails events. Buying online saves time at the gatehouse.

General admission tickets are required for people, except for members. Plan ahead and save on general admission by purchasing tickets online. Tickets for humans bought online are always $2 cheaper. Tickets will be more expensive when purchased at the gatehouse on the day of the event.

Arboretum members may enter at any time without general admission tickets by showing their current physical or digital membership card at the gatehouse. Have your membership card, general admission ticket, dog admission tickets, or payment ready when approaching the gatehouse.

Rules and Restrictions

Please note that dogs must be attended and on a leash at all times, must stay on marked trails, and are not allowed in some locations at the Arboretum.

Admission

Dog admission for the upcoming Tails on the Trails expo is $7 per dog ($6 per dog for Arboretum members). Each dog needs a ticket. Dogs are only permitted on Arboretum grounds on designated Dog Admission Days and Tails on the Trails events.

General admission tickets are required for people, except for members. Plan ahead and save on general admission by purchasing tickets online. Tickets bought online are always $2 cheaper. Tickets will be more expensive when purchased at the gatehouse on the day of the event.

Arboretum members may enter at any time without general admission tickets by showing their current physical or digital membership card at the gatehouse.

Have your member ID or general admission ticket, as well as dog admission tickets, ready when approaching the gatehouse.

Activities

Dog Yoga and Puppy Yoga

At scheduled times during the expo, Reset Vibes Yoga and Pilates will lead 30-minute puppy yoga and dog yoga sessions for humans and dogs. Sessions will take place on the lawn near Meadow Lake Trail and Tram Road.

Bring a yoga mat, if you have one. A limited number of mats will be available to borrow from the studio.

Puppy Yoga

Enjoy a unique yoga class that blends gentle, beginner-friendly poses with playful time spent with puppies. Puppies from a trusted rescue are free to roam around the space during the session. No yoga experience is necessary.

30-minute puppy yoga sessions take place at:

10:00 a.m.
10:40 a.m.

Dog Yoga

Foster a deeper bond with your dog through a session of dog yoga. This practice uses gentle poses modified to include your pet, creating a unique space for shared relaxation and physical connection. No yoga experience is necessary.

30-minute dog yoga sessions take place at:

11:30 a.m.
12:10 p.m.

Rules and Restrictions

Please note that dogs must be attended and on a leash at all times, must stay on marked trails, and are not allowed in some locations of the Arboretum.

Rules for Visiting with Dogs

Guests who visit the Arboretum with dogs on Dog Admission Days must adhere to the following rules.

Dogs must be attended and on a leash at all times.
All dogs must have updated vaccinations and registrations.
For the safety of your pet and the natural environment, do not let dogs go off the marked trails.
Please clean up after your pet. Bags are available at the Visitor Center.
Dogs are not permitted on Walking Play performances or Acorn Express tram tours.

Restricted Locations

Dogs are not allowed in the following locations.

Children’s Garden
Maze Garden
Visitor Center
Thornhill Educational Center
Administration and Research Center
May T. Watts Reading Garden
Firefly Pavilion

Dog-Friendly Restrooms

Portable restrooms for humans who need to bring their dogs with them can be found at the following locations.

Parking lot P-1
Parking lot P-4
Parking lot P-8 (available year-round, ADA accessible
Parking lot P-13 (Big Rock Visitor Station, available year-round)
Parking lot P-21 (ADA accessible)
Parking lot P-25 (Prairie Visitor Station, available year-round, ADA accessible)
Parking lot P-29
Parking lot P-33

Visiting with Service Animals

The Morton Arboretum welcomes guests of all abilities and strives to create a safe, enjoyable, and engaging experience for all. To support that goal, the Arboretum welcomes all service animals, including those still in training.

Because the Arboretum does not allow pets on the grounds, and some guests disregard this rule, staff or guests may inquire about your service animal if it is not wearing a vest or label. To help alleviate these questions, please let the gatehouse attendants know you have a service animal with you when you enter the Arboretum so they can make other staff aware.

To learn more about accessibility at the Arboretum, see Accessibility at The Morton Arboretum.