There is nothing wrong with going to a dog park. In fact, sometimes I like to go to meet people and just have a relaxing day with my dog. Once you start going hiking on some nice trails with your dog, you may find yourself going to the dog park less frequently. Here's why:
1. You and your dog will get more exercise.
Of course your dog will get a lot of exercise at the dog park, but there are always a ton of people there that seem to distract you from getting exercise. A trail will challenge you and stimulate you like a dog park never could.
2. Not as many dogs.
None of this craziness. The fewer the dogs, the fewer the problems. Bonus: Fewer bad dog owners!
3. More sense of adventure
There is nothing really adventurous about a dog park. Just a fenced area, a few dogs. Maybe a pond or a river if you're lucky to live near a nice dog park. Some trails around our area have huge peaks with challenging hills and they are all filled with hidden paths!
4. Beauty
Who wouldn't want to see something like this?
5. Fun
I may be biased, but my dog and I just have so much more fun at a challenging hiking trail. Every trail is different. You can still meet some great dogs and people on the trails. Most importantly, every dog needs mental and physical stimulation. A trail will provide that challenge in a way that a dog park can't.