If you have searched for a pet friendly river spot in Dehradun and come up with nothing but vague hotel listings, Maldevta Picnic Point is the actual answer. Located just outside Dehradun, it is the kind of place that lets you disconnect from traffic, crowds and city life for a few hours - fresh mountain air, flowing water, dense forest on both banks, and a shallow stretch of the Song River that is genuinely safe for dogs to wade and swim in.
💧Shallowsafe for dogs to wade
₹Freeentry to the river
🌅Morningbest time - fewer crowds
A peaceful riverside escape for dog parents driving from Delhi NCR
What stands out most about Maldevta is the atmosphere. The Song River runs clear over a stony bed, with green hills and forest forming a proper backdrop. The river is mild, not glacial-cold even in June, and shallow enough across most of its width that a nervous swimmer or a small dog can wade in safely while a confident dog like Apple (The Golden Retriever) can actually swim. The current is gentle.
Apple (The Golden Retriever) was in the water within minutes. Captain waded to his knees and stayed there happily. Kimchi found a shallow pool and sat in it like a bath. None of them needed convincing - the temperature and the gentle slope into the river do the work for you.
Best time to visit with dogs
Go in the morning. By midday the picnic ground fills with families and the calm you came for thins out. Early morning means the water is closer to yours alone, the light is better for photos, and your dogs get to actually relax instead of navigating a crowd.
Tea, Maggi, and the simple pleasures
Do not come expecting restaurants. What you get instead are small roadside stalls serving hot tea, Maggi and pakoras - and somehow a cup of tea beside this particular river tastes better than it has any right to.
Manbhawan River Resort - the café that makes this work for a half day
Right next to the riverbank on Maldevta Road is Manbhawan River Resort - not a resort to book into, but a café and sitting area overlooking the river. They have a proper sitting area to watch the river from above, parking, and a washroom where you can change out of wet clothes for a ₹10 fee. They also deliver food straight to the riverbank. Open until midnight.
What to expect at Manbhawan River Resort
Sitting area overlooking the river · parking available · washroom with change facility (₹10) · food delivery to the riverside (Maggi, tea, full meals) · open till midnight · located directly on Maldevta Road next to the picnic point.
Getting there
Maldevta Picnic Point is about 17-20 km from central Dehradun - roughly 17-18 km from Clock Tower. The road is motorable throughout but has uneven patches, noticeably worse during monsoon - the spot itself closes during that season due to water levels and road conditions.
Before you go
Entry is free. Visit during daylight hours, ideally morning to early evening. Arrive early for fewer crowds and better photography light. Carry drinking water for a longer stay. The spot closes during monsoon - best window is October through June.
⚠️ Kimadi waterfall - do not go with dogs
Kimadi waterfall is in the same general direction and comes up in the same "things to do near Dehradun" searches. We visited on the same day. It is not good for dogs - rocky terrain, congested at the access points, and a fundamentally different experience from the open, calm river at Maldevta. If you have one day with your dogs near Dehradun, spend all of it here. Kimadi can wait for a trip without them.
Watch our visit
Ekta, Apple (The Golden Retriever), Captain, Kimchi, and Akash at the river
Arriving, into the river, Captain digging a hole, tea vendor by the water
Aerial view - Apple (The Golden Retriever) and Kimchi at Maldevta
Our full visit: Maldevta river + day tour of Stairway To Heaven (~8 min)
Dogs welcome on the open riverbank and in the shallow water. No entry fee, no restrictions on dogs at the picnic point itself. Manbhawan River Resort next door is dog-friendly in its outdoor sitting area. Visited personally with Apple (The Golden Retriever), Captain and Kimchi in June 2026.
🐾 Allowed pets
DogsAll pets
🐕 Dog sizes
smallmediumlargexlall sizes welcome
Amenities
Pet-friendly outdoor area
✗Restaurant not accessible to pets at this property
Pet at a glance
Pet chargesFree
Allowed petsDogs, All pets
Dog sizessmall, medium, large, xl, all sizes welcome
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Pets Allowed in Pool
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