Looking at modern dogs like pugs and Chihuahuas, it’s difficult to see the line that led from majestic wolves to our beloved canine companions of today. But like their nomadic ancestors, dogs revel in a taste of freedom, the ability to sniff strange smells, and the chance to be their animal selves with abandon. Greenleaf State Park in northeastern Oklahoma provides man and beast with plenty of opportunities to explore nature while not straying too far from civilization.

All sixteen of Greenleaf’s cabins are pet-friendly—including the wheelchair-accessible lakeside cabin. And unlike many hotels, there are no weight or species restrictions: Guests can bring up to two pets of any type for a twenty-dollar fee per pet per night. Dogs are, however, the most popular animal visitors.

“If you come on Friday or Saturday night, you’ll see almost as many dogs as people,” says Park Manager Rebecca Forbes. “People will set up little cots so they have a comfortable place to lay down, and they often dress the dogs in little costumes. And if people with pets stop by the park office, we usually give them a little treat.”

The Braggs resort, which was built in the late 1930s by the Works Progress Administration, attracts mutts and their mates by the dozens each day during the spring, summer, and especially fall, when the park is alight with brilliant red, orange, and yellow foliage. Leashed pets are welcome on the partially closed Greenleaf Trail and the easier 1.5-mile Family Fun Trail. They also can accompany their humans as they play eighteen holes of miniature golf; fish from the covered dock or at one of the kid’s fishing ponds; or out on the 930-acre Greenleaf Lake in a rental kayak, canoe, or boat. In fact, the only place they can’t go is into the Discovery Center and the splash pad area, which is open until Labor Day for visitors of the Homo sapien variety.

Traveling with an animal companion can be a high-stress endeavor, but a trip to the laid-back nature retreat that is Greenleaf will leave everyone relaxed, refreshed, and a little more in touch with their wild side.