Mono County

Mono County in the Eastern Sierra is an outdoor recreation wonderland and gateway to Yosemite National Park. Highway 395, running north-south at the edge of the Sierras, rivals coastal Highway 1 as California’s most scenic drive. Fall foliage in early October is some of the best in the West.

One of the highlights along the route is Bodie State Historic Park, a gold-mining ghost town in the northern part of the county. A bit farther south, Mono Lake, June Lake and the Mammoth Lakes areas are magnets for DogTrekkers with hiking, camping, fishing, lodging and dining at the top of their itineraries.

Mountain majesty in the Eastern Sierra

Dogs prance on water at Mammoth Lakes!

Pet-friendly is the keyword in this neck of the Sierra, and if you and your pup are looking for liquid refreshment, there’s almost no end to the places the two of you can splash around (they don’t call it Mammoth Lakes for nothing). Make a base camp at dog-friendly lodging in or near town or in nearby June Lake. Travel the 16-mile June Lake Loop and check out four road-accessible lakes—June, Gull Silver and Grant—and others that are hike-in only. more »

Mammoth Lakes winter woof

It’s a beautiful drive whether coming from north or south on Highway 395, the Eastern Sierra byway that rivals (if not exceeds) the more famous coastal Highway 1 in terms of scenery. The year-round resort area centered around the Mammoth Mountain and June Mountain ski areas welcomes winter DogTrekkers with dozens of dog-friendly places to stay and endless wild open spaces to explore. more »

Scenery Rules at These Dog-Friendly Campgrounds

Gorgeous Mornings - Photo Credit: @larraburuadventures

There are three pet-friendly campgrounds at MacKerricher State Park, just three miles from Fort Bragg in Mendocino County. The primo spot for dogtrekkers at Northern California’s favorite playground has to be Nevada Beach Campground, situated right on the lakeshore and home to the only sandy, off-leash stretch of beach at the lake. And the Eastern Sierra is packed with gorgeous scenery and more campgrounds than you can count. more »

Hiking ‘California’s Switzerland’

Convict Lake
Photo Credit: @bosco.and.arlo.aussie

The Eastern Sierra is often referred to as “California’s Switzerland” for its jagged peaks and high-altitude attractions. The options for dog-friendly hikes in the region are limitless, but if you want to top off some exercise with a hearty meal, we have a couple of suggestions. Little Lakes Valley Trail in Little Lakes Valley between Mammoth Lakes and Bishop is family-friendly as well as dog-friendly (leashes required). It’s also very popular, and for the best of reasons. more »

Dog-Friendly Highway 20 Preserves Beckon In Spring

South Yuba River State Park
Photo Credit: @ryno_in_california

The Sierra foothills cover hundreds of square miles, so your best bet for a wildflower-and-waterfalls weekend is to narrow down an itinerary. Our suggestion: take Highway 20 east out of Marysville (Sutter County) and spend a day or a weekend exploring several sites between there and Grass Valley/Nevada City, a distance of about 40 miles. more »