Kayla, Director of Barketing Emeritus

Kayla, DogTrekker's former Director of Barketing

DogTrekker.com wouldn’t be here without Kayla, our “research Lab,” director of barketing and chief operating dog since the website was launched in 2011. But yes, our primary inspiration has left us and is now at the Rainbow Bridge with all the four-legged buddies who left before her. Kayla and Lola at Lake Lagunitas, Marin County Kayla is no longer in pain and can once again run like a Lab, swim like a Lab and, most importantly, eat like a Lab. The past few years have been a challenge for her and our family, yet she always had a smile on her face, a wag in her tail and showed undeniable excitement when asked if she wanted to take a ride or go on a trip. Read more.

Off-leash beaches for chasing waves

Three off-leash dogs frolicking at the beach.

For water-loving canines, nothing beats fetching a bright yellow tennis ball from the surf and romping full speed ahead on a sandy beach. But while there’s plenty of sand to share with your leashed pup along California’s 840 miles of coastline, you should know before you go where dogs are and aren’t allowed to run off-leash. Here are a few of our favorite off-leash beaches.

Onward and inland!

Photo by Wikimedia

Drive north on Highway 1 from Fort Bragg, and you’ll soon turn away from the coast and enter the county’s “Inland Empire.” It’s about an hour to Leggett, where the road merges with Highway 101 and the Redwood Coast begins.

Chill out in Fort Bragg

Dog on Glass Beach, Fort Bragg.

Fort Bragg is the “big city” on the Mendocino Coast with 7,500 full-time human residents, many of whose households also count our-legged family members.

Minimize driving, maximize scenery

Bridge over ravine with stream leading to ocean below in Albion Ca.

It’s just 17 miles along scenic Highway 1 from the coastal village of Albion to the more muscular city of Fort Bragg, but considering how much lies in between, you could take an entire, leisurely week to go the distance.