All aboard the Mendocino skunk train

Skunk Train. Photo by Brendan McGuigan.

One of the most entertaining ways to experience Mendocino County’s majestic redwoods is aboard the historic (and dog-friendly) Skunk Train. Read more.

Meandering the mendo coast with your dog

Retriever running along the beach at Seaside in Monterey County

While you can drive from one end of Mendocino County to the other in a morning or afternoon (it’s 102 winding miles from Leggett to Gualala on scenic Highway 1) this intoxicating stretch of coastline is best savored at a snail’s pace. Our advice: Hang your hat (and leash) for at least a night in one of the many dog-friendly lodgings situated within sight and sound of the sea.

Adventure awaits on the north coast

California’s North Coast is a magical place made more magical still with the 2014 incorporation of Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands, a 1,132-acre coastal preserve in Mendocino County that you and your leashed dog are welcome to explore at your scenic-overload leisure.

Walking the wilds of Mendocino

Hiking in the woods. Farley Endeman (CC) A big part of Mendocino County’s appeal is its hundreds of thousands of acres of dog-friendly public lands, which range from sprawling, 913,300-acre Mendocino National Forest and Snow Mountain Wilderness to coastal preserves like the newly designated Point Arena-Stornetta National Monument, consisting of 1,665 spectacular acres on the wild and windswept coast.

Mendocino’s inland empire

Skunk Train. Photo by Brendan McGuigan.

Many Mendocino County visitors stay glued to the scenic stretch of coastline between Little River and Fort Bragg, but to do so is to miss out on redwoods, wineries, off-the-beaten-path seaside preserves and small, inland towns that extend a warm welcome to travelers with pets.