From Sacramento, you can reach Lake Tahoe's alpine beaches and mountain parks in about two hours. Let pups splash at Kiva Beach, hike Van Sickle Bi-State Park, paddle Echo Lakes or grab a post-hike pint at FiftyFifty Brewing in Truckee.
Read moreCalifornia's 18 SNO-Parks offer affordable winter access to stunning Forest Service lands for snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing, and even skijoring with your dog. A season pass costs just $40 and covers all locations from November through May.
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California's SNO-Parks offer budget-friendly winter fun for you and your dog. For as little as $15 a day, enjoy skiing, sledding, snowshoeing and romping through snowdrifts at 18 sites scattered across the Sierra from Sierra County to Mammoth Lakes.
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California SNO-Parks are among DogTrekker's most popular picks each winter. These snow-covered playgrounds on U.S. Forest Service land welcome dogs for sledding, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Grab a permit and arrive early for the best parking and fresh powder.
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Lake Tahoe has dog-friendly lodging for every budget, from the Ritz-Carlton to cozy B&B cottages on the West Shore. In winter, enjoy plowed walking trails, cross-country skiing, and heated patio dining in Truckee before cozying up by a fireplace.
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California's 19 Sno-Parks offer affordable plowed parking and trail access for skiing, snowshoeing and sledding with your dog. At just five dollars a day, these snow-zone playgrounds stretch from Sierra County to Mammoth Lakes, with favorites clustered around Lake Tahoe.
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Snowshoeing with your dog is easier than you think. Rent snowshoes from a local ski shop, pick a dog-friendly trail like Paige Meadows or Hope Valley, and use a hands-free skijoring leash to keep your poles working.
Read moreUnlike most state parks, national forest campgrounds let dogs hit the trails. Crystal Basin Recreation Area and the Carson Pass region in the Sierra offer hundreds of dog-friendly campsites and miles of trails through stunning alpine scenery.
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National forests and BLM lands offer dog owners freedom that state and national parks rarely do. From Hope Valley's golden aspens to Garland Ranch's swimming holes and Mendocino's coastal bluffs, these public lands welcome off-leash hiking under voice control.
Read moreEcho Lakes near Highway 50 is one of the best dog-friendly snowshoe spots in the Sierra, with flat frozen lakes, stunning mountain scenery, and trails for all levels. Other top Tahoe-area options include Page Meadow, Fallen Leaf Lake Trail, and…
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The Highway 88 and Carson Pass corridor south of Lake Tahoe is a high-country playground dotted with lakes and laced with trails where dogs can hike off-leash. The scenery is spectacular and the crowds are thin.
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Tahoe in winter calls for snowy adventures by day and cozy cabin retreats at night. Cedar Glen Lodge, Tahoma Meadows, and Sorensen's Resort all welcome dogs and offer quick access to cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.
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