Beyond Carmel's famous off-leash beach, Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley offers miles of off-leash trails, swimming holes in the Carmel River and dog-friendly water fountains. Hikes range from a flat 1.4-mile loop to a strenuous ridge climb.
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Bay Area regional park districts offer incredible hiking with your dog. East Bay Regional Parks has 1,200 miles of trails, Marin County Parks manages 34 preserves, and Monterey County welcomes off-leash dogs at Garland Ranch in Carmel Valley.
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Monterey County pairs coastal and inland hiking for dogs and their people. Stroll the 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, then head to Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley, where dogs can roam off-leash through redwood forests and oak savannas.
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Five favorite waterfront campgrounds where dogs can splash and play, from Big Lagoon in Humboldt County to Pismo State Beach on the Central Coast, with stops at Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz and Big Sur along the way.
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California's coast is lined with dog-friendly cabins and cottages, from retro-themed seaside inns on the Mendocino coast to charming 1940s cottage motels in Pacific Grove and vacation rentals along Big Sur.
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Highway 1 between Pacifica and Carmel packs 122 miles of dog-friendly beaches, coastal trails, and charming towns. Walk the Devil's Slide Trail, lunch seaside in Santa Cruz, and let your pup run off-leash on Carmel Beach before exploring the village.
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San Simeon Cove offers off-leash beach time just steps from Hearst Memorial State Beach. Hunt for sea glass and jade, watch otters and pelicans, hike the bluff-top trail, then head to Cambria for patio dining.
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Mount Madonna County Park near Gilroy packs ocean views, redwood forests, and 14 miles of dog-friendly trails into one Santa Cruz Mountains preserve. Spring wildflowers make it especially beautiful, and nearby Kirigin Cellars offers off-leash wine tasting grounds.
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Monterey County's coastline offers dog-friendly beaches from Monterey State Beach to wild Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. The crown jewel is Carmel Beach, where dogs run off-leash on white sand in one of America's most dog-welcoming communities.
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A roundup of exceptional dog-friendly campgrounds across Northern California, from spacious Gerle Creek Reservoir sites to wildflower-rich Woods Lake near Carson Pass, secluded Kidd Lake, coastal MacKerricher State Park, and the redwood groves of Pfeiffer Big Sur.
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Plan a romantic, dog-friendly Valentine's weekend along the California coast. Pacific Grove's Andril Fireplace Cottages, Bodega Bay's rugged shoreline, and Mendocino's Stanford Inn all offer fireplaces, ocean views, and warm welcomes for your four-legged companion.
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Monterey Wine Country spreads across three dog-friendly wine trails near Carmel Valley. Family-owned tasting rooms along Carmel Valley Road, the River Road bench, and the Monterey Bay coastline welcome four-legged visitors with open arms and outdoor seating.
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