The bark on bernal heights

Otto in Bernal's secret garden. (CC)ejbSF Bernal Heights Park is something you don’t expect to find in a densely populated city: 35 acres of rugged, often windswept terrain that can feel more like a wilderness than an urban playground. Your dog can be off-leash here so long as she comes when called—and you definitely won’t want an eager canine pulling at the leash as you huff and puff up the steep, grassy hill that once served as a rock quarry. Several paths loop around the park, which is forested on top and can feel like a different place every time you visit, depending on the weather. Read more.

Chasing waves on ocean beach with your dog

Traveling in Style at Ocean Beach. (CC) torbakhopper If your dog has a reliable recall and can be trusted not to jump on people, bring her to Ocean Beach, a four-mile strip of sand at the foot of Golden Gate Park. The section between stairwells 1 and 21 is off-leash territory, and dogs go wild chasing waves, fetching balls and dodging the throngs of humans who congregate here on weekends. Read more.

Places to play in golden gate park with your dog

Golden Retriever in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Golden Gate Park is to San Francisco what Central Park is to New York, but oh-so-much better, at least in our dog-centric opinion. Read more.

Waterfront dog-friendly delights in mission bay

Hanging out in Mission Bay. (CC) Bhautik Joshi One of the fastest changing parts of the city is Mission Bay, a South-of-Market shoreline neighborhood in the midst of a redevelopment boom. Start this three-mile jaunt at AT&T Park, crossing McCovey Cove on Third Street to reach China Basin Park, a thin strip of green space facing the home of the World Champion San Francisco Giants. On game days, the park is crowded with fans and the energy level can get frenetic, but at other times, you and your four-legged sidekick can explore the Giants History Walk or simply cuddle on a bench and enjoy the spring sunshine and the views. Read more.

San Francisco is for dog lovers

Addie headed for fun at Fort Funston. Photo by Heather. If there’s a more dog-friendly big city than San Francisco, we at DogTrekker.com certainly don’t know about it. An abundance of open space available to the canine set is one of the City by the Bay’s main attractions for dog lovers. Well behaved pooches are allowed to exercise and socialize off-leash in two dozen places within city limits, including several—Bernal Heights, Crissy Field, Fort Funston—with views to drool over.