Monterey County parks

Dogs and people stand on the shore in Carmel

Carmel Beach. Photo by Jaime Perez (CC).

Dog-lovers from around the world know leash-free Carmel Beach as a primo place to visit with dogs. But that’s hardly the only place in Monterey County where your untethered dog can have as much fun and freedom as you do. A number of county parks, as well as several within the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, allow dogs to accompany you off-leash away from developed areas so long as they stay within sight, respond immediately to voice commands and don’t get in the way of horses, cyclists or other hikers. Read more.

Central coasting in winter

The California coast is nothing if not moody in late winter and early spring. Calm, crystal-clear days are interspersed with blustery gray ones, so it’s best to prepare for all possibilities. DogTrekkers who prefer cabin or cottage accommodations to standard hotels and motels will find a staggering selection of dog-friendly options along the Central Coast. Read more.

The National Forest/BLM advantage

State parks and national parks are notoriously unaccommodating when it comes to dogs. With few exceptions, four-paw visitors aren’t allowed outside developed campgrounds or off of paved roads and paths. But on public lands administered by the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as some tracts overseen by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, your pup is welcome to accompany you with only a few important rules.

Leash-free sand and sea

The hands-down, No. 1 place to play in waves and sand in California is Carmel Beach, a powder-white, city-managed, mile-long strand on the outskirts of Carmel-by-the Sea, the chic vacation village on the Monterey Peninsula. DogTrekkers come from around the country to share their good fortune here. A trio of tips: 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.