Hiking, parks, gardens Blog
Hiking, Parks and Gardens – can you say happy dog? DogTrekker has you covered with some great stories about the best hikes, parks and gardens for you. Whether you are looking for a quiet stroll through the park or an adventurous hike to a remote location, we have something for everyone. From the great outdoors to urban adventures, we’ve got it all covered. So don’t forget your pup when planning your next adventure – DogTrekker is here to help! Happy trails!
Traveling with a dog in Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach lives up to its reputation as one of California's most dog-friendly cities. Let your pup run free on the 1.5-mile Dog Beach, explore fenced dog runs in Central Park, and dine at pet-welcoming patios.
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Chasing cascades in the Bay Area
Spring rains bring Bay Area waterfalls to life, and many are reachable on dog-friendly trails. From Fairway Falls in Novato to Little Yosemite in Sunol and Cascade Canyon Falls near Fairfax, here are some favorites.
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Up the hill in Placerville with your furry sidekick
Placerville, once known as Hangtown, is now one of Gold Country's most dog-friendly towns. Check into the historic Cary House Hotel, dine on Main Street patios, hike along the American River and explore nearby Apple Hill with your pup.
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Summer fun with your pup in Folsom
Folsom blends Gold Rush history with modern outdoor fun. Stroll dog-friendly Old Town, hike 50-plus miles of paved trails including the Johnny Cash Trail, cool off at Lake Natoma and let your pup run free at Fido Field dog park.
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El Dorado County
El Dorado County is classic Gold Country, with the historic Cary House Hotel in Placerville, dog-friendly wineries along the Adventure Loop and living history events at Marshall Gold Discovery State Park where the Gold Rush began.
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Wine time! Paws up for these Mendo wineries
Mendocino County has nearly four dozen dog-friendly wineries along the Highway 128 and Highway 101 corridors. From laid-back Navarro Vineyards in the Anderson Valley to family-owned tasting rooms in Hopland, wine touring with your pup is easy here.
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Mendocino County ‘hole in one’
The Madrones in Philo, Mendocino County, bundles a tasting room, wood-fired restaurant, wellness spa, and five pet-friendly guest quarters into one Italian-style compound. Next door, The Brambles offers quirky Victorian cabins in the redwoods.
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Gold Country wine trail
The Placer Wine Trail features 20 boutique wineries in the Sierra Foothills near Auburn. Most are family owned and dog-friendly, including Vina Castellano, where pups are welcome in the tasting room, on the patio, and out by the pond.
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Going to the snow? Get a SNO-Park permit first
Planning a snow day with your dog? A California SNO-Park permit gets you access to plowed parking lots at 18 Sierra Nevada locations near prime snow-play areas and ski trails. Day passes are just fifteen dollars.
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Briones Regional Park, Pleasant Hill’s hidden gem
Briones Regional Park near Pleasant Hill offers 6,255 acres of rolling green hills with panoramic views and off-leash trails. Nearby, the 32-mile Iron Horse Regional Trail follows an old rail corridor through charming East Bay towns.
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Lake County dog-friendly campgrounds
Lake County has plenty of dog-friendly campgrounds for summer fun. Private resorts like The Narrows offer full hookups and waterfront access, while Clear Lake State Park has 149 drive-up sites with swimming and hiking nearby.
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Tuolumne County invites visitors to ‘wander freely’
Tuolumne County in Gold Country is the gateway to Yosemite, where leashed dogs can walk paved valley paths. Outside the park, dog-friendly lodging and the lesser-known Hetch Hetchy area, which requires no reservation, make this region well worth the trip.
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Pumpkin patches and wine, oh my!
October is the perfect time to visit the Suisun Valley between Vacaville and Davis. Vineyards blaze with fall color, pumpkin patches are in full swing, and dog-friendly wineries welcome you and your pup for tastings and bocce.
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Silicon Valley through a DogTrekker lens
Silicon Valley hides a wine region in plain sight. The Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail links 34 family-owned wineries near Gilroy, many welcoming dogs. At Kirigin Cellars, bring a tennis ball for fetch between tastings.
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Lodging for furry friends and their families
Concord's newest hotel, the Hampton Inn, offers outstanding dog-friendly service just a mile from Todos Santos Plaza. It joins four other pet-welcoming properties in town, and the free Concord Perro Trail guide maps out dog-friendly restaurants, parks, and tap rooms.
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Greater Ontario, gateway to the SoCal experience
Greater Ontario is a pet-friendly gateway to Southern California adventure. With affordable hotels, free parking and easy access to lakes, deserts, vineyards and the Pacific Ocean, it's the perfect base for exploring SoCal with your dog in any direction.
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Go stroll (safely)
Beat the GOCAL summer heat by walking your dog during cooler morning and evening hours. Ontario Town Square, the Claremont colleges, San Antonio Creek Trail and Haven City Market offer shaded, scenic routes for safe warm-weather strolls.
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Northern California coast trails, Pacifica to Bodega Bay
The Northern California coast between San Francisco and Bodega Bay is one of the best stretches of shoreline in the country to explore with a dog. Bluff trails, wide beaches, hidden coves, working harbors, redwood-shaded ravines that drop straight to…
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Ticks and Lyme disease in California dogs
California reports roughly 1/200th the Lyme cases of New York — and our tick season peaks in fall and winter, not summer. Here's what California-specific CDC data, vet research, and CDPH surveillance actually show, and what it means for protecting…
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Top five off-the-beaten-path dog hikes in Shasta Cascade
Most Shasta Cascade hike lists start and end with Burney Falls, Whiskeytown Falls and Lake Siskiyou Trail. Fine hikes — but not the only ones. Here are five dog-friendly trails from our DogTrekker directory that don’t crowd the Google results…
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Choose Redding. Meet outside the meeting
This summer, choose Redding, where every gathering becomes a memory in the making. Set along the Sacramento River and framed by Northern California’s forests and lakes, Redding offers an unhurried place to connect. Here, the agenda is yours to…
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Effortless day trips and outdoor adventures
Sacramento sits within a short drive of some of California's most iconic activities, including many delightfully dog-friendly options. It’s easy to choose your own adventure here, whether you'd like to taste small-batch wines, hike ruggedly beautiful trails, survey the state's…
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Start your day the local way
In Sacramento, mornings move at an easy pace. Greet the day on the American River Parkway, where dog walkers can wander for miles, or play fetch in a neighborhood park. From there, swing by one of the city’s many coffee…
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California’s best coastal dog-friendly towns
From Mendocino's Victorian headlands to Laguna Beach's gallery-lined streets, California's best coastal towns have quietly reshaped themselves around four-legged visitors. Expect water bowls at storefronts, treats at hotel check-in and patios where dogs are the guests of honor.
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