Skip to content Skip to content

Hiking, parks, gardens

Hiking, parks, gardens

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!

Explorer Cabins, a dog-friendly lodging in Fish Camp, California

You, your dog and Yosemite: Pet-friendly Tenaya Lodge

If you enjoy adventuring with your dog and have always wanted to experience Yosemite National Park, then Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is for you.

Read more
Dog-friendly California destination, photo courtesy of Yosemite Mariposa County

Ruff-ing it in Yosemite National Park

Is Yosemite dog-friendly? That’s one of the questions most asked by DogTrekker readers. The answer depends on how “Yosemite” is defined.

Read more
(C) DANNY WARREN

Ready to hike? We’ve already done the digging!

Yosemite is home to a number of dog-friendly trails. Leashed dogs are allowed at picturesque Yosemite destinations including

Read more
Tenaya Lodge Explorer Cabin.

Headed for Yosemite? You lucky dog!

In Yosemite, you’ll embark on a getaway you and your little buddy will never forget. Together, you can explore the wonders of the Sierra region at a full-service resort that offers 75 acres of outdoor recreation and accommodations.

Read more
Image from Four-paw pet-friendly Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite on DogTrekker

Four-paw pet-friendly Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite

Anybody who has ever traveled with their canine companion knows that some accommodations are more dog-friendly than others. At Tenaya Lodge, you can fetch a trip you’ll both enjoy. If you like adventuring with your dog and have always…

Read more
the dog is standing by the waterfall. Jack Russell Terrier in nature. Healthy lifestyle

Fall for these dog-friendly waterfalls

Yes, we had a dry January, but the big storms in late December filled lakes and streams and created a hefty Sierra snowpack. The payoff: Waterfall season! Here are some late winter/early spring hikes with watery rewards at the end…

Read more
Image from Vacationing at Benton Hot Springs on DogTrekker

Vacationing at Benton Hot Springs

In September 2021 we stayed at Benton Hot Springs in Mono County CA for our 25th wedding anniversary. Highlights include traveling through Yosemite, finding petroglyphs, hiking and just soaking up the high desert beauty.

Read more
Go California snow dogs!

Your pup-friendly guide to California snow season

Here in California, 2023 kicked off with a flurry of snowfall and storms. That means packed ski resorts and endless winter activities for families and their four-legged friends.

Read more
Image from Tenaya Lodge with the kids on DogTrekker

Tenaya Lodge with the kids

Not surprisingly, a place as big as Yosemite is home to plenty of outdoor and indoor activities for children of all ages. Of course, there’s the seemingly endless natural beauty

Read more
Leave Only Paw Prints when you visit Yosemite.

Leave Only Paw Prints® when visiting Yosemite

The Redwoods in Yosemite and Tenaya at Yosemite, featuring Tenaya Lodge and Explorer Cabins, are members of the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMCTB), the destination marketing organization for Mariposa County.

Read more
Maya and Roxanne at AutoCamp Yosemite.

In Yosemite, overnight at these dog-friendly Mariposa properties

Mariposa County, home to Yosemite National Park, is often known as the “Mother of Counties.” This historic segment of California was one of the original counties established after statehood in 1850.

Read more
Lower Falls. Photo by Barna Tanko_Dreamstime.com.

Furry friends love Lower Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in North America and the sixth tallest in the world. DogTrekkers are especially fond of Lower Yosemite Falls, which is easily accessible for humans and hounds via a one-mile loop trail.

Read more
Sunrise over Yosemite Valley.

Dog-friendly beauty at Bridalveil Fall

Bridalveil Fall is beautiful to behold and famously photo-friendly in the spring. The sound of water splashing and crashing against rocks creates an immersive experience as you approach the waterfall.

Read more
Image from The Gold Country, an amazing American road trip on DogTrekker

The Gold Country, an amazing American road trip

California’s Gold Country, home to the Gold Rush in 1849, combines history, nature, authentic American West small towns, a sensational culinary scene, wine, microbreweries, and majestic scenery in a captivating way that no other California region rivals. The gold…

Read more
Dragoon Gulch Trail, Sonora.

Dog-friendly downtown Sonora: Gold Country gateway to Yosemite

The modern present meets a Gold Rush past in downtown Sonora, recognized by Sunset for its shopping, dining and headline-making hotels.

Read more
Yosemite National Bark!

Fall in Yosemite: Captivating color and wagging tails welcome

Few places are prettier than Yosemite in fall. Blue skies and mild temperatures make for pleasant outdoor activities, while vast stands of maples and dogwoods put on a colorful show. Traffic is lighter during the fall season, and hotels…

Read more
Eddie at the Redwoods.

Base yourself at the redwoods in Yosemite

Sit, play and stay longer at The Redwoods in Yosemite, which offers a free seventh night when you settle in for a week. Located inside Yosemite National Park,

Read more
Jagger DWagger at the Capitol.

Top five dog-friendly activities in Sacramento

With history and fun in Old Sacramento to o expansive parks and delicious restaurants with patios, Sacramento has great options for you and your pup year-round.

Read more
Image from This Earth Day, DogTrekker spotlights stewardship on DogTrekker

This Earth Day, DogTrekker spotlights stewardship

Sustainability helped spark DogTrekker.com. Before launching the website, around Earth Day 2011, we sent a newsletter called “Leave Only Pawprints.”

Read more
Convict Lake, a dog-friendly hiking trail in Mammoth Lakes, California

The ultimate doggie treat: A Mammoth Lakes adventure

Mammoth Lakes is pure dog paradise, from the sandy shores of Horseshoe Lake to scenic trails through lodgepole pine forests. Pack up the dog bowl and treat your pup to the ultimate Eastern Sierra adventure.

Read more
Cascade Falls, Lake Tahoe. Previous context entry by Mike Fontenot .

Enter the DogTrekker California photo contest and capture stunning shots of your dog

DogTrekker's California Photo Contest invites you to photograph your dog at the state's most scenic spots. From Big Sur cliffs and Yosemite trails to San Francisco landmarks, here are top locations for stunning pup portraits. Are you a proud dog…

Read more
Image from Arch in from the west (Mariposa County, west entrance) on DogTrekker

Arch in from the west (Mariposa County, west entrance)

Highway 140 through Mariposa County leads to Yosemite's west entrance with plenty of dog-friendly fun along the way. Wineries, bakeries, riverside trails and lodging from rustic Yosemite Bug to the riverside View Lodge make this route worth savoring.

Read more
Image from Madera county (south/wawona) entrance on DogTrekker

Madera county (south/wawona) entrance

The Highway 41 corridor through Madera County leads to Yosemite's south entrance, passing dog-friendly gems like Queen's Inn with its adjacent winery in Oakhurst, the quirky town of Coarsegold, Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp and recreation-rich Bass Lake.

Read more
Sunrise on Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

Leave Only Paw Prints®

The Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau partners with DogTrekker on our Leave Only Paw Prints® stewardship values. What those values mean practically, which Yosemite trails welcome dogs, and how to plan a low-impact visit to one of the world's great…

Read more

© 2026 DogTrekker.com

Design and development by North and Vine

DogTrekker
Your dog travel guide
Privacy Policy