Over the past 10 years, DogTrekker’s team of veteran writers and editors have crafted more than 2,500 stories about all of the things you can do with your dog in California. Happy DogTrekking! Remember to travel lightly and always Leave Only Paw Prints®!

All aboard a historic train through the redwoods

Dog boarding a Roaring Camp railroad car.

Roaring Camp Railroads. Photo by Visit Santa Cruz.

See California’s towering redwoods from an authentic 19th-century steam train through the Big Trees to the summit of Bear Mountain at Roaring Camp Railroads. Well-behave Read more.

Redwoods, railroads and dogs, oh my!

Skunk Railbikes. Photo by Brendan McGuigan.

Experience classic Mendocino County on the California Western Railroad’s Redwood Route. Dog and family friendly rides on the Skunk Train. Read more.

A pedigreed playground for your pup

Maya hiking at Noyo Headlands Park. Photo by Dave Kendrick.

The active Noyo Harbor fishing village sets an engaging backdrop for a Noyo Harbor Inn stay. Read more.

All Skunk Train experiences

Skunk Railbikes with dog carrier. Photo by Robert Jason Pinoli.

Step back in time for a magical ride through the redwoods on the world-famous Skunk Train. Read more.

Redwoods, railroads and Mendocino County magic

Skunk Train. Photo by Brendan McGuigan.

California Western Railroad lines have wound through majestic Mendocino County redwoods for 135 years. Read more.

Board the storied Skunk Train

Yellow lab with conductor in front of the Skunk Train

Kayla gets ready to board. Photo by Dave Kendrick.

Experience classic Mendocino County on the California Western Railroad’s Redwood Route, a logging-era line established in 1885. Read more.

Activities for every family member at the Stanford Inn

Canoe the Big River. Photo by Catch A Canoe.

With a blufftop location above sparkling Mendocino Bay, the Stanford Inn by the Sea is a convenient home base for adventurers of all ages. Read more.

Open air dog-friendly activities perfect for social distancing

By now, we all know the drill: wash your hands, cover your face in public, maintain six feet of “social distancing” between yourself and anyone else who is not a member Read more.

Hear the lonely whistle blow, watch the plants bloom

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Photo by Jessica Bay.

When visiting Fort Bragg with your dog, there are two activities you won’t want to woof out on. First is Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, a dog-friendly, bluff-top showplace be Read more.

New Training Classes at the East Bay SPCA

The East Bay SPCA has completely revamped their training classes to accommodate the modern needs of the urban or suburban dog while using the most effective, cutting-edge, sci Read more.

East Bay SPCA dog training classes

Brown and white dog on leash does "down" command

Photo by Destiny Wiens.

The East Bay SPCA has completely revamped their training classes to accommodate the modern needs of the urban or suburban dog while using the most effective, cutting-edge, scienti Read more.

Make Apple Hill a dog-friendly tradition

Dachshund with red apple in mouth and chihuahua running on green grass

September and October in El Dorado County means apples and all the good things, from cider to pie, that go with them. Read more.

Stroller-friendly hikes for wheels, feet and paws

baby in stroller on walking path with dog

Photo by Minnie Zhou.

There are thousands of places to hike with kids and dogs in California, but if you’re new to an area, it can be hard to know just where to go, especially if you have tots in a st Read more.

Make it a family affair in Marin

picnic table and wine barrel with decorative pumpkins in from of Marin Country Mart sign

Photo by Marin Country Mart.

Marin County it’s been said, has a larger population of dogs than of children. Whether that’s urban legend or fact, residents are definitely known to dote on their four-legged Read more.

The Benefits of Crate Training

By Chris Pitts, RVT, of Broadway Animal Hospital Crate training is awesome! Puppies and adult dogs alike can really benefit from having a place to call their den. Crate training c Read more.

Tails wag on Big Sur Coast

Big Sur. Photo by Lisha Riabinina.

Take a drive on the scenic California Coast to Big Sur, pulling over at beaches, redwood forests and fun dog-friendly stops that are sure to please both two and four-leggers. Read more.

Rev up in Redding

Sundial Bridge. Photo by Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

Redding (population about 100,000) is the Shasta Cascade region’s largest city, and it’s a great place to make base camp with your four-legged friend. Read more.

Second stop: Hwy 50, Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe

Zephyr Cove. Photo by Ingrid Salmanca.

Of the two primary ways to get to Lake Tahoe from Sacramento (Interstate 80 or Highway 50), 50 is by far the more scenic. Need a rest stop? Read more.

Strap on the snowshoes

Anywhere there’s snow, you can snowshoe. Pick a bluebird day and pack plenty of pep for an excursion to Echo Lakes, southern gateway to Desolation Wilderness and one of the most Read more.

Ride the Tilden Railway with Rufus

Redwood Valley Railroad in Berkeley’s Tilden Regional Park. Photo by David McSpadden (CC).

Kids (and dogs) of all ages visiting Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley are drawn like magnets to the Tilden/Redwood Valley Railway, a miniature train that has been looping around th Read more.