Things to do Blog
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®!
3 dog-friendly California lakes to visit this spring
Something about spring in California pulls you lakeside. Maybe it's the way the Sierra foothills turn gold-green after the last rain, or the fact that your dog…
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Now booking: Wild Blue Dogs’ paw-some fall camp
Wild Blue Dogs Fall Camp is a six-night, all-inclusive retreat on 33 acres at Lake Tahoe. Professional trainers lead agility, nose work, paddleboarding, and 100-plus activities, while registration fees support canine cancer research. Early bird pricing ends April 30.
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Make Apple Hill a dog-friendly tradition
El Dorado County's Apple Hill region has over 50 family-owned farms, ranches and wineries that welcome leashed dogs. Visit in fall for fresh cider, pie and u-pick orchards, or anytime for wine tasting with scenic vineyard views.
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Just a few rooms left for Pup Palooza!
Little River Inn hosts Pup Palooza, a lively spring celebration benefiting the Mendocino Coast Humane Society. Dog painting, wine tasting, training workshops, and costume contests fill the day, and lodging packages make it easy to stay the full weekend.
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The Stanford Inn: Eco-minded, perfect for pups
The Stanford Inn by the Sea on the Mendocino coast is a dog-friendly gem run by a family of animal lovers. Gorgeous grounds, plant-based dining, and ocean views make it a top pick for pups.
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Find your oasis in dog-friendly Greater Palm Springs
Greater Palm Springs rolls out the welcome mat for dogs with pet-friendly patios, luxury hotel stays, and outdoor adventures. From craft cocktails at Boozehounds to off-leash romps at Palm Springs Dog Park, this desert destination has something for every pup.
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California’s best dog-friendly resorts
Resorts are different from hotels. A hotel is somewhere you sleep between activities. A resort is the activity — grounds you can walk for an hour, restaurants and bars on the property, water access, real space for a dog to…
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Where to play in the snow with your dog
California’s SNO-Park system is the best-kept winter secret for dog owners. They are state-managed parking areas at trailheads where you can pull off the highway, park in a lot that actually gets plowed, and walk straight into the snow with…
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Idyllwild with your dog: a complete mountain-town weekend guide
Idyllwild is the rare California mountain town where the entire community operates as if dogs are part of the deal. The lodging is dog-friendly, the restaurants have proper dog-friendly patios instead of one bench out back, the trails out of…
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Sheepdog trials in California: Brilliant dogs, bewildered sheep
Sheepdog trials test outrun, fetch, drive, shed, and pen on a scored 100-point course. California hosts a deep trial tradition, and the USBCHA National Finals return to Alturas in 2026. Expect brilliant Border Collies and deeply unimpressed sheep.
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A dog’s spring bucket list for the SF Peninsula
Spring on the San Francisco Peninsula means Mori Point bluffs, Fitzgerald tide pools, Montara Mountain climbs, Half Moon Bay patios, Windy Hill wildflowers, and a Pescadero overnight at Costanoa. Six dog-friendly outings before the June fog rolls back in.
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in the Central Valley
California’s Central Valley stretches more than 400 miles through the heart of the state, and its flat terrain and extensive paved trail systems make it one of the most accessible regions for visitors with mobility challenges. From the shaded riverfront…
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Wine Country
California Wine Country — spanning the rolling vineyards of Napa and Sonoma counties — offers some of the most scenic paved trails in the state, and many of them welcome leashed dogs. Whether navigating by wheelchair, pushing a stroller, or…
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Shasta Cascade
California’s Shasta Cascade region — a rugged landscape of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and thundering waterfalls — might seem like territory reserved for the most agile hikers. But tucked among the towering pines and wild rivers, we’ve found a collection…
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails on the North Coast
California’s North Coast is one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in the state — towering redwoods, rugged bluffs, and quiet estuaries that feel a world away from the bustle of the Bay Area. For visitors with mobility challenges…
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails on the Central Coast
California’s Central Coast stretches from Santa Cruz to Ventura, encompassing some of the most dramatic coastline in the state. For travelers with mobility challenges — and their loyal four-legged companions — this region offers a surprising number of paved paths…
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Gold Country
Gold Country is best known for its Gold Rush history, but this stretch of the Sierra Nevada foothills also holds some of California’s most rewarding accessible trails — places where handlers with mobility needs and their dogs can explore paved…
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The dog parks worth driving to in Orange County
Orange County has a dog park problem, but it’s the good kind: too many solid options and not enough weekends. The county stretches from beach towns to inland suburbs, and the dog parks reflect that range. Some are sandy and…
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Best dog-friendly trails in California
California has more dog-friendly trails than any reasonable person could hike in a lifetime. We've narrowed it down to ten picks that deliver the best combination of scenery, dog access, and that post-hike feeling of having actually done something with…
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A Greater Palm Springs dog-friendly itinerary for four-legged fun
A dog-friendly day-and-night itinerary for Greater Palm Springs — morning trails at Whitewater or Homme/Adams, El Paseo strolling, Moorten Botanical Garden, pool-side afternoons, and patio dinners at Boozehounds or Jake's. Plus ideas to stretch it into a full weekend.
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Four-legged fun: A dog-friendly itinerary
A three-day dog-friendly Greater Palm Springs itinerary across the nine-city region. Trail mornings at Homestead and Whitewater, afternoons on El Paseo, breweries and patios, plus desert-travel tips for keeping your pup safe in the sun.
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Hit the road for Sacramento, the ultimate dog-friendly basecamp
Sacramento's central location makes it a perfect launchpad for Northern California adventures with your dog. Riverfront strolls, dog-welcoming patios, plus easy day trips through Gold Country, Amador and El Dorado wineries, and the High Sierra from a single capital-city basecamp.
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GOCAL is your dog-friendly gateway to SoCal
Greater Ontario California — GOCAL — is an under-the-radar dog-friendly gateway to SoCal. About 45 minutes east of Los Angeles, the region pairs Inland Empire trails, outdoor shopping at Victoria Gardens, and year-round patio dining in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga…
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Dog-friendly campsites in northern California
A roundup of exceptional dog-friendly campgrounds across Northern California, from spacious Gerle Creek Reservoir sites to wildflower-rich Woods Lake near Carson Pass, secluded Kidd Lake, coastal MacKerricher State Park, and the redwood groves of Pfeiffer Big Sur.
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