At Arnold Meadowmont Lodge in Calaveras County, you’ll find a working lodge set at 4,000 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada foothills where dogs are genuinely welcome. The location puts you right in the middle of some serious hiking territory—Calaveras Big Trees State Park with its giant sequoias is minutes away, and the town of Murphys with its wineries and local restaurants sits just down the road.

The lodge itself offers pet-friendly rooms where both you and your dog can settle in comfortably after a day outside. From here, you have direct access to forest trails of varying difficulty, plenty of fishing opportunities, and the kind of quiet mountain scenery that makes you remember why you wanted to get out of the valley in the first place. The elevation keeps things cooler than lower regions, which is nice if you’re traveling with your dog during warmer months.

What makes this a practical base rather than just a pretty spot is the actual layout of the area. You can walk out the door into forest, take a proper hike, then be back in time for dinner. Several local restaurants in Murphys have outdoor seating where dogs can hang out while you eat. The nearby wineries in the foothills tend to be dog-friendly too, which means you’re not stuck entertaining your dog while you enjoy a glass of local wine—they can come along.

The lodge itself has a comfortable, low-key feel—this isn’t a luxury resort, but rather a solid mountain lodge where pets are treated as normal guests rather than tolerated extras. The surrounding landscape genuinely delivers on outdoor time, with trails ranging from easy forest walks to more serious day hikes depending on what you and your dog are up for. Pack water for both of you if you’re heading out during the day; the elevation and dry air mean you’ll go through it faster than you’d expect.