Dogs are allowed on the beach and headland trails west of Highway 1 within Jug Handle State Natural Reserve on the Headlands Loop Trail. Dogs are not allowed on the Staircase Trail or areas east of Highway 1, so it’s worth checking the posted maps before you start to stay in the right zone.

The first seven stops of the Ecological Staircase—all west of Highway One—can be walked as a short headlands loop that gives you a real sense of how the landscape transforms as you move inland. At first, lanky Bishop pines loom overhead, creating a canopy that filters the coastal wind. As you continue, you emerge onto a sweep of prairie with views that open up considerably. Then comes the rugged Pacific Coast itself, with the ocean churning below. As you loop back toward the parking area, interpretive signs help you identify windswept grand fir, Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, wax myrtle, and other plants adapted to the first terrace. A self-guided tour of the entire trail is posted online, which is helpful for understanding what you’re seeing.

Just north of the picnic area, you can also walk down steps to the beach if you want to get closer to the water and tide pools. The scenery is genuinely grand up here—the cliffs are impressive and the views stretch for miles on clear days. Keep in mind that the water is rough and cold (here and elsewhere along the North Coast). Swimming is not recommended, and no lifeguards are present, so this is really a place to enjoy the view and explore the shoreline rather than enter the water. Dogs on leash are allowed only west of Highway 1, so if you’re traveling with one, stick to that side of the road. The trail can get muddy after rain, so consider timing your visit accordingly.