Enter dog-friendly Joaquin Miller Park and you’ll quickly forget you’re minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This 500-acre Oakland park draws hikers, equestrians, bicyclists, joggers, and picnickers from all over the Bay Area, but the trails feel surprisingly quiet even when others are around. The rustic woodland paths wind through redwood groves and oak woodlands, crossing lush creeksides and wet meadows that stay green much of the year. Even when water isn’t flowing, the Woodminster cascade is worth seeing—the rock formation has real character and makes for a good spot to rest mid-hike.

What makes this place special for dog owners is how rare it is: Joaquin Miller is one of the few open space areas in Oakland where dogs are actually allowed throughout the park, though they need to stay on leash on the main trails. This means you can take your dog on the longer woodland routes without backtracking to a small cordoned-off area.

That said, there is a fenced off-leash dog area on park property if your dog needs to run freely for a bit. It’s separated into sections for large and small dogs, which helps keep things manageable. After working through the trails, many people let their dogs have some time here before heading out.

The park elevation changes noticeably as you go deeper in, so those longer hikes will give you a real workout. Bring water—there’s plenty of shade from the redwoods, but on warmer days the trails can still feel exposed in stretches. Spring is particularly nice when the creeks are running and everything’s green. The parking situation can get tight on weekends, so arriving early helps you snag a spot and avoid crowds on the trails.