The John Muir Land Trust manages a diverse portfolio of properties across California’s East Bay Area, and their website is genuinely useful if you’re trying to figure out where to take your dog hiking around Martinez and the surrounding region. Founded in 1989, this nonprofit has spent over three decades protecting critical natural lands and open spaces that would otherwise disappear to development. The trust’s properties range from rolling oak woodlands to canyon systems with creeks and grasslands, each one different enough that you could visit several without feeling like you’re repeating the same walk.

Carr Ranch offers rolling hills and oak woodlands with creek access, while Fernandez Ranch features lush canyons and miles of hiking trails with views across the landscape. The trust manages many other properties beyond these two, each with its own character and trail network. What makes this resource particularly helpful is that you can explore the individual properties on their website before you go, so you’re not showing up hoping there’s a trail suitable for dogs.

The East Bay Area’s landscape tends to be drier and more open than other Bay Area regions, which means these preserved properties are genuinely important for wildlife habitat and for keeping some breathing room in what’s otherwise increasingly developed territory. Your dog gets access to places that actually matter ecologically, not just a mowed park. The trails vary in difficulty and length depending on which property you choose, so whether you’ve got a young pup who needs short walks or an older dog comfortable with longer distances, there’s usually something that works.

The land trust’s website lets you filter by property and see what’s actually available before you drive out. Some properties are more developed for public access than others, so checking ahead saves you from pulling into a parking area only to find limited trail options for dogs.