Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District manages a network of 10 preserves across Santa Clara County and the peninsula, and dogs are welcome on trails throughout most of them at no cost. All preserves open at dawn and close a half hour after sunset, 365 days a year, which means you’ve got flexibility for morning hikes or late afternoon walks depending on the season.

The rules are straightforward: keep your dog on a maximum 6-foot leash at all times, except at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, which has a marked off-leash area where dogs can run under voice control as long as you keep a leash with you. That’s the only place in the district system where your dog can legally roam without one. Dogs aren’t allowed in any water areas—streams, ponds, or other water features—so stick to the trails themselves.

Your options span everything from Coal Creek, Foothills, Fremont Older, St. Joseph’s Hill, and Thornewood, where dogs can use all trails, to El Sereno, Long Ridge, and Windy Hill, which have designated dog-friendly routes. Sierra Azul limits dogs to the Kennedy-Limekiln Area only. Each preserve offers different terrain and views, so you can rotate through them depending on what kind of walk you’re after—oak woodlands, chaparral, ridge views, or creek access.

One important note: if your dog has an accident on trail, you need to move the waste off the path entirely. It’s part of keeping these spaces nice for everyone.

The District runs docent-led outdoor activities suitable for dogs, which is a good way to meet other people hiking with theirs while learning more about the land. Grab trail brochures and get volunteer information at the Administrative Office, open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., though they’re closed December 24 through January 4.