Schabarum Regional Park in Rowland Heights sprawls across 575 acres of genuine open space—the kind of place where you can actually get away from the strip malls and feel like you’ve left the city. About 75 acres are actively developed for sports and recreation, but what makes it worth the drive with your dog is everything else: the trails wind through natural chaparral and oak woodlands that feel surprisingly wild for Los Angeles County.

Leashed dogs are welcome, and there’s real hiking here, not just loop walks around a parking lot. The park has several trail options ranging from easy to moderate, so you can pick something that matches your dog’s fitness level. The newer “Life Trail” exercise area gives you a structured option if that appeals to you, but the draw for most dog owners is probably the blue-line stream corridor—a federally protected waterway that cuts through the park. It’s shaded, usually has water available, and breaks up the chaparral hiking nicely.

The developed portion has picnic areas if you want to make an afternoon of it, plus tennis courts and soccer fields if you’re bringing the whole family. There’s youth camping too, so it’s the kind of park that can accommodate different types of visits. Parking is straightforward, and the facilities are well-maintained without feeling overdone or too manicured.

Come in spring or fall when the heat isn’t brutal—summer here gets genuinely hot, which matters when you’ve got a dog on leash. If you’re hiking in summer, get there early and bring more water than you think you’ll need. The park gets crowded on weekends but midweek visits are usually mellow. Rowland Heights isn’t the most scenic part of LA, but once you’re on those trails, you won’t really care.