Featured hikes
Loch Lomond Recreation Area
Felton
Loch Lomond Recreation Area, located in Felton within the Santa Cruz Mountains of Santa Cruz County along the California Coast, offers a serene escape for outdoor enthusiasts and their furry companions.
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Other hikes
Antonelli Pond
Santa Cruz
Please note: Natural Bridges State Beach, which is also located on Delaware Ave., (on the opposite side of the street from Antonelli Pond), is NOT...
Read moreByrne-Milliron Forest
Santa Cruz
The Land Trust owns and manages this property as a working forest, and takes pride in making it available to its members and the public. The forest is a...
Read moreEmma McCrary Trail
Santa Cruz
Located along the eastern boundary of Pogonip in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, the Emma McCrary Trail offers a picturesque outdoor experience for hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and dogs on leash.
Read moreLand of Medicine Buddha
Soquel
Land of Medicine Buddha is located on 108 acres of ancient redwood groves and sunny oak meadows; it's a perfect place to allow the serenity and magic to wash away your cares and woes.
Read morePogonip Trail
Santa Cruz
Ten minutes from downtown Santa Cruz, Pogonip Trail offers a serene escape within the city limits. Spanning 640 acres and boasting 8 miles of trails, this lush city greenbelt provides a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and their furry companions.
Read moreRoyal Oaks Park
Watsonville
Located in north Monterey County, Royal Oaks Park is the oldest park in the Monterey County Parks system.
Read moreSeacliff Center Trailer Park
Aptos
Located just a short stroll from beautiful Seacliff State Beach, theHistoric Concrete Boat Fishing Pierand surfing. Conveniently locatednear fine restaurants, major shopping (Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center)and the picturesque beach town of Aptos.
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Central Coast nesting season: a dog owner’s calendar
Month-by-month guide to Central Coast beach closures for snowy plover nesting, plus dog-friendly beaches that stay open March through September.
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Ticks and Lyme disease in California dogs
California reports roughly 1/200th the Lyme cases of New York — and our tick season peaks in fall and winter, not summer. Here's what California-specific CDC data, vet research, and CDPH surveillance actually show, and what it means for protecting…
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Dog-friendly Bay Area spring getaways under 2 hours
Five spring dog-friendly escapes under two hours from San Francisco or Oakland: Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, Healdsburg and the Russian River, Calistoga and upper Napa, Bodega Bay and the Sonoma Coast, and Santa Cruz on the edge of Monterey…
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Dog-friendly breweries in California: your spring patio season guide
Spring patio season is here, and California has more than 350 dog-friendly breweries across the state. From Lagunitas in Petaluma to Firestone Walker in Paso Robles and Cool Beerwerks in Gold Country, here is where to start your paws-and-pints tour.
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Dog-friendly Santa Cruz: spring guide to beaches, trails, patios
Santa Cruz in April delivers off-leash beaches like Its Beach, greenbelt trails through Pogonip, walkable coastal paths, and dozens of dog-friendly patios and hotels. It is an easy weekend from the Bay Area before the summer crowds arrive.
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ADA accessible dog-friendly trails on the Central Coast
California’s Central Coast stretches from Santa Cruz to Ventura, encompassing some of the most dramatic coastline in the state. For travelers with mobility challenges — and their loyal four-legged companions — this region offers a surprising number of paved paths…
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