Dog-Friendly Hikes near North Coast

Featured hikes

Arcata Community Forest

Arcata

The Arcata Community Forest, located in Arcata, Humboldt County, on the North Coast, offers a serene escape just minutes from downtown.

Belinda Point

Fort Bragg

This 0.7-mile long trail leads to Belinda Point, as well as a stairway down to a rocky pocket beach.

In 2002, Mendocino Land Trust completed the purchase and transfer of 7,334 acres around Big River to California State Parks. This includes a wonderful haul road that travels about 10 miles east to connect Big River Beach with Mendocino Woodlands State Park.

Bluff Top Sea Ranch Access

The Sea Ranch

Sonoma County Regional Parks manages the Bluff Top Sea Ranch Access Trail, one of six public access trails in The Sea Ranch, a private community located south of Gualala.

Boggs Mountain Demonstration

Middletown

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest is open year-round for public recreation and is frequently used for camping, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The forest is nearly 3,500 acres in southern Lake County, California, about 50 miles inland from the Pacific shoreline.

Brewery Gulch Drive

Mendocino

Brewery Gulch Drive, located in Mendocino County, California, offers a picturesque stroll along the bluffs of Mendocino Bay. This serene trail, following the path of the old Highway 1, provides a tranquil escape for both humans and their furry companions.

City View Trail

Ukiah

City View trail is a dog-friendly hike in Ukiah with views of Ukiah Valley. Dogs are allowed on leash. Find the trailhead to City View Trail in Low Gap Park.

Cooks Beach / Bonham Trail

Gualala

Cooks Beach / Bonham Trail in Gualala, Mendocino County, California, offers a serene escape for outdoor enthusiasts and their furry companions. This picturesque destination boasts two scenic trails that cater to different preferences.

Cow Mountain Recreation Area

Ukiah

Named for the longhorn cattle that once roamed wild, the 52,000-acre Cow Mountain Recreation Area offers a variety of recreational opportunities.

Forest History Trail

Fort Bragg

The Forest History Trail is a moderately easy 4 mile single track trail I is a beautiful, narrow trail that is somewhat hilly but well graded and has benches along the uphill portions for resting.

Gualala Bluff Trail

Gualala

The Gualala Bluff Trail is a beautiful trail created and maintained by volunteers and the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy (RCLC). It affords a wonderful view of the Gualala River Estuary/Lagoon, Gualala Point Park, and the Pacific Ocean.

Gualala Point Regional Park

Gualala

Gualala Point Regional Park is a 195-acre park on the Mendocino-Sonoma County line with sandy beaches, open meadows, coastal forest, a campground, and seasonal fishing on the Gualala River.

Hammond Trail

Arcata

The dog-friendly Hammond Trail is a 5.5 mile multi-use segment of the California Coastal Trail in Humboldt County. Planning, environmental studies, and designs began in the 1970s and the final segment was completed in 2001.

Headwaters Forest Reserve

Eureka

The Headwaters Forest Reserve is 7,472 acres of public land six miles southeast of Eureka.

Hearn Gulch Trail

Gualala

The Hearn Gulch Trail, located in the southern Mendocino Coast's "banana belt," is a must-visit destination for dog owners exploring Gualala, Mendocino County, California Wine Country.

Highland Springs

Lakeport

Highland Springs Recreation Area is a beautiful 3,200-acre watershed managed by Lake County Water Resources. Equestrians and hikers have enjoyed the beauty and rugged terrain for over 50 years. Historically, trails developed by hunters on horseback have existed for over 130 years.

Indian Valley Wildlife Area

Clearlake Oaks

Indian Valley Wildlife Area, located approximately 25 miles west of Williams in Clearlake Oaks, Lake County, California Wine Country, spans around 5,000 acres surrounding the picturesque Indian Valley Reservoir.

Lake Mendocino Recreation Area

Ukiah

In the picturesque hills of Mendocino County, Lake Mendocino Recreation Area offers a serene escape for outdoor enthusiasts and their furry companions.

MacKerricher State Park

Fort Bragg

MacKerricher State Park is more dog-friendly than most California state parks. Leashed dogs are allowed on some beaches and trails.

Mendocino Bay Viewpoint Trail

Mendocino

The Mendocino Bay Viewpoint trail is a short trail that offers fantastic views of the town of Mendocino to the north. This is a great place for picnics, “plein-air” painting, sunset viewing, and getting married.

Mendocino Headlands State Park

Mendocino

Much photographed Mendocino Headlands State Park is one of few state parks to allow dogs on dirt trails.

Myrtle Creek Trail

Crescent City

The Myrtle Creek Trail within Smith River National Recreation Area in Crescent City, Del Norte County, offers a serene escape for outdoor enthusiasts and their furry companions.

Pelican Bluffs Preserve

Point Arena

Pelican Bluffs Preserve and Coastal Trail, a 73-acre sanctuary located south of Point Arena in Mendocino County, California, is a haven for nature enthusiasts and their furry companions.

Perkins-Creek Ridge Trail

Clearlake Oaks

Perkins-Creek Ridge Trail, located in Clearlake Oaks, Lake County, California Wine Country, is a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a dog-friendly hiking experience.

Point Arena Stornetta National

Point Arena

In March 2014 President Obama signed a proclamation to establish the first shoreline addition to the California Coastal National Monument. The Point Arena Stornetta National Monument Unit protects approximately 1,665 acres of a significant and spectacular public lands along the Mendocino coast.

Railbikes on the Noyo

Fort Bragg

Dogs can ride the Railbikes. Photo by the Skunk Train. Sit back, breathe deep, and discover an entirely new way to explore with railbikes on the Noyo.

Redbud Trail

Clearlake Oaks

The Redbud Trail to Cache Creek is a terrific dog-friendly hike. Some up, some down, but nothing too strenuous.

Redwood National and State

Crescent City

These suggested dog-friendly walks are from the Redwood Parks Association in cooperation with Redwood National and State Parks. Myrtle Creek Trail (Smith River NRA) - Trailhead: ~1 mile east of Hiouchi, Calif.

Russian Gulch State Park

Mendocino

Russian Gulch State Park and Beach in Mendocino, Mendocino County, California, offers a picturesque coastal escape where leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners on the sandy shores.

Secret Trail to a Waterfall

Mendocino

This secret trail to a waterfall is an enchanting spot that is only a 20 minute walk off of County Road 409, between Mendocino and Fort Bragg. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet.

Sequoia Park

Eureka

Sequoia Park in Eureka, Humboldt County, along the North Coast, is a beloved community treasure boasting a century of natural beauty. This redwood park offers developed trails, bridges, and roads that make strolling through the majestic redwoods a delightful experience.

Shakota Trail

Ukiah

In Ukiah, Mendocino County, California Wine Country, adventurers can explore the scenic Shakota Trail.

Spring Ranch Trail

Mendocino

Spring Ranch trail is found the northwest corner of Van Damme State Park. This is a very lovely spot, offering spectacular views of the Pacific, and trails that wind above an interesting rocky intertidal shelf.

Walker Ridge – Signal

Clearlake Oaks

This hike is best with a GPS unit, or at least a map and a good sense of direction (and compass).

Arcata Marsh and Wildlife

Arcata

The 307-acre Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary in Humboldt County, North Coast, is a haven for nature enthusiasts and their furry companions. This...

Benbow State Recreation Area

Garberville

The Benbow family, interested in preserving the natural scene around the Hotel and along the river, made efforts to place the land under State protection....

Caspar Uplands Trail

Caspar

The Caspar Uplands trail’s north end is at Caspar State Beach, a much-loved pocket beach offering surfing, snorkeling, and picnicking.

Chamberlain Creek Trail

Willits

The Chamberlain Creek Trail is half way between Fort Bragg and Willits on Hwy 20, in the middle of the Jackson Demonstration State Forest.

Craig’s Creek Trail

Gasquet

(Before 2nd bridge and junction with Douglas ParkRoad/Howland Hill Road) Distance: 3.7 miles Elevation: 200-200 feet Difficulty: Moderate Drive time from Gasquet: 15 minutes Directions: From Gasquet Visitor Center, Take Hwy 199 west 7.2 miles to South Fork Rd.

Dry Lagoon – Humboldt

Trinidad

In the early 1900's Dry Lagoon was drained by early farmers and several types of crops were attempted but none proved economical. Several dairy ranches were established along the shores of Stone Lagoon.

Hare Creek Beach Trail

Fort Bragg

The Hare Creek Beach trail is a very sweet pocket beach owned by Mendocino Land Trust, located at the south end of the City of Fort Bragg.

Haul Road Recreation Trail

Fort Bragg

To access the Haul Road recreation trail, park your car in downtown Fort Bragg near the Pudding Creek Trestle, a 515-foot-long former Union Lumber Company railroad bridge converted to a road in 1949 and to pedestrian and bicycle use in 2007.

Headlands Loop Trail

Caspar

Dogs are allowed on the beach and headland trails west of Highway 1 within Jug Handle State Natural Reserve on the Headlands Loop trail. Dogs are not allowed on the Staircase Trail or areas east of Highway 1.

Jackson Demonstration

Fort Bragg

The Jackson Demonstration State Forest 50,000-acre tract has a long history of industrial logging activity, which began in 1862 and continued under private ownership until the state of California purchased the property in 1947.

King Range National

Arcata

A spectacular meeting of land and sea is certainly the dominant feature of King Range National Conservation Area (NCA). Mountains seem to thrust straight out of the surf; a precipitous rise rarely surpassed on the continental U.S.

Little River Blowhole

Little River

This trail is about 0.5 miles long, to the awesome Little River Blowhole and beyond to the bluff edge.

Lost Coast Headlands

Ferndale

The Lost Coast Headlands are located along the coastal bluffs south of the mouth of the Eel River, approximately 280 miles north of San Francisco, 25 miles south of Eureka, and 6 miles west of Ferndale.

Mendocino National Forest

Upper Lake

The Mendocino National Forest straddles the eastern spur of the Coastal Mountain Range in northwestern California, just a three hour drive north of San Francisco and Sacramento.

Middletown Trailside Nature

Middletown

The Middletown Trailside Nature Preserve offers a serene escape for nature enthusiasts. Spanning over 500 acres of natural landscapes, it features an array of scenic trails that wind through dense forests, open meadows, and alongside babbling brooks.

Navarro Point Trail

Albion

The Navarro Point Trail, a 56-acre preserve managed by the Mendocino Land Trust (MLT), is a must-visit destination in Albion, Mendocino County, California Wine Country.

Navarro River Redwoods

Elk

After winding over rolling hills and through the Anderson Valley, motorists traveling along Highway 128 suddenly enter an eleven-mile-long redwood tunnel to the sea. The redwood forest along the Navarro River is a magnificent sight.

Newport Coastal Trail

Westport

The Newport Coastal Trail in Westport, Mendocino County, California, is a dog-friendly 1.2-mile segment of the renowned California Coastal Trail, overseen by the Mendocino Land Trust.

Noyo Headlands Coastal Trail

Fort Bragg

Bikers, strollers, roller bladers, hikers, runners, families, and dogs on leash are welcome on the Noyo Headlands Coastal Trail, which connects on its north end to MacKerricher State Park and on its south end to the Noyo Harbor and Pomo Bluffs Park.

Peter Douglas Trail

Westport

The Peter Douglas Trail is a 2.3-mile trail offering a wide variety of coastal experiences, including expansive views of Mendocino’s remote and wild “Lost Coast,” deep redwood and Douglas fir forests, and old-growth trees sculpted into bizarre shapes by salty winds.

Plumas-Eureka State Park

Eureka

Plumas-Eureka State Park at Plumas-Eureka State Park. 1.2 miles.

Pomo Bluffs Park

Fort Bragg

Pomo Bluffs Park, located in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California, is a picturesque 25-acre coastal gem that opened its gates to the public in April 2006.

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

Westport

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is located on the southern portion of the Lost Coast and features a rugged coastline with the Lost Coast Trail. The park offers an arresting landscape with canyons, tide pools, waterfalls, and dark sand beaches where visitors can view Roosevelt elk,

Sonoma Coast State Park

Bodega Bay

Seventeen miles of Sonoma County coast with a chain of beaches — dog access varies beach by beach, so check signs at each lot before hitting the sand.

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