Featured lakes/rivers
Phoenix Lake
Ross
No matter what kind of shape you are in, there is a hike at Phoenix Lake for you and your dog. This is also popular place for families and cyclists, but everyone seems to have a smile on.
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Lake Lagunitas
Greenbrae
Lake Lagunitas in the Mount Tamalpais watershed is popular with walkers and stroller-pushers due to its wide trail (actually a fire road), flat grade and abundant shade.
Read moreSoulajule Reservoir
Nicasio
Marin Municipal Water District does not actively promote this pretty lake tucked into the hills of North Marin, probably because it is surrounded by private land. Fishermen and hikers are few and no boats or swimming are allowed.
Read moreMore Adventures in Marin County
Marin County: Trails, off-leash beaches, and waterfront patios
Cross the Golden Gate and the whole vibe changes. Sausalito shimmers off the water, redwoods close in around Mill Valley, and somehow five minutes from San Francisco, you’re in the kind of place where dogs are expected at the coffee…
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Dog-friendly waterfall hikes in California: a region-by-region guide
California has waterfalls almost everywhere, but the ones that welcome dogs are a smaller, more specific list.
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Leptospirosis in California dogs: a Bay Area owner’s guide
Leptospirosis is now a core canine vaccine, and Northern California — especially the Bay Area, North Coast, and Sierra foothills — is one of the higher-risk pockets in the country. What the latest peer-reviewed research says about the disease, the…
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Dog-friendly Marin County: trails, beaches, and patios
Why Marin County is a dog's paradise in spring If you haven't taken your dog across the Golden Gate Bridge yet this spring, you're running out of excuses.
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Why Bay Area leash rules aren’t bureaucracy
The Bay Area is arguably the best urban dog-hiking region in America. Here's why its leash rules exist — and why following them protects access.
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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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