174 dog-friendly beaches in California

Featured beaches

Big River State Beach

Mendocino

Big River State Beach is located on the south side of Mendocino, about 2 miles north of Little River. The west side of the beach is dog-friendly. Access the beach by vehicle from Highway 1, or by trails down the bluffs.

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.

Glass Beach

Fort Bragg

Glass Beach is the well-known southern beach of MacKerricher State Park in Fort Bragg. Dogs on leash are welcome. The beach can be accessed from the south end of Elm Street.

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.

Jug Handle Beach

Fort Bragg

Jug Handle Beach, situated within Jug Handle State Natural Reserve in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, offers a serene coastal retreat for visitors and their furry companions.

Noyo Beach

Fort Bragg

Noyo Beach is a small but popular off-leash dog beach located where the Noyo River meets the Pacific Ocean in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, along the California Coast.

Seaside Beach

Fort Bragg

Seaside Beach is a beautiful and dog-friendly beach located approximately 6 miles north of Fort Bragg. It offers stunning views and ample room for your dog to stretch his legs and run off-leash till he's too tired to move!

Anchor Bay Beach

Anchor Bay

Please note: Anchor Bay Beach is privately owned; accessed via Anchor Bay Campground. Public use of the beach is available. Day use fee: $3 per adult (dogs and kids are free), $5 parking fee, per car.

Caspar Beach

Caspar

Caspar Beach, situated on the stunning California Coast in Mendocino County, is a haven for water enthusiasts and their furry companions.

Cook’s Beach

Gualala

Cook's Beach, located just north of Gualala in Mendocino County along the California Coast, offers a serene retreat for water-loving visitors and their furry companions.

Greenwood Creek State Beach

Elk

Greenwood Creek State Beach, which is west of downtown Elk, offers beach walks and kayaking.

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.

Schooner Gulch State Beach

Point Arena

Schooner Gulch State Beach is one of the Mendocino Coast’s best-kept secrets for dog owners looking to explore rugged, unspoiled California coastline with their four-legged companions. Located three miles south of Point Arena along Highway 1, this 50-acre coastal preserve offers dramatic sea cliffs, secluded

Van Damme State Beach

Little River

Van Damme State Beach, located in the picturesque town of Little River, just 2-3 miles south of Mendocino on the California Coast, offers a serene retreat for water-loving travelers and their furry companions.