Featured water fun
Baltimore Canyon Open Space
Larkspur
Marin County Parks Open Space Leash Policy: Dogs on leash are welcome to enjoy trails. Dogs are allowed off-leash under strict voice control on fire protection roads. Please follow posted rules.
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Bolinas Beach
Marshall
Bolinas Beach is an off-leash beach that can be hard to find, as residents of Bolinas do not openly court visitors and regularly remove road signs.
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Chicken Ranch Beach
Point Reyes Station
Chicken Ranch Beach, located in Point Reyes Station, Marin County, California Coast, is a picturesque destination offering access to Tomales Bay.
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China Camp State Park
San Rafael
China Camp State Park is located along the shores of San Pablo Bay, near San Rafael, California. The park encompasses 1,640 acres on the San Pedro Peninsula, which extends out into the Bay, approximately 15 miles north of San Francisco.
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Dillon Beach: A adventure
Marshall
When planning a trip to Dillon Beach, always double-check the latest off-leash rules. While DogTrekker provides regular updates, ensure the area still allows voice control for your dog before letting them off the leash.
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Limantour Beach
Point Reyes Station
Please note: leashed dogs are allowed on the southeast end of this beach. Dogs are not permitted to the northwest as this area is a protected habitat for harbor seals and the endangered snowy plover.
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Marin Headlands
Sausalito
You've seen the views a million times in photographs, but if you haven't soaked them up in person, well...don't forget your camera!
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Miller Boat Launch
Marshall
Miller Boat Launch is a very popular four acre site on the east side of Tomales Bay, a few miles north of Marshall.
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Muir Beach
Muir Beach
Muir Beach, located just 16 miles north of San Francisco, offers a peaceful escape from city life, with its rugged coastline and serene atmosphere. For dog lovers, the good news is that a portion of Muir Beach is dog-friendly.
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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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Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes Station
Point Reyes National Seashore is a 71,000-acre preserve on a distinctive, triangle-shaped peninsula north of San Francisco in Marin County.
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Santa Maria Beach
Point Reyes Station
Santa Maria Beach, located in Point Reyes National Seashore, is a serene coastal gem on Drakes Bay.
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Stinson Beach and Upton’s
Stinson Beach
Parking at Upton's Beach from Stinson Beach is near the southern end of the strand, which is owned by the federal government.
Read moreOther water fun
101 Surf Sports
San Rafael
Located in the vibrant city of San Rafael, 101 Surf Sports is a haven for water enthusiasts and their furry companions in the picturesque Marin County of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read moreAgate Beach
Bolinas
Agate Beach, a 6.6-acre coastal gem near Bolinas in Marin County, California, beckons water enthusiasts with its nearly two miles of ocean shoreline accessible at low tide.
Read moreKehoe Beach
Inverness
A half-mile walk alongside a marsh and over a series of sand dunes takes you to the northern end of Kehoe Beach. Once at the beach, turn left to explore a stream meandering its way into the Pacific Ocean.
Read moreLake 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 moreRodeo Beach
Mill Valley
Rodeo Beach in Mill Valley, Marin County, along the California Coast, is a dog-friendly destination that welcomes visitors of all ages.
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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