Your dog may not be able to paddle her own canoe, but you’ll have a blast paddling for her with an assist from an outfitter who knows how to help water-loving canines and their people have fun. Among our favorite DogTrekker activities is paddling a languidly flowing, 8.5-mile stretch of the Russian River around the dog-friendly, wine-centric town of Healdsburg in Sonoma County.
Russian River Adventures is the go-to outfitter here, providing stable and dog-friendly inflatable canoes for full-day trips on which paddlers can enjoy clear, clean swimming holes and a picnic lunch before catching the shuttle back to town.
On the Mendocino County coast, Catch-A-Canoe & Bicycles Too rents “canine cruisers”—outrigger canoes outfitted with a raised dog deck—for floats on Mendocino County’s Big River estuary.
On the Truckee River, sole outlet for flows from Lake Tahoe, your dog can join you on a two- to three-hour, self-guided float aboard a raft procured from Truckee River Raft Rentals in Tahoe City.
Looking for a simple swimming hole where you can dog-paddle with your four-legged friend? Head for South Yuba River State Park in Nevada County, where you’ll find idyllic swim spots set off by granite boulders perfect for broasting in the sun.
Last updated on January 26, 2024.
