Few experiences anywhere let you paddle in a sea cave with your dog aboard—and this one launches from Van Damme beach, just minutes from the Little River Inn. A local guide leads you beneath towering cliffs and into protected coves, with incredible views at every turn. Book the Water Dog Package at least three days ahead so the inn can confirm your adventure.
There’s paddling, and then there’s paddling into a sea cave while your dog rides bow-first like a furry figurehead. This guided kayak tour (arranged through Little River Inn) launches from Van Damme beach just below the property and traces one of the most dramatic stretches of the Mendocino coastline. Your guide reads the swell and leads the way beneath sculpted cliffs, through kelp gardens and into the sheltered coves and caves that make this shoreline famous. The pace is unhurried, the setting is wild and the memories—your dog’s ears flying as a swell lifts the kayak—are permanent.
Because the ocean sets the schedule here, tours run when conditions allow. The inn asks for at least three days’ notice to coordinate with their local kayak outfitter and verify availability, weather and tides, so it’s best to build the adventure into your reservation from the start. This tour comes bundled in the inn’s Water Dog Package, along with a two-night stay and dinner voucher.
Pro tip: mornings on the Mendocino coast tend toward calm and glassy—ideal for first-time sea dogs. Pack a towel for the ride home; a soggy, satisfied dog is the mark of a day well spent.
