The paddle is the main adventure, but the Mendocino County itinerary extras are just as compelling. A footpath runs from Little River Inn straight into Van Damme State Park—redwoods on one side, surf on the other, no car keys required. Add the flat, walkable miles of the Big River Trail and the shoreline at MacKerricher, and there’s plenty to see and do on dry land.

Here’s a rare travel luxury: walking out of your hotel and directly into a state park. From Little River Inn, a short trail drops you and your dog into Van Damme State Park, where the morning agenda writes itself—a splash in the shallows, a roll on the sand, a leashed loop along the paved roads that thread the campground while the fog decides whether to stay.

When four legs demand more mileage, drive three miles up Highway 1 to the Big River Trail. This old haul road runs 10 level miles beside the Big River Estuary, so you can trace yesterday’s paddling route from shore and let your dog set the pace, nose down the whole way.

Still restless? Push north past Fort Bragg to MacKerricher State Park, where dogs are welcome on select beaches and trails. Estuary, forest and open coast—three landscapes, one short stretch of Highway 1, zero long drives.

Pro tip: When September arrives with its magical light and beautiful weather, you’ll feel like you have the trails to yourselves.