Inland Empire
The Inland Empire spans San Bernardino and Riverside counties, offering dog-friendly landscapes from mountain forests to desert trails and wine country. Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino Mountains provide cool-weather hiking, pet-friendly cabins, and scenic lakeside walks.
At lower elevations, Riverside County regional parks and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument offer miles of leash-friendly trails. Temecula Valley wine country features wineries with dog-friendly outdoor tasting, and the region is a popular gateway to Joshua Tree National Park where leashed dogs can explore campgrounds and paved trails.
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Stories about Inland Empire
Splash hits: Summer delights for water-loving dogs
The dog days of summer are here! Got a pup who loves the water? California's rivers, lakes and coastal landscapes welcome four-legged family members with paw-some adventures.
Dive into summer at Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake boasts 300 days of sunshine and dark nights perfect for stargazing, but that's just the start. This mountain jewel in the San Bernardino National Forest also has great fishing, boating and water activities, hiking and biking trails, and 22 miles of tranquil
26 dog-friendly cabins in Big Bear
26 dog-friendly cabins across Big Bear and the San Bernardino Mountains, from Big Bear Lake to Yermo, drawn from DogTrekker's directory of vetted pet-welcoming properties.
Pups for the planet: leaving only paw prints
This Earth Day, DogTrekker is celebrating something worth wagging about: our community. A recent reader survey shows 99% of you pack it in and pack it out, and 95% leash up in sensitive habitats. Now, that’s a pack worth howling about! Our Leave Only Paw
Heatstroke and hot pavement: California dog summer safety
Heatstroke kills 50–64% of affected dogs, and 3 out of 4 cases are caused by exercise — not hot weather alone. Here's what California dog owners need to know about hot pavement, warning signs, emergency cooling, and the state law that lets you break a
ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Southern California
Southern California's diverse landscape -- from mountain lakes to desert oases to coastal bluffs -- offers a surprising number of paved and accessible trails where handlers with mobility needs and their dogs can enjoy the outdoors together. Whether we're talking about a boardwalk through a
Temecula wine country: wineries that actually welcome dogs
Temecula's wine country has over 40 wineries, but "dog-friendly" can mean anything from "we'll tolerate it" to "we have a water bowl with your dog's name on it." The wineries below actually welcome dogs — not as an afterthought, but as part of how they
Dog-friendly camping in the Inland Empire
The Inland Empire doesn't get much camping love in the usual roundups, which is a mistake. The San Bernardino Mountains sit 90 minutes from most of Southern California, and the range from lakeside USFS campgrounds to free dispersed camping means there's an option for every
Your mountain moment is waiting in Big Bear Lake
The trails are thawing, the lake is shimmering and Big Bear Lake is officially open for adventure. Spring and summer usher in the best of alpine life—blooming meadows, refreshing breezes and endless miles of dog-friendly paths begging to be explored. Pull up a patio chair,
New year, new adventures in Greater Palm Springs
Greater Palm Springs pairs dog-friendly desert hikes with sun-soaked patios and pet-welcoming hotels. Start the morning on the Bump and Grind Trail, stroll midcentury neighborhoods in the afternoon, then wind down at a brewery where your dog is always welcome.
Furry friend(ly) dining: Enjoy Greater Palm Springs dog-friendly restaurants
Greater Palm Springs is packed with dog-friendly patios where tails wag as happily as forks. From Boozehounds' dedicated dog menu to relaxed brunch spots with sunny sidewalk seating, this desert oasis makes dining with your four-legged foodie effortless.
Spring forward at Lake Tahoe
Spring is Tahoe's overlooked shoulder season, and that's exactly why it works so well with a dog. Snow melts off the lower trails, crowds vanish, and the lake shifts through shades of blue while meltwater-fed rivers run fast through pine forests.