If you and your pup prefer paved trails to dirt ones, seek out the Truckee River Legacy Trail next time you head up to Lake Tahoe. Your dog will enjoy meet-and-greets with lots of other canines out for morning walks with their people, and you’ll enjoy watching the river roll by. The paved trail hugs the river for 2.5 miles northeast of Truckee River Regional Park, just outside the downtown district. Eventually, it will extend from Donner Memorial State Park to the community of Glenshire. A dirt path runs parallel to the paved one, right next to the water, and you’ll find lots of boulders to sit on while watching the waterworks. It’s OK for your pup to be off leash here, so long as she comes when called and doesn’t bother other dogs or people.
The Truckee River trail is especially nice in the early morning, when the light hits the water and the trail is quiet except for birdsong and the occasional splash of a trout. Dogs seem to love the dirt path best — the smells along the riverbank keep noses busy the entire way. In warmer months, many pups wade into the shallows for a drink or a quick cool-down, and the gentle current here is safe for most dogs. Just watch for fishermen casting from the banks, and give them a wide berth.
For riverside trails, it’s hard to top Sacramento’s 32-mile American River Parkway. The shady greenbelt and bike trail that runs through it meander from the Old Sacramento historic district to Folsom. The parkway is especially enjoyable in spring, when yellow wildflowers color the riverbanks. Of the many points of entry, Old Sacramento is easily the most popular. For a more back-to-nature experience, head east on Highway 50 to enter the parkway upstream at Ancil Hoffman Park or the Nimbus Fish Hatchery (where you’ll also find free parking). In these woodsy sections of the trail, coyotes, deer and wild turkeys are sometimes spotted. Be forewarned that lots of cyclists use the parkway, and that leash laws are rigorously enforced.
A few practical notes for the American River Parkway: water fountains with dog bowls are spaced along the trail, but not so frequently that you can skip bringing your own water on a hot day. The paved path can get crowded on weekends, so keep your dog close and on a short leash to avoid tangles with bikes. Some sections near the river allow bank access where your dog can wade in — look for the sandy clearings between the willows. And if you’re visiting in summer, stick to morning or evening outings, as the pavement heats up and the valley sun can be intense by midday.
