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Our DogTrekker writers know dog-friendly California like your pup knows the treat jar—intimately and enthusiastically. Whether sniffing out beaches in San Diego, dog-friendly wineries in Sonoma, hiking trails in the Sierra, or cozy mountain cabins near Big Bear Lake, we're your trusted guides for dog travel. From bustling cities to hidden wilderness gems, we fetch reliable tips, insights, and local secrets to make traveling with your four-legged friend effortless. Trust DogTrekker to lead you and your pup to tail-wagging dog travel adventures across dog-friendly California.

Its Beach, a dog-friendly beach in Santa Cruz, California

Dog-friendly Santa Cruz: spring guide to beaches, trails, patios

Santa Cruz in April delivers off-leash beaches like Its Beach, greenbelt trails through Pogonip, walkable coastal paths, and dozens of dog-friendly patios and hotels. It is an easy weekend from the Bay Area before the summer crowds arrive.

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Flavors of the Peninsula dog on chair

Flavors of the Peninsula, dog by your side

The San Francisco Peninsula’s Flavors of the Peninsula runs April 23 through May 3, 2026, inviting dog parents to explore a region defined by coastal views, neighborhood gems and global cuisine. From Half Moon Bay to bayside communities, participating restaurants…

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WOMAN WITH DOG ON HER LAP SIT ON TREE TRUNK AT BEACH CARMEL BY THE SEA

4 dog-friendly Mother’s Day getaways in California

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and if the most important lady in your life also happens to be a dog mom, we’ve got the perfect excuse to plan a getaway where everyone — two legs and four…

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Harbor Cove Beach, a dog-friendly beach in Ventura, California

Dog-friendly Ojai and Ventura: a Southern California escape

Ojai and Ventura: two dog-friendly towns, one unforgettable trip The Ojai Valley and the coastal city of Ventura together make one of the most appealing dog-friendly getaways in Southern California. Just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles, these two destinations…

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Huntington Dog Beach, a dog-friendly dog park in Orange County, California

Dog-friendly Laguna Beach and the Orange County coast

The Orange County coast is a dog-friendly paradise The Orange County coastline — stretching from Huntington Beach through Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point — is one of the most dog-friendly stretches of coast in Southern California. With dog…

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Kayla cleaning up the beach in Carmel. Dave Kendrick photo.

Dog-friendly Monterey and Carmel: why April is ideal

April on the Monterey Peninsula is one of those rare windows when everything aligns for a dog-friendly getaway. The summer crowds haven’t arrived, the coastal wildflowers are putting on a show, and the fog that blankets the coast later in…

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Two Dogs In Yosemite 1

Accessible dog trails in Yosemite and Eastern Sierra

The Yosemite region and Eastern Sierra offer some of California’s most stunning mountain scenery — and the good news is that several trails in the area are accessible for visitors with mobility challenges who want to bring their dogs along…

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Love Valley Trail — Google Places photo

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in the Central Valley

California’s Central Valley stretches more than 400 miles through the heart of the state, and its flat terrain and extensive paved trail systems make it one of the most accessible regions for visitors with mobility challenges. From the shaded riverfront…

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Dog-friendly California destination, photo courtesy of Sniff & Sniff

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Wine Country

California Wine Country — spanning the rolling vineyards of Napa and Sonoma counties — offers some of the most scenic paved trails in the state, and many of them welcome leashed dogs. Whether navigating by wheelchair, pushing a stroller, or…

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Image from Spring forward at Lake Tahoe on DogTrekker

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe and the High Sierra offer some of the most breathtaking scenery in California, and the good news is that much of it is accessible to visitors of all mobility levels — along with their dogs. We’ve compiled a…

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Great Shasta Rail Trail, a dog-friendly hiking trail in McCloud, California

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Shasta Cascade

California’s Shasta Cascade region — a rugged landscape of volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and thundering waterfalls — might seem like territory reserved for the most agile hikers. But tucked among the towering pines and wild rivers, we’ve found a collection…

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Pismo Cr trail — Google Places photo

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails on the Central Coast

California’s Central Coast stretches from Santa Cruz to Ventura, encompassing some of the most dramatic coastline in the state. For travelers with mobility challenges — and their loyal four-legged companions — this region offers a surprising number of paved paths…

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Image from Paddle with pups in magical Mendocino on DogTrekker

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails on the North Coast

California’s North Coast is one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in the state — towering redwoods, rugged bluffs, and quiet estuaries that feel a world away from the bustle of the Bay Area. For visitors with mobility challenges…

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Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a dog-friendly park in Arnold, California

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in Gold Country

Gold Country is best known for its Gold Rush history, but this stretch of the Sierra Nevada foothills also holds some of California’s most rewarding accessible trails — places where handlers with mobility needs and their dogs can explore paved…

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Wheelchair

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…

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Love Valley Trail — Google Places photo

ADA accessible dog-friendly trails in the Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay Area offers one of the most extensive networks of accessible, dog-friendly trails in California. From the paved waterfront promenades of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to the wide levee paths maintained by the East Bay…

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Amador Cellars, a dog-friendly restaurant in Plymouth, California

Dog-friendly Amador County winery tasting trail

If your idea of California wine country starts and ends with Napa, we need to talk. About 90 minutes east of Sacramento, Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley is home to some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in the state — and…

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Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a dog-friendly park in Arnold, California

Dog-friendly Gold Country: exploring the Sierra foothills in April

There’s a sweet spot in the California calendar when Gold Country is at its absolute best — and we’re in it right now. The foothills are green, the wildflowers are putting on a show along Highway 49, and the historic…

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