In past issues, DogTrekker.com has introduced its dog-passionate readers to a number of waterfalls that are perennial winter favorites. Time to leash up your dog, bundle up and put one of these destinations on your winter radar:
In Marin: If you live in Marin or plan to visit, put Cataract Falls or Fairway Falls on your “must do” list for soon after a downpour. The former, on the north slope of Mount Tamalpais, is probably the best-known waterfall in the Bay Area, and for good reason: it sprouts up to nine silvery cascades, some more than 50 feet high, after a hard rain. The 2.6-mile trail is strenuous and very popular on weekends; bring pick-up bags, drinking water and snacks, if not a full-on picnic. Fairway Falls, on the other hand, is a seasonal cascade accessed out of Novato via a half-mile, kid-friendly trail.
Uvas Canyon: After a good drenching, the Uvas Canyon Waterfall Loop just outside of Morgan Hill is a crowd-pleaser. The easy, mile-long trail takes in a trio of cascades between 15 and 30 feet high. Print out a nature guide before leaving home to appreciate what you’ll see. Want to get aerobic? Turn it into a 5.2-mile trek with about 1,400 feet of elevation gain.