It's Adventure Time! Northern California Hikes with Fido

Jun 19

‘Tis the season…to go hiking!

Exploring the region you live in is so exciting. You can learn local history, understand the ecology, and learn about sustainability while on your local trails. But it is not always easy to find which trails you can take your dog on. So we decided to help you find some local hikes for you and Fido to explore! Do you want a cool salty sea breeze? What about the fresh, crisp air of a Redwood forest? Maybe you’re interested in exploring the Sierra Nevadas? Or you just want an easy afternoon in the Bay Area? Below are some local Bay Area trails that are dog friendly. Take your choice from mountain lakes to beach-side strolls; as close as in our backyard in the Bay Area, tp spanning all the way to Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Hike

The Glen Alpine Trail is one of the most exciting trails to visit in the Tahoe area, because it is packed full of surprises. This trail is located near the famous Emerald Bay. While on the trail you’ll find waterfalls, local history, and beautiful mountain scenery. Be sure to bring a local map so you can explore some of the nearby waterholes, and cool of with your dog.

Type of Trail: Out and Back

Distance: Total 6.8 miles, but it’s up to you how far you want to explore.

Level: Moderate

Dogability: On leash. Consider bringing booties as the farther you go on the trail the rockier it gets. Bring lots of water or a water filter since part of the trail is unshaded.

Beach Hike

The Wolf Ridge Trail in the Marin Headlands connects to the Coastal Trail Loop, which is one of the most beautiful beach hikes in the Bay Area. AND it’s dog friendly! If you haven’t been to the Marin Headlands, it can be pretty easy to get lost. We highly recommend stopping by the Visitor Center to pick up a park and trail map. This hike will start on the Miwok Trail entrance, off of Bunker Road. It will connect to the Wolf Ridge Trail, then to the Coast Trail Loop. For a shorter hike, you could just start at the Coastal Trail Loop entrance.

Wolf Ridge Trail, Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA

Type: Loop

Distance: 5.7 miles

Level: Easy to Moderate

Dogability: On leash, but after the hike you can stop by Rodeo Beach for some off leash beach fun!

Redwood Hike

Did you know you don’t have to drive all the way to Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay to get to some Redwoods? There is a third growth Redwood Grove in Oakland at the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park (Yes, in the East Bay!) Because it is part of our favorite East Bay Regional Parks District, that also means it’s a dog friendly location.

There are plenty of trails within the park, but if you are looking to spend a few hours there it’s worth it to check out a map and make a nice loop route with the connecting trails. The Outbound Collective has created a nice loop by connecting the East Ridge Trail, Phillip Loop, Eucalyptus Trail, Stream Trail, Starflower Trail (where you will get into the heart of the Redwoods), Tres Sendas, and West Ridge Trails. Immersing yourself in a Redwood forest elicits so much calm and a sense of other worldliness, that if you want to spend an entire afternoon here, we wouldn’t blame you!

Redwood Loop Trail

Type: Loop

Distance: 3.35 miles

Level: Moderate

Dogability: On leash

Fully Dog Friendly

Most parks in the Bay Area allow dogs in a limiting sense (i.e. at picnic areas, or on only paved trails). Practically, in a park maintenance perspective, this makes total sense. But, sometimes you just want to go to a place where you don’t have to worry about whether or not your dog is even allowed there. Let us introduce you to the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, in Cupertino, CA. This is an area of over 700 acres, and all trails are dog friendly…I repeat ALL TRAILS are dog friendly! If you haven’t been there, expect to bring water, pack out your dog poop, have a leash, and enjoy some beautiful panoramic views of the Bay Area.

The Fremont Older Space Loop Trail alternates between leading you through shady Oak and Eucalyptus tree pathways, then opening up into grassy hills and fields. When you get to Hunter’s Point, you’ll have a beautiful vista that spans from the San Francisco Bay to the San Jose Valley. This is one of many trails in the park that will offer a reprieve from the urban lifestyle, and beautiful views of our temperate nature.

Distance: 5.6 miles

Level: Intermediate

Dogability: On leash

Let’s Go Hiking!

It sure is exciting and enlightening to know that there are hikes that you AND your dog can enjoy. But before you hit the trails, we would like to remind you to stay safe out there. Always pack enough water for you and your dog, a day pack with snacks, dog treats, sunscreen, and a map of the trail will always be helpful. We previously wrote blogs about dog safety with the heat and with ticks - feel free to refresh on the information here “Tick Season” and here “Heat and Your Dog”.

It is not always the easiest task to find trails that allow dogs. But we’ve curated a regional list of some of the top hikes to take your dog on. Hiking is always a good way to get out there and experience your area. Dog friendly hikes aren’t as elusive as you may think. A quick rule of thumb: State and National Parks often heavily limit dog hiking to paved trails only, but the state and regional forests outside of the big name parks have very free dog hiking rules. Get out there and have some fun exploring! For more dog friendly hikes, that didn’t make the cut of this blog, check out the sources below. And once you head out and explore these places, leave a comment to let us know how it went!