Find California dog-friendly beaches, rivers and lakes blog stories.

DogTrekker dogs LOVE going to the beach! Check out our stories about dog-friendly beaches, rivers and lakes in California. We also have tips and tricks for staying safe while enjoying the salty air and surf! So go ahead, plan that trip – your pup will thank you! Happy trekking! 🐾🐕

Fall Trekking in the SLO Lane

San Luis Obispo County encompasses just about everything California is known for, from mountains to ocean to wine country to laid-back vibe. Sure, you can shoot down from the Bay Area on Interstate 5 and Highway 46, but it’s much more rewarding to take the slow lane (Highway 101) all the way to Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo and beyond. Read more.

Whiskeytown Calls

Haven’t figured out how to use those unused vacation days? We have just the perfect destination. Redding, the last major city on Interstate 5 as you near Mt. Shasta, is the undisputed Trail Capital of California with over 225 miles of trails within 15 miles of its city center. Redding is also the gateway to the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. Few areas managed by the National Park Ser Read more.

The National Forest/BLM Advantage

State parks and national parks are notoriously unaccommodating when it comes to dogs. With few exceptions, four-paw visitors aren’t allowed outside developed campgrounds or off of paved roads and paths. But on public lands administered by the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as some tracts overseen by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, your pup is w Read more.

Leash-free Sand and Sea

The hands-down, No. 1 place to play in waves and sand in California is Carmel Beach, a powder-white, city-managed, mile-long strand on the outskirts of Carmel-by-the Sea, the chic vacation village on the Monterey Peninsula. DogTrekkers come from around the country to share their good fortune here. A trio of tips: Read more.

Hideaways by the Sea

There’s nothing like the non-stop sigh of the sea to instill a meditative state of mind. And in Sonoma County, there are dozens of places where you and your pup can bed down to the sound and sight of the restless Pacific. Closest to the Bay Area is Bodega Bay, just an hour and a half north of San Francisco. Read more.

Hiking hills and Headlands

Tolay Lake Regional Park. Photo by Harminder Dhesi.

Every good bird deserves watching at Bodega Bay, and the 1.2-mile Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail is a great venue for walking your dog while sharpening your identification skills. Read more.

Paws to the Redding paths

Whether you go all out for a strenuous hike or prefer a walk on the mild side, there’s no shortage of DogTrekking options in a region blanketed by national forests and other public lands. Read more.

Paradise for water dogs

DogTrekker.com reader Jan N. alerted us to a secluded public dog-friendly beach that she and her dog Angel discovered on the way home from a camping trip to Lake Tahoe. Read more.

Leash Up for a Fall Trip to Mendocino

Dog in Mendocino village with white house in background

If peace, quiet and scenery are your vacation priorities, you’ll find plenty of all three in big, diverse Mendocino County—especially in September and October, when you’re likely to experience the best weather conditions of the year. For the ultimate in privacy, try a vacation rental like Redwood Majic, a two-bedroom home with fenced yard tucked deep into the forest just a mile f Read more.

Full Day of Fun at Avila Beach

Lisa and her dog, Penny love Avila Beach! Here's what Lisa had to say about their Avila Beach adventures. Read more.

See more on Highway 4

dog stands in shallow water of river bank

Photo by Dayne Topkin.

Highway 4 in Calaveras and Alpine counties is one of our favorite routes for a summer road trip, offering way too many attractions and diversions for a mere weekend. Read more.

Gotta lake it

Mother and daughter with a dog resting on a pier looking at lake

Summertime and the livin’ is easy…as long as you’re on a lake. Heading up to Gold Country, you’ll find lots of places to dip your paws no matter which road you take. Here are some of our favorite splash spots in the Sierra foothills. Read more.

Get your buttes in gear

two beagles in rowboat with Sierra Buttes behind

Cricket and Splash boating on Sardine Lake. Photo by Jessica Bay, @littlehounddog.

The Lakes Basin Recreation Area straddles Plumas and Sierra counties about 70 miles north of Lake Tahoe. It's truly a land of lakes, with more than four dozen pools Read more.

Take a walk on the wave side

DogTrekkers who live inland know they’re never far from Sweatshirt Land. So when the mercury climbs, those in the know leash up their pups and head for the coast, making base camp in unhurried towns like Benicia, Pacifica, Point Reyes Station (gateway to the national seashore) or Half Moon Bay, all of which are well appointed with hiking trails. Our most recent weekend away was to Read more.

Kayla, Director of Barketing

Kayla, DogTrekker's former Director of Barketing

DogTrekker.com wouldn’t be here without Kayla, our “research Lab,” director of barketing and chief operating dog since the website was launched in 2011. But yes, our primary inspiration has left us and is now at the Rainbow Bridge with all the four-legged buddies who left before her. Kayla and Lola at Lake Lagunitas, Marin County Kayla is no longer in pain and can once again r Read more.

Go with the rivers’ flow

Dog wearing red life vest asleep in kayak

Photo by Elizabeth Krupka.

Your dog may not be able to paddle her own canoe, but you’ll have a blast paddling for her with an assist from an outfitter who knows how to help water-loving canines and their people have fun. Read more.

More Wet Ways to Play

golden retriever on stand up paddleboard

Photo by @thatstokedgolden

Stand-Up Paddleboarding, SUP for short, is an emerging sport with Hawaiian heritage that’s caught on big all up and down California. The newest craze: teaching dogs to hitch a ride. A great way for both of you to learn is with SUP PUPS, operating out of Waterman’s Landing Beach Café at Lake Tahoe. Read more.

Off-leash beaches for chasing waves

Three off-leash dogs frolicking at the beach.

For water-loving canines, nothing beats fetching a bright yellow tennis ball from the surf and romping full speed ahead on a sandy beach. But while there’s plenty of sand to share with your leashed pup along California’s 840 miles of coastline, you should know before you go where dogs are and aren’t allowed to get their ya-yas out. Here are a few of our favorite off-leash strands Read more.

DogTrekker APPlause!

Photo Credit: Melanie B. Melanie B. wrote in to let us know that she discovered dog-friendly Chimney Beach while on a trip to Tahoe, thanks to the DogTrekker App! She and her four-legged best friend had a pawsome time! Read more.

Have Dog, Will Travel to Santa Cruz

Have dog, will travel. And you know a great place that you and your four-legged friend will love? Santa Cruz! From dog-friendly beaches and redwood hikes to restaurants and resorts, Santa Cruz County has a ton to offer for people and their pets. Find out more about the best places to visit in Santa Cruz County with your pooch! Read more.