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! 🐾🐕

Mushroom dangers – Even in the off season

Photo by Pascal Debrunner.

The last week of May, a dog ate a dried Death Cap mushroom at the trailhead of a UC Berkeley trail on the edge of Strawberry Canyon. What's shocking about this event is that it happened well past mushroom season. Read more.

Russian River Adventures

Have a dog who loves water? Why not let her serve as first mate in a dog-friendly canoe? Russian River Adventures, Sonoma County's premiere dog-passionate eco-adventure outfitter, welcomes four-paw passengers in its SOAR inflatable canoes. Since 2003, thousands of dogs and their owners have enjoyed awesome days dog-paddling down the Russian River in these tough and stable crafts. Read more.

DogTrekker’s best river adventures

Dog in canoe at Catch a Canoe in Mendocino

Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! in Mendocino.

Among our favorite go-to spots is the languidly flowing stretch of the Russian River around Healdsburg. Russian River Adventures rents dog-friendly inflatable canoes for full-day trips where you can enjoy clear, clean swimming holes and a picnic lunch before catching the shuttle back to town. Read more.

Enjoy These GGNRA Beaches While You Can

Dog running on Muir Beach: Photo by Carolyn (CC) For dog lovers, few sights bring more joy than watching man’s best friend run free and unfettered on a beach. In the Bay Area, one of the top places to enjoy the privilege has always been Muir Beach, a gorgeous strand in Marin County bounded by high bluffs, habitat-sensitive wetlands and a lagoon. Dogs have always been allowed on leash or un Read more.

Surf Dogs

Surf’s up in Southern California—and now, during the summer vacation season, you and your pup can get your smiles on watching surf dogs ride the waves all along the coast, including competitions in Huntington Beach, Imperial Beach and Del Mar. If seeing other dogs shred the waves makes you think, “Hey, my dog could do that,” it’s easy to find out, just treat Read more.

Experience Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta, 63 miles north of Redding and a constant presence on the Shasta Cascade horizon, is considered by many to be one of the world’s most spiritual “power spots.” Read more.

Let’s Go Coasting: Pacifica To Carmel

Dogs playing on Carmel Beach. Photo - Janet Fullwood There’s nothing like the sight and sound of the sea to soothe the soul, vanquish boredom and revive the spirit. If your pup has been seeing far too much of the back yard lately, maybe it’s time for both of you to sniff out new horizons along the highly scenic, 122-mile stretch of Highway 1 between Pacifica and Carmel. Read more.

It’s Happening in Huntington Beach

Murphy Playing at Dog Beach (CC) Doug Carlson Huntington Beach, (aka Surf City, USA) is located at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway, 35 miles south of Los Angeles, and is known for its almost 10 mile stretch of pristine beach, Huntington Beach Pier, world-class surfing, miles of biking and jogging trails, endless sunshine and laid-back beach culture. Read more.

High Sierra Hideaways

Boat dog in Mono County. Photo - Colleen Greene Late spring, when roads are clear but the mountains are still frosted with snow, is a gorgeous time to enjoy the majesty of the High Sierra. Off-season rates make it more affordable and vacancies at high-demand properties are more available than at the height of summer. Read more.

Martin Resorts Gives Back

Dog-friendly Pismo Lighthouse Suites Planning a vacation in beautiful San Luis Obispo County with your favorite four-legged travel companion? We suggest checking out Martin Resorts. Martin Resorts’ collection of premier hotels and restaurants on the Central Coast includes four hotels that offer dog-friendly lodging: the oceanfront Pismo Lighthouse Suites, Best Western Plus Shore C Read more.

Cozy Canines in Cayucos

Cayucos beach. Photo by Wikimedia.

Strolling the beach at Cayucos If miles of dog-friendly beaches, delicious local cuisine and comfortable accommodations sound like your idea of fun, look no farther than the quaint little town of Cayucos. Located on an often-sunny south-facing beach, Cayucos hosts a variety of events throughout the year, many of which are dog-friendly. For outdoor fun, Cayucos offers up one of the longest stretch Read more.

Help Us Gain Dog Access to State Parks

We Californians love our dogs-and our state parks. But we're often frustrated by regulations that restrict canine visitors to parking lots and campgrounds. Only a few parks allow dogs to accompany their people on trails and on beaches. DogTrekker.com wants to change that and needs your help. The state parks' new leadership wants to ensure that the parks are 'available to everyone'. Read more.

Dog-friendly San Simeon Cove

Nestled under the watchful eye of William Randolph Hearst’s famous castle is San Simeon Cove, a jewel in San Luis Obispo’s crown of beaches. Emerald-green water, abundant wildlife and ample space to romp makes this dog-friendly beach a must-see for DogTrekkers. Read more.

See the Sea

Otto at Tilden Park, Berkeley. Photo: Carol Kolb DeWilde (CC) In our last newsletter, Spring Delights in the East Bay, we profiled some favorite hikes in the green, rolling hills of the East Bay. This time around, short hikes with ocean views are the ticket. If you’re visiting the San Francisco area and have only a couple of hours available to get outside with your pet, give these options Read more.

Tiptoe Through The Tulips

Max at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Photo: Vic Farley, Courtesy Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens There’s something about a carefully cultivated garden that brings on wonder, inspiration and wagging tails. Not all of California’s botanical gardens are dog-friendly, but these five extend a warm welcome to canine guests. Read more.

Waterfall Season, Finally

Cataract Falls, Marin County. Photo: Kevin Etter, CC Despite this year’s scant rainfall, waterfalls are once again flowing in Northern California, and you don’t want to miss the show. Cataract Falls on the north slope of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County is probably the best-known waterfall in the Bay Area, and for good reason. It gets really big after a spring rain, sprouting up t Read more.

Zoonosis: Diseases You Can Catch from Your Dog

By Bill Barboni, DVM and Chris Pitts, RVT, Marin Pet Hospital, San Rafael, CA We love our dogs. They are loyal companions who bring us endless joy. They will share their ball, their bed and even a treat. However, it’s good to remember that they can occasionally share diseases with us too. There are vaccines to prevent many of the diseases in question, but its wise to know about these. Read more.

Surf’s Up!

Win our latest DogCation™ at the Surf & Sand Lodge and you and your pup will get up close and personal with nature in her peak of splendor. The Surf & Sand has front row seats to the all the grandeur of the Mendocino coastline, with its miles of beaches, sweeping dunes and endless trails to tire the most intrepid DogTrekkers. Read more.

Editorial: Dogs in State Parks

On the pier at Seacliff State Beach We want to thank the hundreds of DogTrekker readers who responded so positively to our May 15, 2013 newsletter featuring an open letter to Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California Parks Foundation. The letter was complimentary about the work the foundation has done to raise awareness and funds to protect, maintain and enhance our parks. Read more.

All The Way in Half Moon Bay

Dogs on the beach in Half Moon Bay - Photo Dave Kendrick Dog-friendly Half Moon Bay, at the heart of the region locals call “Coastside,” is part resort, part classic California surf town. Beaches and bluffs are what it’s all about for visitors with dogs, and while off-leash opportunities are few, there are many ways to engage with the scenery. In fact, it’s hard to know Read more.