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! 🐾🐕

Lots New to See and Do in Rancho Cordova

Highway 50 buzzes right through Rancho Cordova between Sacramento and Folsom, so unless you pull off to explore, you won’t know what you’re missing. Start, perhaps with an overnight stay at a dog-friendly hotel and get a complimentary Sierra Foothills Wine Tasting Passport good for two people at eight regional wineries that welcome dogs. Read more.

Furlong Gulch, Sonoma County

Dog prints in the sand at Furlong Gulch in Sonoma County

Furlong Gulch, Sonoma County. Furlong Gulch is one of several beaches you’ll come to as you travel along the 17 miles of beaches extending from the Vista Trail 4 miles north of Jenner all the way to Bodega Head. More than a dozen access points will take you to named strands in addition to Furlong (including Carmet Beach, Portuguese Beach and Marshall Gulch) separated by bluffs Read more.

Ocean Beach Dog Beach, San Diego County

Dog playing at Ocean Beach Dog Beach in San Diego County

• Ocean Beach Dog Beach, San Diego County. Ocean Beach, in the community of the same name, is quintessential Southern California—surfers, bikinis, lifeguards and all. In the “dog-run”, four-legged visitors tear around sand and surf, adding to the carefree vibe. (Leash rules apply elsewhere on the beach, so keep an eye on the signs.) Read more.

Huntington Beach Dog Beach, Orange County

Black dog in the sand at Huntington Beach Dog Beach in Orange County

• Huntington Beach Dog Beach, Orange County. This salty-dog paradise encompasses a 1.5-mile section of a 3.5-mile-long beach that seems plucked straight out of a surfer movie (no wonder Huntington Beach is nicknamed Surf City USA). You’ll find yourself humming a Beach Boys tune as you and your pup immerse yourselves in surf culture. Read more.

Rosie’s Dog Beach

• Rosie’s Dog Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles County. It’s not fenced and not a dedicated “dog beach,” but this strand of sand in the “dog zone” along Ocean Boulevard is open to off-leash dog play from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Believe it or not, this is the only legally off-leash beach in the entire county! Read more.

Carmel City Beach, Monterey County

Big dog on Carmel City Beach in Monterey County

• Carmel City Beach, Monterey County. Blue-ribbon honors go to city-owned Carmel Beach, a powdery, mile-long strand that is perhaps the best-known leash-free dog beach in the country. A plus: it’s walking distance from fashionable Carmel-by-the-Sea, with its wealth of dog-friendly lodging and places to eat. Read more.

San Simeon Cove, San Luis Obispo County

San Simeon Pier. Photo by Gabriel Soto.

Tucked beneath William Randolph Hearst’s famous castle, San Simeon Cove is a jewel of a place with emerald water and ample space for dogs to romp. Read more.

Fort Funston, San Francisco

View of Fort Funston cliffs, San Francisco County

• Fort Funston, San Francisco. This stretch of rugged headlands just south of Ocean Beach in the southwest part of the city is not fenced, but it’s nirvana for off-leash dogs and woofing with canine activity even on drizzly, foggy days. Read more.

Mitchell’s Cove, Santa Cruz County

Dog and person at Mitchell's Cove in Santa Cruz County

• Mitchell’s Cove, Santa Cruz County. This pretty city beach just off West Cliff Drive allows leashed dogs at any time, while leash-free romping is permitted between sunrise and 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to sunset. Read more.

Noyo Beach, Mendocino County

Dog running in the waves at Noyo Beach in Mendocino County

Noyo Beach, Mendocino County. Legal places to romp off-leash with your dog are few and far between on Mendocino County’s gorgeous coastline, but one place you can unclip and let your pup run free is Noyo Beach Off-Leash Dog Area in Fort Bragg. Read more.

Muir Beach, Marin County

• Muir Beach, Marin County. This is a Bay Area classic: A crescent of sand bordered by high bluffs to the north and south, with wetlands and a lagoon behind the strand. Dogs under reliable voice control (meaning Daisy comes immediately when called) are allowed off-leash in designated areas. Read more.

Make it a family affair in Marin

picnic table and wine barrel with decorative pumpkins in from of Marin Country Mart sign

Photo by Marin Country Mart.

Marin County it’s been said, has a larger population of dogs than of children. Whether that’s urban legend or fact, residents are definitely known to dote on their four-legged family members. Read more.

River Dogs Rule At Little River Inn

Would you even dream of going on a California vacation without your dog? She deserves a vacation, too, and there’s no better place to chill out (and wear yourself out with hikes and beach runs) than on the California coast. Little River Inn, in the coastal Mendocino County town of the same name, offers a River Dog package, good June through October, that includes two nights in a pet-friendl Read more.

Water Safety Guidelines

By Dr. Angela Gaeto, DVM, of the Helen Woodward Animal Center community in San Diego County. When the whole family is out enjoying water activities, be sure to consider the safety and well-being of your pets as well! Read more.

California Labradors, Retrievers and More Rescue

Strolling on the beach. Chilling on the couch. Mai Tai is definitely up for both those things and can't wait to meet you to discuss it all. This 2-year-old boxer girl doesn't let her tripod status slow her down a bit, and her zest for life is matched by her good manners. Adults, kids, dogs, puppies, she loves them all. Restaurants? Coffee shops? Car rides? She's your perfect companion. Read more.

Helen Woodward Animal Center 2018

Black dog at Helen Woodward Animal Center

Looking for the perfect companion for your outdoor fun? Look no further than this smiley guy. At 5 years old and 60-ish pounds, Wilson here is just the right size for long walks in the country or long snuggles on the couch, both of which he likes. He's a mix of Australian shepherd and Newfoundland, so he's got a big brain, a good work ethic, and just wants to learn the right thing to do so Read more.

Off We Go, Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Wild Blue Dog Camp. Photo by Sharon Eide.

If you like camping and wouldn’t think about taking off for the wild blue yonder without your four-legged companions, consider giving your team an entire, activity-packed week together in the company of other dog-lovers and their pets. Wild Blue Dog Camp at Lake Tahoe is just what it sounds like: summer camp for you and your dog(s). Held just one week a year (Sept. 3-9 in 2018) on a 33-ac Read more.

Feeling Fine In Felton

Just seven miles from downtown Santa Cruz, the town of Felton is headquarters for a scenic duck into the cool embrace of a redwood forest. If you’re traveling with children as well as the family pet, there’s no better way to do so than to hop on a dog-friendly train. Roaring Camp Railroads offers Redwood Forest Steam Train excursions in open-air cars on narrow-gauge tracks once used to Read more.

Kissing the Santa Cruz coast

Follow the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) along the Santa Cruz County coastline, and you’ll be tempted by 29 miles of beaches (15 of them dog-friendly) along the way. Only one, Mitchell’s Cove, is legally leash-free, and then only before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. But no worries: there are plenty of other strands to explore provided you keep a tether stretched between you. Read more.

Stay in Surf City – Explore the OC

Huntington Beach is a “pawesome” place to visit with your pooch, but it’s also the gateway to hundreds of other adventures throughout Orange County. Of course, if you choose to get a dog sitter for the day, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Angels Stadium are nearby. Want to stay on the coast? We get it: you love the beach. So if you want to hit the road but still play alo Read more.