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! 🐾🐕

Tails From The Archives

Last year’s Dog-friendly Surf City USA issue covered a lot of ground and sand in the story Every Walk in Surf City is Special, highlighting famous Huntington Dog Beach, Central Park and the Brightwater Trail that offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Chow for Your Chow provides an insider's look at dining options your pup will savor in the city and Pawesome Places to Spoil Your Read more.

Surf City USA, Gateway to the OC

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Huntington Beach with your pooch, you might be inclined to get comfortable and not leave the city. After all, when it comes to pup-friendly restaurants, services and a dazzling Dog Beach, Surf City has you spoiled. But try not to get lulled into the local beach vibe too much. Orange County has plenty more for you and your four-legged friend to explore. H Read more.

Noyo Harbor Inn, Fort Bragg

Fresh from a six-year, $1.6 million renovation, the Noyo Harbor Inn, a 15-room, craftsman-style B&B, accents its more than century-old heritage with refreshed décor complimenting its historic character. Set on a bluff above the Noyo River, it offers easy access to the river, harbor, off-leash beach, walking trails and gardens. Read more.

New Dog-friendly Hotels in California

DogTrekker.com would like to thank all DogTrekkers who contributed to our 2018 reader survey. You let us know that one of the topics you’d most like us to address this … Continued Read more.

Baker Botts

From Chris Carr, Baker Botts, lead attorney in the fight to get the federal government to release documents under the Freedom of Information Act: Read more.

San Francisco County’s GGNRA bounty

Dog running towards Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA

In San Francisco, GGNRA lands wrap the shoreline almost all the way from Fort Mason in the north to Fort Funston in the south, with a few breaks along the way. Dogs and their people can enjoy miles-long leashed walks with ocean views and, at a few places, unclip their canine companions to chase the surf and run free. Read more.

Make it Marin for dog-friendly GGNRA trails/beaches

Four happy dogs on trail in the Marin Headlands.

Julian Trail in the Marin Headlands. Photo by Jessica Bay.

More than 12,000 acres of the GGNRA are concentrated in the Marin Headlands, a hilly peninsula just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Read more.

GGNRA Dog-Walking Saga: The Backstory

With Bay Area populations growing and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) lands being ever more heavily used, the National Park Service (NPS) in 2001, under the guise that dogs were harming wildlife and the environment, first moved to severely reduce the areas where four-legged companions would be allowed, both on-leash and off. Existing rules defining dog-friendly trails and beaches had Read more.

The Grateful Table

On Nov. 21, more than 500 people gathered in a Domaine Chandon vineyard near the border of Napa and Sonoma counties to enjoy an open-air feast at a very long table and raise funds for wildfire relief. Fire responders, chefs, winemakers, tourism officials and many others gave time, energy and money to help those impacted by the October blazes. Visit California and Outstanding in the Field—along w Read more.

The Season of Giving

DogTrekker operates on the principles set forth in its 4-Paw Promise: “To deliver local and accurate listings, provide engaging and actionable content and focus on social commitment to the communities we serve.” The “social commitment” part of that promise encompasses more than 300 rescues, shelters and adoption centers listed on our website and mobile app. We provide visibility, awareness Read more.

Sip and Stroll in Santa Barbara County

When the weather outside is frightful, the dog-friendly welcome in Santa Barbara County is still delightful. If it’s not a beach day, make it a wine day – and maybe an urban wine day, at that. Start, perhaps, in the Santa Ynez Valley enclave of Solvang, that one-of-a-kind village, founded as a Danish colony, that through architecture, bakeries, restaurants and merchants offers a taste Read more.

Where to Cruz With Your Pup

If you don’t live in Santa Cruz County, you probably know this gorgeous stretch of the California coast for its beaches, its stellar university and the namesake town that proudly embraces its somewhat eccentric reputation. But Santa Cruz County is also known for its mountains, its redwood forests and its wines, particularly the pinot noir and chardonnay that thrive in the fog-kissed climate. Read more.

Tails wag on Big Sur Coast

Big Sur. Photo by Lisha Riabinina.

Take a drive on the scenic California Coast to Big Sur, pulling over at beaches, redwood forests and fun dog-friendly stops that are sure to please both two and four-leggers. Read more.

A Toast to Mendo Festival Season

Would you believe more than 1,000 varieties of mushrooms grow beneath Mendocino’s ferns and redwoods? It’s true—and also best to let the experts identify what’s edible and what’s not! You’ll find lots of edible varieties prepared in imaginative ways during Mendocino County’s Mushroom, Wine and Beer Festival. It takes place Nov. 3-12 with activities schedul Read more.

Paws for an Overnight Break in Mendocino County

The summer crowds are gone, cool weather has set in and Mendocino lodging properties are tempting visitors with low-season specials. The boutique Little River Inn, a bluff-top property with sweeping ocean views, leads the pet-friendly pack by offering 25 percent off on any room if booked by Nov. 15 for a minimum two-night stay between Nov. 26 and Dec. 21. The Little River Inn has graciously greet Read more.

DogCation Adventures at the Stanford Inn and Beyond

Dogs ready to go on a Stanford Inn DogCation

DogCation winner Jolene C. recently wrote in to let us know about her adventures in Mendocino County with her daughter and two pups at the Stanford Inn by the Sea and beyond: Read more.

Rush On Up to Redding

Lace up your hiking boots, load Lucy into the car and get a grip on your leash: you’ll need it when you see how excited she’ll become upon encountering a multitude of new sights and smells in dog-friendly Redding, your gateway to the eight-county Shasta Cascade region. On a clear day, the 13,162-foot, snow-covered cone of Mount Shasta fills the windshield during the 2.5-hour drive up I Read more.

Buoy at the Beach

We love this gorgeous photo of Buoy hanging out along the Pacific Ocean in Half Moon Bay sent to us by Dr. Erin Troy of Muller Veterinary Hospital in Walnut Creek. Read more.

Traveling with a dog in Huntington Beach California

By Lauren Lloyd Voted as one of California’s dog-friendliest cities, Surf City USA welcomes four-legged kids with open arms at restaurants, parks, and hotels, along its paved beach path, and even dedicates a stretch of beach to salty pups. We don’t want you to leave your best friend at home any more than you do, so here’s a helpful guide to exploring town with your canine comp Read more.

Riding through the Redwoods

After a recent move from Illinois to California, Diana and her pups set out to explore dog-friendly California. She shared one of their California adventures with us: Read more.