Blog stories about the best dog-friendly hikes, parks and gardens.

Hiking, Parks and Gardens – can you say happy dog? DogTrekker has you covered with some great stories about the best hikes, parks and gardens for you. Whether you are looking for a quiet stroll through the park or an adventurous hike to a remote location, we have something for everyone. From the great outdoors to urban adventures, we’ve got it all covered. So don’t forget your pup when planning your next adventure – DogTrekker is here to help! Happy trails!

All aboard a historic train through the redwoods

Dog boarding a Roaring Camp railroad car.

Roaring Camp Railroads. Photo by Visit Santa Cruz.

See California’s towering redwoods from an authentic 19th-century steam train through the Big Trees to the summit of Bear Mountain at Roaring Camp Railroads. Well-behaved dogs are welcome aboard and will love to put their nose to the sky as they take in the smells of the redwoods. And for the active pups that want to get some miles in, there are plenty of trails and grounds to explore! Read more.

Putting paws to paths around Concord

Briones Regional Park, Contra Costa County, California, USA.

Get tails a’waggin’ on trails at one of the East Bay Regional Parks District preserves serving Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The 73 preserves include between them 125,000 acres of open space and 1,250 miles of trails. Yes, that’s a lot! Start, perhaps, by exploring Lime Ridge Open Space, held jointly by Concord and Walnut Creek. Its 1,200 acres are criss-crossed by 25 miles Read more.

Fall for these dog-friendly waterfalls

Yes, we had a dry January, but the big storms in late December filled lakes and streams and created a hefty Sierra snowpack. The payoff: Waterfall season! Here are some late winter/early spring hikes with watery rewards at the end. Yosemite Gushers Moving Water in Marin Don’t Pass on Pasadena With Your Dog Santa Barbara’s Waterfall Surprise Read more.

Don’t pass on Pasadena with your dog

If you can just get off of those L.A. freeways (and you can!) a great place to gulp some fresh air and take in some flowy eye candy is Eaton Canyon Falls just outside Pasadena. Read more.

Santa Barbara’s waterfall surprise

How good are you and your dog at rock-hopping and scrambling? You’ll need to put those skills to work on the popular 7 Falls Trail in the Los Padres National Forest outside Santa Barbara. It’s best just after a rain, when the falls are gushing. The 3.2-mile out-and-back is accessible and dog-friendly year-round. Parking at the trailhead is limited and strict, so stay behind the white l Read more.

Yosemite gushers

Late winter and early spring are great times to visit Yosemite National Park, but be sure to read up on the rules regarding pets before you go. Hotels inside park boundaries don’t allow pets, but pet-friendly places to curl up (click on lodging type and use the pet-friendly filter) are abundant elsewhere in Mariposa County. In Yosemite Valley, the premier winter/spring waterfall hike leads to Lo Read more.

Moving water in Marin

It’s not the easiest waterfall hike in Marin County, but Cataract Falls, on the north flank of Mount Tamalpais, is easily the Bay Area’s most popular waterfall destination. It roars and gets really big after a spring rain, spouting nine silvery cascades, some 50 and more feet high, plunging down the Cataract Creek streambed. The surrounding forest, with its moss-covered rocks, ferns, t Read more.

Swimming at Novato’s O’Hair Park

Kacee testing the waters in O’Hair Park Novato. In her 17th year when she passed, she never missed a dunk in a swimming hole. Read more.

Tahoe snow play & stay

There are so many dog-friendly lodgings at Lake Tahoe that we can’t begin to inventory them all, but we can certainly point out a few favorites, as well as places to go and things to do with dogs in winter. Read more.

Room to roam in Mendocino

Lace up your hiking boots, load your pup 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 Mendocino County. The weather is near-perfect both along the coast, as well as inland. Remember to bring plenty of water, snacks and as always, Leave Only Paw Prints™. Read more.

Tail-waggin’ fun in Folsom and surrounding areas

Just up Highway 50 from Sacramento, the city of Folsom is a superb dog-friendly destination with a handsomely renovated Old Town just a block or two from the Sacramento River. Cuddle up in dog-friendly lodging and spend a weekend exploring with your four-legged friend. Read more.

Capital canine discoveries

If it’s your first visit to Sacto, don’t neglect to take a stroll through Capitol Park, a 40-acre urban preserve surrounding the imposing domed structure. Read more.

Ready to hike? We’ve already done the digging!

chocolate lab sitting by river with 2 hikers in background

Photo by Danny Warren.

Yosemite is home to a number of dog-friendly trails. Leashed dogs are allowed at picturesque Yosemite destinations including Read more.

Just ditch it with your dog – Redding hikes

black lab mix sits on trail with tongue out

Dog-friendly Upper and Lower Ditch Trails in Redding, CA once brought water to 19th-century gold miners. There are lots of relics of the era to see Read more.

Get gushy with your puppy – Redding hikes

Jack Russell Terrier by a waterfall in Redding

OK, so it hasn’t been a wet year. Nevertheless, waterfalls near Redding are still flowing, delectable swimming holes await, Read more.

Lodato Trail

Lodato Trail, courtesy of Visit Santa Cruz Tucked away in the redwoods of Scotts Valley, Lodato is a hidden gem of forested beauty. The entire route clocks in at 1.2-miles and a leisurely stroll will likely take less than 45 minutes (but it is a lot of uphill). Parking is free, and your leashed pups are welcome to enjoy the redwoods by your side. Just mind the poison oak which can creep close to Read more.

Roaring Camp Railroads

Dog posing on the track at Roarding Camp Railroad

Roaring Camp Railroads, courtesy of Visit Santa Cruz. Henry Cowell borders Roaring Camp Railroads where dogs are welcome on leash to explore the acres (including trails) of forested land. And for those pooches (or owners) who want to experience the grandeur of the redwoods and mountains but might need some help – hop aboard the train! Yes, your well-behaved pooch can hitch a ride on the st Read more.

West Glenwood Open Space Preserve

West Glenwood Preserve. Paul Zaretsky photo.

West Glenwood Open Space Preserve, story courtesy of Visit Santa Cruz. With about four miles of trails, the West Glenwood Preserve is a great choice for hiking adventures with your pooch! Gorgeous vistas of the valley are around every corner and there are a variety of loops to choose from. In the spring, wildflower abound on the rolling hills. A few things to be aware of: the trails are currentl Read more.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

Henry Cowell is a must. Locals and visitors alike love the beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Henry Cowell has it all. Read more.

Pogonip Open Space

Pogonip Open Space, courtesy of Visit Santa Cruz. There are miles of dog-friendly trails and secret treasures to discover at Pogonip Open Space. Leashed pups are welcome on several of the trails, but for an easy stroll with a big payoff, follow the Rincon Trail from the UCSC campus as it slopes downhill to the eastbound Spring Box Trail. A quick stroll along the Spring Box Trail soon leads to an Read more.