The Best Dog-Friendly Hikes in the Bay Area
The Bay Area offers an incredible amount of trails and amazing National Parks that make escaping to nature a fun weekend activity. Of course, what makes getting outside even more fun is bringing your dog!
Here are a few of the best dog-friendly hikes in the Bay Area.
Redwood Regional Park
As you might guess from the name, this park is full of majestic redwoods and sits in the East Bay. These huge trees keep the trails cool year-round and this park is quite large at 1,830 acres.
The park is open 5 a.m.-10 p.m. There is a small charge of $5 per vehicle, $2 per dog (fees are collected on weekends and major holidays April through Oct. and only at the Redwood Gate entrance).
Land’s End
This well-known park is also very dog-friendly. The famous towering cliffs along the coast offer beautiful views, incredible wildflowers, and other vegetation. The best part is that it isn’t all that far from the city itself.
One thing to keep in mind is the trails can be narrow in some spots, so if you do decide to go off-leash, make sure your pup is experienced at staying close to you and away from the cliffs.
Diablo Foothills Regional Park
This large Easy Bay park offers over 1,000 acres for off-leash fun with your pup. There are both moderate and rigorous trails in this park, so you can find something that fits you and your dog’s fitness level.
The only thing this park is lacking is a lot of shade, so make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Cascade Falls
This trail is great for an easy, family-friendly hike. The 1.2-mile trail has a waterfall and allows leashed dogs. The trail itself sits inside of the larger 498-acre park which offers a large variety of wildlife and is a prime bird-watching spot.
Mori Point
This popular spot offers 2 miles of beachfront trails and is one of the more scenic dog-friendly hikes in the Bay Area. In addition, your pup can roam off-leash on the neighboring beach. Beautiful wildflower blooms are at their peak in the springtime, with the most flowers usually present in April and May.
One note of caution: the waves can often produce dangerous riptides, so its best to keep your pup out of the water unless under close supervision.
