Best Dog Friendly Hikes Near Me – Today I want to bring you my best hiking guide for dogs on the bay. If you love your furry friends as much as you love the beautiful scenery and stunning views of Northern California, this list will show you the best places to hike near San Francisco. From Marin County to Peninsula to hiking the Pacific Ocean Waterfall Trails, we’ve got you covered. I also included a map.
Because of how much San Francisco Bay Area residents love their canine companions, there are plenty of dog walks near the city. Whether you want to head to Marin County, the East Bay, the Peninsula, or elsewhere, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to hiking with dogs in the Bay Area.
Best Dog Friendly Hikes Near Me
And not to mention the location. fall in love? You and your kitty have an outing. Love the view of the Pacific Ocean? The corner is covered. Do you want trees, hills and mountains? check it out. check it out. check it out.
Dog-friendly Hikes In Moab
I have walked dogs in the bay all my life. Growing up in Silicon Valley, I walked many Bay Area dog trails with my family as a child. From the Windy Hills in the Portola Valley to the Arastradero Sanctuary in Palo Alto, we love walking our wonderful Standard Poodles.
As an adult, I topped this list with my friend’s Mini Golddoodle. We walked a lot from North Bay to the Peninsula. This list contains some of my favorites. This pup loved it as much as I did, and we can recommend both from personal experience (although I’m a bit more vocal than he is!).
I’ll be adding more walks to this blog post as I write about it, so you can bookmark or pin them to Pinterest for easy reference. I know I’ll be posting another soon because of how much we love going on the road.
As with all Northern California tours, be sure to bring water, a towel or blanket, a leash (sounds obvious, but I saw it), and a bag for you and your dog in case Fido gets wet or dirty. Clean up after leaving litter on the road.
The Best Trails In Truckee-tahoe To Walk Your Furry Friends
Finally, don’t forget to check yourself and your furry friend for ticks. They are common in the San Francisco Bay Area and can cause Lyme disease in humans and dogs.
First on our list of best bay hikes with dogs is the Cataract Falls Trail in North Bay. Four-legged friends are welcome here, and it’s a favorite spot for hitting the hills after a heavy storm.
Located on Fairfax-Bolinas Road near Stinson Beach, it sits on the Mount Tamalpais watershed. A protected mountain area known for its streams, ponds and redwoods.
Cataract Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Marino County and the Bay Area. It has a narrow forest trail that features several small waterfalls that flow into Cataract Creek.
The Best Dog-friendly Hikes In The U.s.
The moderately difficult trail involves climbing uneven stone steps, walking through narrow paths, and gaining a fair amount of elevation. If you go after a heavy rain (when the falls are at their best) that means your pup’s feet (all muddy).
Cataract Falls can be done as a bike or loop. The first is 3 miles (1.5 miles each way) on Cataract Road. This equates to an elevation of approximately 1,055 feet.
The loop hike is approximately 7.5 miles on various trails. This equates to an elevation of approximately 1,985 feet. For more information on the Cataract Falls hike you can find maps of both routes on my blog.
The length of the hike depends on your fitness level and how fast you and your dog want to walk. A 3 mile walk takes 2-3 hours and a 7.5 mile walk takes 3.5-5 hours. If you are in good shape, you can do it faster. If your dog is walking slowly, it will take longer.
The Best Dog-friendly Hikes In All 50 States
You can do this walk at any time of the year, but the waterfall is the main attraction, so it is best to do it after heavy rains. For Marin County, that usually means the winter months. If you can time the trip with a break in stormy weather, you’ll get a better view of the falls.
Next on our list of best dog hikes in the Bay Area is Mount Mondara. Encompassing McNee Ranch State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains and San Pedro Valley State Park, this peak is a great place to explore the great outdoors in San Mateo County, California.
The mountain is 1898 meters above sea level. The immediate area has hiking trails to and from Mondara State Beach, North Peak and beyond. It’s a day trip from San Francisco.
Mount Mondara is located in the South Pacific Ocean. Covering an area of 690 hectares, it is open from 8 am to sunset. There are many walks available here, all of which are dog friendly. They vary in distance and difficulty, so there are options for every fitness level.
Looking For Dog Friendly Hikes Near San Diego! What Are Your Favorites? Picture Of Cedar Creek Falls From Two Weeks Ago.
If you want an easy walk, the 1-mile Gray Whale Bay Trail is a great option. This will take you from Gray Whale Bay County to Montana County Beach and Highway 1.
After a small hill at the beginning, the road is relatively flat and offers panoramic views of the beaches. The trail is right on the beach, so you can enjoy the entire ocean view.
If you and your dog want something a little more challenging, you can start at Gray Whale Cove and continue on the North Peak Trail or the Old San Pedro Mountain Trail. Both are more difficult (but not too difficult) than Gray Whale Cove due to the gradual ascent.
The first is the fire road, so it’s a wide open road. The hike is 3.9 km each way and will take you to the summit of Mount Mondara. From the top you can admire the amazing view of the beach and the bay.
Dog Friendly Hikes Off Blue Ridge Parkway Near Asheville, Nc
The latter is more common, but still a good choice. The trail leads to the Pacific Ocean and briefly joins the North Peak Access Trail. You can cross the route to the North Peak if you want. 3.2 km each way.
Finally, the Mondara Mountain Trail is a relatively challenging trail that starts at San Pedro Valley Regional Park and leads to the North Peak Trail. From here you can take the path uphill. That’s 2.1 miles each way.
There are many small roads interspersed between the official roads and you can go from one to another or take a shortcut. If you want more information, you can find more information and maps about hiking in Mount Mondara on my blog.
Next on the list of dog hikes in the Bay Area is the Oakwood Valley Trail. If you and your dog want to get out in Marin County with your dog, this moderately difficult hike is perfect.
10 Dog-friendly Hikes In Phoenix, Az — Arizona Hikers Guide
Not as steep as other parts of Golden Gate National Park, this trail is also dog-friendly, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for a fun hike through the woods.
Oakwood Valley is located north of Cape Marin. It is the largest oak and beech forest in the Golden Gate National Park. More than 500 species of plants grow here and the area has grasslands and mixed forests.
The Oakwood Valley Trail is 2.58 miles round trip. It is relatively flat at the beginning and end, with several steps and an extra hill in the middle.
Because this journey is part circuit and part circular. It begins with the single-track Oakwood Meadow Trail and then meets the Oakwood Valley Trail (sometimes called the Fire Road Trail). From here it continues until it meets the Alta Trail.
Top 5 Dog Friendly Hikes Near Moab
When you get to Alta Road, you can turn around and go back to where Oakwood Valley Road meets Oakwood Meadow Road, then return to the parking lot via Fire Road.
The Oakwood Valley Trail meets the Tennessee Valley Trail, so once you reach the end of the trail, you have to walk a short distance to get back to your car.
The climb starts at 33 feet and reaches 621 feet at its highest point. Most of the OLG goes down the middle to the back, so skip that part and loop if you want it to go smoothly for you and your dog.
The track is well maintained and well marked, making it easy to follow.
