Skip to content Skip to content

Beaches

Beaches

Beaches Blog

Here are our favorite stories about the best dog-friendly beaches in California! Whether you’re a local or visiting from afar, we’ve got you covered with the most paw-some spots for your furry friends to enjoy some sand and surf. Check out our list below and get ready for some tail-wagging adventures!

Skunk Train.

Mendocino’s inland empire

Mendocino County's inland treasures include the Anderson Valley wine road with dog-friendly tasting rooms, the drive-through Chandelier Tree in Leggett and farm-to-table dining in Boonville. Wine, redwoods and warm welcomes abound.

Read more
Image from Adventure awaits on the north coast on DogTrekker

Adventure awaits on the north coast

California's North Coast is a top dog-friendly destination, with the Point Arena-Stornetta preserve, scenic trails, botanical gardens and welcoming lodgings like the Beachcomber Motel and Surf and Sand Lodge in Fort Bragg.

Read more
13417440_10154286236528552_3590232559113172991_n-1-960x400

Russian River Adventures

Russian River Adventures in Healdsburg rents dog-friendly inflatable canoes for a nine-mile float down a secluded stretch of the Russian River. Pack a picnic, let your pup splash at swimming holes, and catch the shuttle back.

Read more
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

Amazing Mendocino county

Mendocino County rolls out the red carpet for dogs like few other California destinations. Pet-friendly inns offer treats and amenities, wineries welcome four-legged visitors inside, and activities range from Skunk Train rides to outrigger kayaking on the coast.

Read more
Isleton Bridge.

Dog-friendly road trip through the Sacramento River Delta

The Sacramento River Delta is a watery maze of old-time bridges, levee roads, and farm towns where time moves slowly. Drive Highway 160 with your dog, stroll through historic Locke, and sample Delta wines.

Read more
Mother and daughter with a dog rowing a boat
Adobe Images

Lake del valle: Paradise for water dogs

Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore offers 5,000 acres, a five-mile lake, off-leash trails, and one of the few places where your dog can join you on a boat.

Read more
Image from Water fun on DogTrekker

Best water activities for senior dogs in California

From gentle beach outings and pond-side cottage stays to houseboat adventures on Lake Shasta, California offers plenty of water-friendly activities suited to senior dogs who still love a good splash.

Read more
Maya checks into the Stanford Inn.

Pet-friendly Mendocino county

Mendocino County rolls out the red carpet for dogs, with dozens of pet-welcoming hotels, winery tasting rooms that offer treats and water bowls, botanical gardens open to leashed pups, and gorgeous beaches along the coast.

Read more
Image from Folsom: gateway to Gold Country on DogTrekker

Folsom: Gateway to Gold Country

Folsom offers 56 miles of paved trails, an off-leash dog park and easy access to Gold Country wine tasting and Apple Hill farms. Dog-friendly hotels, sidewalk dining on Sutter Street and Folsom Lake make it an ideal weekend base.

Read more
Image from Leash up for a fall trip to Mendocino on DogTrekker

Leash up for a fall trip to Mendocino

Mendocino County in fall means warm days, quiet trails and your pick of dog-friendly lodgings. From blufftop cottages and lighthouse vacation rentals to secluded Anderson Valley hideaways, the options are as varied as the scenery.

Read more
Image from HB Collection: dog-passionate hotels on DogTrekker

HB Collection: Dog-passionate hotels

The HB Collection brings together four premier oceanfront resorts in Huntington Beach, and all of them welcome dogs. From the Shorebreak's nightly wine reception to the Waterfront's doggie reader board, these hotels go above and beyond for pups.

Read more
Image from Cruise control in Santa Cruz wine country on DogTrekker

Cruise control in Santa Cruz wine country

The Santa Cruz Mountains wine region welcomes dogs at tasting rooms tucked among redwoods and ocean views. Follow a dog-friendly wine trail from Davenport to Soquel to Aptos, with stops for picnics and vineyard strolls along the way.

Read more
Image from Fall trekking in the SLO lane on DogTrekker

Fall trekking in the SLO lane

San Luis Obispo County serves up wine tasting, coastal hikes and historic missions along a leisurely Highway 101 road trip. From Paso Robles wineries to Pismo Beach bluffs and Morro Bay seafood decks, your dog is welcome throughout.

Read more
MendocinoStory_4827_16x9

Mendocino wines on your mind?

Mendocino County 11 wine appellations blaze with fall color in October. Drive the Highway 128 Wine Trail through Anderson Valley or head inland along the Hopland Wine Road, stopping at dog-friendly tasting rooms along the way.

Read more
Image from Cruz the mountain wine roads with your pup on DogTrekker

Cruz the mountain wine roads with your pup

Santa Cruz County's mountain wineries offer far more than a beach-town reputation suggests. The Santa Cruz Mountains appellation and Corralitos Wine Trail feature a dozen dog-friendly wineries along winding roads, pouring pinot noirs and chardonnays kissed by coastal fog.

Read more
Image from Russian River runners on DogTrekker

Russian River runners

Float the Russian River in a dog-friendly SOAR canoe from Healdsburg, stopping to swim and play at sandy beaches along a leisurely nine-mile stretch. Afterward, the town's restaurants, brewpubs and dog-friendly tasting rooms are all within easy reach.

Read more
Image from Down a lazy river with rover on DogTrekker

Down a lazy river with rover

Russian River Adventures in Healdsburg outfits dog-friendly float trips using ultra-stable SOAR canoes on an 8.5-mile stretch of the Russian River. Pack a picnic, bring your pup and drift through swimming holes and sandy beaches all day long.

Read more
Video thumbnail of dog glamping with play button o

There are many ways to camp

Not a tent person? California glamping has you covered, from safari-style canvas tents at Inn Town Campground in Nevada City to Airstreams at AutoCamp near Yosemite, the Russian River, and Santa Barbara. Many welcome dogs.

Read more
Image from Go boho on the Bohemian Highway on DogTrekker

Go boho on the Bohemian Highway

The 10-mile Bohemian Highway in Sonoma County winds through artist-filled communities, organic farms, and one-of-a-kind shops. Stay at the Creekside Inn in Guerneville, explore funky Occidental, stock up on sourdough in Freestone, and finish with coastal views at Goat Rock.

Read more
sir_theo_-Instagram-2943-ig-17953495408292689

Lots to do on dog-friendly Cannery Row

Monterey's Cannery Row is a dog-friendly destination packed with waterfront restaurants, wine tasting rooms, shops, and pet-welcoming hotels. Stroll the historic mile of coastline and soak in the seaside atmosphere with your pup.

Read more
Image from Where to Cruz with your pup on DogTrekker

Where to Cruz with your pup

Santa Cruz County pairs gorgeous coastline with a growing wine scene, and many tasting rooms welcome dogs. Follow the Corralitos Wine Trail for organic pinots, visit MJA Vineyard, or stop at Bonny Doon on a scenic Highway 1 cruise.

Read more
Image from Historic Folsom: gateway to the Gold Country on DogTrekker

Historic Folsom: Gateway to the Gold Country

Historic Folsom offers far more than its famous song. The Johnny Cash Trail, Folsom Lake shoreline, miles of paved paths and patio dining on Sutter Street make this Gold Country gateway city a prime destination for dog-loving travelers.

Read more
Image from Sip and stroll in Santa Barbara County on DogTrekker

Sip and stroll in Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County offers dog-friendly wine tasting from the Danish village of Solvang to the Urban Wine Trail downtown. Let your pup run free at Arroyo Burro Beach and sip local Rhone varietals at pet-welcoming tasting rooms.

Read more
Image from Swirl, sip and savor at Santa Cruz’s dog-friendly wineries on DogTrekker

Swirl, sip and savor at Santa Cruz’s dog-friendly wineries

Santa Cruz County is home to more than 100 wineries, and many welcome dogs in their tasting rooms. From Bonny Doon Vineyard in Davenport to the Surf City Vintners collective, it is a great Highway 1 wine tour.

Read more

© 2026 DogTrekker.com

Design and development by North and Vine

🐾