Hiking Parks Gardens Blog
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!
A dog’s guide to autumn: 5 fall day trips in Northern California
Autumn in Northern California means cooler trails, colorful foliage and fewer crowds. These five dog-friendly day trips cover Apple Hill orchards, Gold Rush towns, ocean bluffs and redwood groves, each one perfect for a fall road trip with your pup.
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Unlocking the health benefits and energy boost of having dogs in your life
Owning a dog brings real health benefits, from lower blood pressure and better weight management to reduced stress and stronger social connections. Dog owners are four times more likely to meet weekly exercise goals.
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Mendocino County wineries warmly welcome dogs
Mendocino County's Anderson Valley is one of the most dog-friendly wine regions in California. Nearly a dozen Highway 128 wineries welcome pups with treats, water bowls, fenced play areas and resident winery dogs.
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Madera county (south/wawona) entrance
The Highway 41 corridor through Madera County leads to Yosemite's south entrance, passing dog-friendly gems like Queen's Inn with its adjacent winery in Oakhurst, the quirky town of Coarsegold, Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp and recreation-rich Bass Lake.
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Meandering Mariposa County with your dog
Highway 140 through Mariposa County leads to Yosemite but deserves a day of its own. Sample wines at Butterfly Creek, hike the Merced River Trail, and stay at dog-friendly lodges from Yosemite Bug to Yosemite View Lodge.
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Things to do with your dog in Santa Cruz County
Beyond the beaches, Santa Cruz County offers dog-friendly hiking at Byrne-Milliron Forest and Pogonip, steam train rides at Roaring Camp Railroads, and leashed strolls down boutique-lined Pacific Avenue. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park even allows dogs on select trails.
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Exploring napa’s ‘ghost wineries’
Napa Valley's "ghost wineries" are historic facilities built between 1860 and 1900 that have been beautifully restored. Dog-friendly Regusci and Flora Springs welcome four-legged visitors to their grounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails for a quieter side of wine country.
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A fine find in gold country
The South Yuba River in Nevada County is a gem for dog-friendly hiking. The Hoyt Trail leads to a historic river crossing with sandy beaches, emerald pools, and granite perches perfect for a cooling dip.
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Sunny, convenient Livermore Valley
Livermore Valley Wine Country in the Tri-Valley region features more than 40 wineries in a sunny, rolling landscape rivaling Napa. Dog-friendly favorites include Garre Winery with its bocce courts and patio, Retzlaff Estate, and the welcoming grounds at Concannon.
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Santa Cruz: As much about wine as beaches
Santa Cruz County is as much about wine as beaches. The Santa Cruz Mountains appellation is known for cool-climate pinot noir, and many dog-friendly tasting rooms dot the hills from Soquel to Davenport, including Poetic Cellars and Bonny Doon Vineyard.
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Cupid calls in Mendocino
Mendocino County's Sheep Dung Properties offer architecturally stunning cottages on fenced rural land perfect for a romantic getaway with your dog. Nearby, Howard Creek Ranch Inn and Andiron Seaside Inn provide coastal retreats with antique charm.
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17 miles of magnificence
The 17 miles of Highway 1 from Albion to Fort Bragg hold charming inns, bluff-top trails, and the artsy village of Mendocino. Dogs are welcome at coastal state beaches, the Point Cabrillo lighthouse, and the Stanford Inn.
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Exploring the tri-valley
The Tri-Valley east of San Francisco Bay is home to Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon. The Livermore Wine Valley's 40-plus wineries welcome dogs, open-space preserves offer miles of trails, and dog-friendly patios and hotels make overnight visits easy.
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Mendocino’s inland charms
Inland Mendocino County holds surprises like the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree in Leggett, dog-friendly trails around Lake Mendocino near Ukiah, and a string of small family wineries between Ukiah and Hopland where tasting is often free and dogs are always welcome.
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Woof it up in wine-country luxury
For a romantic wine country getaway with your dog, Carneros Resort offers luxury cottages with private fenced patios and fire pits. Calistoga Ranch provides 127 acres to explore and a dog concierge for your pup.
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Pet-friendly monterey wine country
Monterey Wine Country spreads across three dog-friendly wine trails near Carmel Valley. Family-owned tasting rooms along Carmel Valley Road, the River Road bench, and the Monterey Bay coastline welcome four-legged visitors with open arms and outdoor seating.
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Trekking in temecula
Temecula's high-desert wine country welcomes dogs to over a dozen tasting rooms, patio restaurants with doggie menus, and a strollable Old Town district. Stay at a golf resort or vineyard inn and explore local parks.
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Napa valley leg-stretchers
After wine tasting in Napa Valley, burn off those calories with your dog at Canine Commons in Alston Park, where off-leash play awaits. Westwood Hills Park and the downtown River Walk offer more leashed options with vineyard and city views.
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Calistoga on a leash
Calistoga at the north end of Napa Valley charms visitors with castle-like wineries, bocce courts, Michelin-starred patio dining and a walkable downtown. Dogs are welcome at tasting rooms, restaurants and lodgings throughout town.
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Bike or hike to the beach
The Bob Jones Bike Trail in Avila Beach is a 2.5-mile paved path from Highway 101 to the ocean, passing apple orchards and a golf course. At trail's end, off-leash Olde Port Beach rewards you and your dog.
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Yearning for yolo
Yolo County rewards those who pull off the highway with dog-friendly tasting rooms in Winters, farm tours in the Capay Valley, new wineries along the Sacramento River in Clarksburg and patio dining throughout.
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Dog-friendly wineries in Sonoma County
Sonoma County's wine country pairs world-class vintages with a warm welcome for dogs. From the canine-celebrating Mutt Lynch Winery to Kunde Family's guided dog hikes through the vineyards, tasting has never been more fun.
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Halfway to heaven
Hike 270-acre St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve above Los Gatos, soak your paws at Lexington Reservoir, then wind down with wine and cheese on the dog-friendly patio at Testarossa, the Bay Area's oldest continuously operating winery.
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Views galore in Santa Clara County
Mount Madonna County Park near Gilroy packs ocean views, redwood forests, and 14 miles of dog-friendly trails into one Santa Cruz Mountains preserve. Spring wildflowers make it especially beautiful, and nearby Kirigin Cellars offers off-leash wine tasting grounds.
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