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Hiking Parks Gardens

Hiking Parks Gardens

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!

Image from Waggin' trails rescue foundation on DogTrekker

Waggin’ trails rescue foundation

Waggin' Trails Rescue Foundation pulls about 50 dogs each month from overcrowded and underfunded California shelters, providing vet care and foster homes before transporting them to rescue partners where loving families are waiting to adopt.

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Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree, a dog-friendly attraction in Leggett, California

Onward and inland!

Head inland from Fort Bragg on Highway 1 to explore Mendocino County's redwood country with your dog. Drive through the Chandelier Tree in Leggett, ride the dog-friendly Skunk Train from Willits, and sample wines along the Highway 128 Wine Road.

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Cute photo of two dogs in love --ar 169 --v 7

A weekend for romance

Plan a romantic, dog-friendly Valentine's weekend along the California coast. Pacific Grove's Andril Fireplace Cottages, Bodega Bay's rugged shoreline, and Mendocino's Stanford Inn all offer fireplaces, ocean views, and warm welcomes for your four-legged companion.

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Image from Have dog, will travel to Santa Cruz on DogTrekker

Have dog, will travel to Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County is a dog lover's playground. Walk the coastal path along West Cliff Drive, let your pup run off-leash at Mitchell's Cove Beach, hike through redwoods at Henry Cowell, or ride a steam train at Roaring Camp.

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Image from Let's go coasting: Pacifica to Carmel on DogTrekker

Let’s go coasting: Pacifica to Carmel

Highway 1 between Pacifica and Carmel packs 122 miles of dog-friendly beaches, coastal trails, and charming towns. Walk the Devil's Slide Trail, lunch seaside in Santa Cruz, and let your pup run off-leash on Carmel Beach before exploring the village.

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Image from The gold country's golden chain highway on DogTrekker

The gold country’s golden chain highway

Highway 49 links 330 miles of Gold Rush history, dog-friendly trails, and small-town charm. Base yourself in Oakhurst or Sonora for steam-train rides, state park explorations, living-history weekends at Columbia, and scenic Sierra detours along the way.

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Clearly clear lake

A road trip from Santa Rosa to Clear Lake makes for a great dog-friendly getaway. Stop to hike Hood Mountain, lunch on patios in Healdsburg, browse dog-welcoming wine bars, and float the Russian River before heading north to Lake County.

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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.

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Eastern Sierra dogs.

From wine to bristlecone pines

A dog-friendly road trip through the High Sierra follows the Golden Chain Highway through Gold Country, crosses Yosemite via Tioga Pass and heads south on Highway 395 past Mono Lake, Mammoth Lakes and the ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near Bishop.

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Of cottages and vines

California wine country is full of dog-welcoming retreats, from creekside cabins in Guerneville to luxury cottages at Carneros Resort with private fenced patios. Calistoga Ranch even provides a dog concierge for your pup.

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Dog-friendly hide-aways in Mendocino

Mendocino County offers secluded, dog-friendly getaways from blufftop cottages at Serenisea to the architecturally stunning retreats of Sheep Dung Properties in Anderson Valley. Fenced grounds and nearby wineries make these spots ideal for a quiet escape.

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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.

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Image from Lots to wag about in tri-valley on DogTrekker

Lots to wag about in tri-valley

The Tri-Valley communities of Pleasanton, Danville, Livermore, and Dublin are loaded with dog-friendly restaurants, pet boutiques, wine bars, and street fairs. Four adjacent valleys offer a refreshing weekend escape for San Francisco and Sacramento day-trippers with dogs.

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Image from Beer or wine, rain or shine on DogTrekker

Beer or wine, rain or shine

Oakland and the Tri-Valley region are packed with dog-friendly craft breweries and wineries. Walk the Oakland Urban Wine Trail with your pup, sample 48 brews at Beer Revolution, or tour more than 50 wineries in Livermore Valley.

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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.

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Image from Dog-friendly paso robles wine country on DogTrekker

Dog-friendly paso robles wine country

Paso Robles wine country rolls out the welcome mat for dogs at dozens of wineries along the Highway 46 wine trails. Hop-on tour services and private guides make it easy to sip and explore without driving.

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Image from White wine on a winter’s day on DogTrekker

White wine on a winter’s day

Mendocino County's wineries produce excellent whites alongside their reds, and many welcome dogs right into their tasting rooms. Family-owned spots along Highway 101 and the scenic Highway 128 Wine Trail treat your pup like part of the family.

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See more on Highway 4

Highway 4 through Calaveras and Alpine counties packs in wine tasting in Murphys, off-leash hiking on the Arnold Rim Trail, and a stunning scenic drive over Ebbetts Pass. Rent a cabin and give yourself a full week.

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Lola and Leroy on an adventure in Gold Country.

El dorado county’s adventure loop

The El Dorado County Adventure Loop packs 45 miles of Gold Country exploration into one weekend, with dog-friendly hiking at Cronan Ranch, wine tasting at Jose Wine Caves and Gold Rush history in Coloma.

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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.

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Image from Paws to the (nice, flat) path on DogTrekker

Paws to the (nice, flat) path

Not every dog needs a mountain summit. Flat, paved paths like the Iron Horse Regional Trail in the East Bay and the Whoop De Dogs trail in Angwin offer easy walks with great scenery and plenty of sniffing opportunities.

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Image from Weatherproof wine tasting with your dog on DogTrekker

Weatherproof wine tasting with your dog

Rain or shine, dozens of Napa Valley wineries welcome dogs right into their tasting rooms. From Calistoga to Carneros, you'll find treat jars on counters, water bowls at the ready, and even a dog suite at Frenchie Winery.

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Image from All paws welcome on the Napa Valley Vine Trail on DogTrekker

All paws welcome on the Napa Valley Vine Trail

The Napa Valley Vine Trail offers a paved 12.5-mile path from Kennedy Park to Yountville, passing dog-friendly wineries like Laird Family Estate and Domaine Chandon. Combine a morning walk with wine tasting and a patio lunch in restaurant-rich Yountville.

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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.

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