All "Dog Friendly" Stories in Northern CA
Sweet and Salty
Located on Highway 1 about 18 miles north of Jenner, Salt Point State Park is wild, scenic, and one of the most beautiful places to do some classic coastal camping.
ViewHill of a Good Hike
Located just off Highway 17 in the Los Gatos hills, St. Joseph’s Hill packs a big panorama within this 3.5-mile loop. This beautiful preserve has hiking and biking trails, and beautiful vistas.
ViewHill Yeah!
Though it stands at only 960 feet, Hill 88 features some of Marin’s best views from a peak not named Mount Tam. See the upper reaches of the wild yet accessible headlands on a 5.5-mile (round-trip) hike.
ViewThree Beaches to the Wind
This beautiful 7-mile (round-trip) coastal hike in the Marin Headlands connects three beaches: Muir Beach, Pirates Cove, and Tennessee Cove.
ViewMedallion Walk SF
The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile historical walk and treasure hunt through San Francisco. Be on the lookout for hubcap-sized bronze medallions placed on the city sidewalks with arrows pointing you in the right direction.
ViewHigh Sierra Lake Hop
Situated just north of Yosemite is a High Sierra wonderland that gets a fraction of the crowds and is a fantastic destination for backpacking. The Emigrant Wilderness is 113,000 acres of granite ridges, wildflower-strewn meadows, and cobalt lakes.
ViewHeads Up, Headlands!
There’s one thing that’s pretty much mandatory when you visit Mendocino and that’s a hike along the famous bluffs. The trail system at Mendocino Headlands State Park is vast, surrounding the village and meandering for miles, with sweeping sea panoramas.
ViewWide-Open Wildcat
Sure, peak-bagging hikes are great, but ridge trails? Well, those might be the best. The East Bay’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is home to a fantastic ridgetop rolling trail.
ViewGo Galena
Close to Reno yet truly in the wilderness: This long out-and-back epic hike goes up a ridge with huge views of the magnificent Washoe Valley and its marquee mountains.
ViewWaterfall Chaser
Reno's Hunter Creek Falls is accessible year-round but especially fantastic in spring when the desert peach wildflowers paint the landscape, and the marquee waterfall has snowmelt mojo.
ViewBeer Best
It seems like every city in the West tries to claim best craft beer and spirits status, yet Reno’s quietly done the work behind the scenes to emerge as a true best in brew—from beer to spirits, and innovative mead!
ViewCross It Off Your Bucket List
Crosstown Trail San Francisco may be one of the most beautiful city walks in America, passing through less-visited nooks and crannies while also taking in greatest hits, including mosaic stairways.
ViewPedal, Poppies, Picnic
Helen Putnam Regional Park punches above her weight. The compact yet bountiful park near Petaluma explodes with wildflowers every spring, in particular the state’s signature California poppy.
ViewVineyard Bathing
We know forest bathing, but how about vineyard bathing? Combine forest and vineyard for blissful hiking at Bartholomew Park in Sonoma. The park has a good 3-mile trail and beautiful winery grounds.
View- Sponsored
Outdoor Zen in Sonoma County
Sonoma County’s abundant natural beauty is good for your mind, body, and spirit. From redwoods and rhododendron walks, to yoga in a vineyard, here are five ways to soothe your soul in Sonoma County.
View Quicksilver Confetti
There’s something extra wild about Almaden Quicksilver County Park these days: wildflowers! They’re exploding like confetti amid the grasslands, and you can see them on this 5.7-mile loop hike.
ViewValentine Vista Loop
Hike the 4.3-mile Valentine Vista Trail at Moore Creek Park. It's spectacular for views and poppies blooming in spring.
ViewOhlone Time
The hills have gone green just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, and this 7.5-mile lollipop loop hike passes through some of Mount Tam’s lushest spots, with bridges, creeks, a waterfall, and big views.
ViewEdgewood Sparklers
Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve in Woodside sparkles with wildflowers, and you can see them on this 4.2-mile loop with vistas of Mount Diablo and the San Francisco Bay.
ViewHeadlands Over Heels
People come from all over the world to get a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. Get a dramatic and novel view of the bridge without all the people on this moderate 6-mile hike in the Marin Headlands.
View
The 2025 Hiking Calendar Is Here!
Ready to make hiking part of your New Year’s wellness plan? Get the all-new 2025 Hiking Calendar courtesy of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).
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