All "Dog Friendly" Stories in Southern CA
Green Space to Sea Space
Green space meets sea space at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach. Spanning 32 acres, the park meanders with pathways and greenery fanned with palms and a statue of a humpback whale. It'
ViewAncient Volcano and a Labyrinth
Hike to a new point of view, and find a hidden labyrinth too! Tucked in the urban sprawl of Carlsbad is Lake Calavera Preserve, with trails criss-crossing the terrain, including a 4-mile loop leading to a panoramic vista, rock formations, and an oasis.
ViewCanals Less Traveled
If the only holiday bling you think you'll see in Venice is the shiny muscles of bodybuilders on the boardwalk, you're only partly right! Tucked away from this hustle, bustle, and
ViewBike on Water
Waterworld meets National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on this most original way to see holiday lights. Get your ho-ho-ho's and your ha-ha-ha's hydrobiking along the wide-open, fes
ViewOjai and Mighty
Blazed just over five years ago, Kennedy Ridge Trail climbs into a chaparral region above Ojai Valley once accessible only to wild creatures and the most daring bushwackers. Visit
ViewDam Good Views
Deep in San Francisquito Canyon north of Valencia, you can stand atop remnants of Saint Francis Dam—part of Mulholland’s LA Aqueduct system—which collapsed in 1928, becoming the wo
ViewFantastical Fig Trees
In a land of redwoods and sequoias, it's a bit unexpected that a residential street tucked in one of LA's toniest Westside neighborhoods is home to some of the most impressive-look
ViewEnchanted Forest
The towering, fog-enshrouded coastal redwoods of the northern coast feel like a world away from LA, but did you know you can find them in Orange County? Carbon Canyon Regional Park
ViewBottle Drive!
The High Desert northeast of the San Gabriel Mountains may not have the same grandeur as desert regions like Joshua Tree and Death Valley, but with a little digging, its own quirky
ViewTrees Company
One word to sum up the lower Zuma Canyon? Sycamores. Though willow, oak, and bay also grace this less-traveled Malibu respite in the Santa Monica Mountains, the patchy white-gray b
ViewDevils and Saints
You wouldn't think of a devil and a saint existing side by side all that comfortably, but hey, it's California—almost anything goes here. Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area near Palmda
ViewStarry-Eyed Camp Surprise
No trip to Joshua Tree National Park is complete without a stargazing party and the comfort of a campfire. The night sky illuminates spectacularly in the desert (especially during
ViewThree Bears and Lots of Lakes
Your chances of seeing a bear on the Bear Lakes Trail aren't all that high; but your chances of seeing spectacular High Sierra scenery on this 3-mile hike? Guaranteed! Located in t
ViewLookout!
The hardest part about spending the night in Sierraville's historic Calpine fire lookout? Deciding what time of year to go! Set at 5,970 feet, this private and cozy overnight escap
ViewThe Haunted Forest
Ready to find out if things really do go bump in the night? Looming over Altadena in the southern hollows of Angeles National Forest lie the decrepit ruins of Cobb Estate—its abandoned stairways and random lumps of concrete setting the stage for ghost tales galore.
ViewInto the Grotto
Halloween isn't just about hunting for candy. Go in search of a mossy grotto hidden in the Santa Monica Mountains, and your reward will be even sweeter. The grotto, embedded in ign
ViewHow Do You Like Them Pumpkins?
If it weren't for pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks, we Angelenos might never know that fall has arrived. Unless you know about Oak Glen’s good old fashioned u-pick pumpkin and hik
ViewCarmel's Calming Effect
SUNSET: Sunsets in Carmel just go better when paired with its flagship beach (and some wine, which is allowed on the beach!). Carmel Beach (pictured) is a locals' favorite for many
ViewHome Sweet Mountain Home
Score solitude on a little-used trail in two scenic canyons on the lower flanks of the San Bernardino Mountains south of Angelus Oaks. The 3-mile (round-trip) hike on Mountain Home
ViewPines and Panoramas
Ponderosa pines sighing with mountain breezes set the stage for this 3-mile out-and-back hike that serves up outstanding views of the Santa Ana River Valley. Start at Barton Flats
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).
Get the 2025 POST Hiking Calendar
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