All "Dog Friendly" Stories in Southern CA
The Grand Ride
The Sacramento River Trail in Redding lives up to its premier status as one of the best rail trails in the country for bikes and pedestrians only. Start at the architecturally stunning Sundial Bridge and follow the sublime Sacramento River upstream all the way to Shasta Dam.
ViewWine O'Clock
You’ll find no attitude, no fuss, and no wine tasting fee when visiting some of the down-to-earth wineries just outside Redding. Take Dakaro Cellars, beautifully set amid the Shasta Cascade countryside with charming deck and grounds for tasting.
ViewChamise, Please
Redding’s Chamise Peak is reached via a 5-mile hike that rewards with a 360-degree vista including the Sacramento River canyon, Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, and Mount Shasta.
ViewColor-fall Roll or Stroll
With over 250 miles to choose from, Redding is known as Trail City, USA for good reason. Basically, this place is a mountain biking haven with one of the West’s best trail systems. Novice mountain-bike riders will love the easygoing and scenic 3.5-mile Churn Creek Greenway.
ViewFall for These Falls
Chase waterfalls in Redding’s Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. This 42,000 acres of wilderness park is home to four waterfalls. Hike to the tallest, the three-tiered, 220-foot Whiskeytown Falls.
ViewGrasslands Galore
At the sprawling 3,521-acre Ramona Grasslands Preserve in northern San Diego County, there are just two loops: the 2-mile Wildflower Loop and the 0.8-mile Meadow Loop. Connect them both on this hike that explores the best features of the park.
ViewHidden Hike, Huge View
90-acre Luelf Pond County Preserve is a hidden treasure in San Diego County. It's home to a 1.5-mile (out-and-back) trail with a huge vista reward.
ViewDos Picos
The 1.4-mile loop around Dos Picos County Park is a small yet mighty gem in northern San Diego County. It's gentle and packs a bunch of scenery.
ViewPasadena Haunts and Hauntings
Ghostly buildings, eerie alleys, scary stories … Pasadena’s picturesque old town is rife with haunted history. Take a 3.75-mile stroll that’s full of secret treats.
ViewHistoric Hidden Gem
Smack in the middle of Monterey, and featuring a phenomenal view of the bay and the harbor, Lower Presidio Historic Park is truly an undiscovered gem. In fact, some historians have called it “the most historically significant site on the West Coast of America.”
ViewBeauty and the Beach
Sweeping, romantic, and vast, Garrapata State Park has all the stuff of swoon-worthy scenery. There’s a magical beach backed by hulking cliffs with a hiking trail we like best in the later afternoon, when the beach can be blissfully deserted.
ViewAudio Adventure Walks
Starting from the magnificent Monterey Bay Aquarium, do a deep dive into the interesting history of Monterey Bay on an audio tour along the Monterey Coastal Recreation Trail. The Monterey History Walking Tour is a nice way to get an overview of the beautiful bay and its diverse history.
ViewGetting Salty
Long walks on the beach are great, but what about long walks to the beach? This 7.7-mile (round-trip) to the beautiful Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point is one of the best in Orange County.
View- Sponsored
Whiskey You Were Here!
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is surrounded by miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, beaches for lounging, and waterfalls. It’s also home to some of the best mellow paddling in the state.
View Heavenly Elysian
Founded in 1886, Elysian Park is LA’s oldest park, and one of its biggest. Spanning 600 acres, this urban playground has multiple attractive features that will keep you coming back for more.
ViewSpoke and Wheel
It’s Saturday morning—don’t just roll out of bed … roll out to the LA River Bikeway. Also known as the paved Los Angeles River Trail or the Los Angeles River Greenway Trail, whatever you call it, it makes for a nice morning ride with park stops along the way.
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The Trail Less Traveled
Sometimes it’s the trails less traveled that bring memories most cherished. Sun Valley, Idaho, offers a change of pace and scenery that inspires a sense of wonder and a feeling of rejuvenation.
View Little Mountain, Flat Top
The rolling hills of East Los Angeles possess many hidden gems, one of which is Montecito Heights Open Space. It’s a bit off the beaten path, and your goal is to reach the “Flat Top.”
ViewStoried Trail
If ever there was a fairy trail, this 6.8-mile lollipop loop on Sun Valley’s Proctor Mountain is it. The Proctor Mountain Trail is a storied route in more ways than one, starting with its tranquil oasis memorial for a famous writer, Ernest Hemingway.
ViewBald Statement
If you’re going to have a rite of passage hiking in Sun Valley, the hike to the summit of Bald Mountain is one to check off your list. This 5-mile (one-way) trek requires some stamina, yet richly rewards with a variety of views and vantages, abundant wildflowers, and the chance to combine a free chairlift and gondola ride back down.
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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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