Best Dog Friendly Trails Near Me – Today I want to bring you my guide to dog-friendly adventures in the Bay Area. If you love your furry friends, love beautiful scenery and amazing Northern California scenery, this list will show you the best places to hike near San Francisco. From Marin County to the Peninsula, Falls and Pacific Trails, they’ve got you covered. I also included a map.
Given how much San Francisco Bay Area residents love their dogs, there are plenty of dog-friendly walking spots near the city. Whether you want to visit Marin County, the East Bay, the Peninsula, or elsewhere, you’re spoiled for choice for dog walking in the Bay Area.
Best Dog Friendly Trails Near Me
Not to mention the land. Do you like waterfalls? There are walks for you and your pup. Do you like the view of the Pacific Ocean? The Bay Area has you covered. Do you prefer forest, hill or mountain? Check out. Check out. Check out.
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I’ve been walking dogs in the Bay Area all my life. Growing up in Silicon Valley, I walked dog-friendly trails in the Bay Area with my family as a child. From Windy Hill in Portola Valley to Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto, we love the outdoors with our large standard poodle.
As an adult, I’ve done all the adventures on this list with my boyfriend’s Mini Goldendoodle. From the North Bay to the Peninsula, we travel widely. This list contains my favorites. The pup enjoys it as much as I do, and we can both recommend it from personal experience (although I’m more vocal about it than he is!).
I’ll add more hikes to this blog post as I write about them, so you can bookmark them or pin them to Pinterest for easy reference. Given how much we enjoyed this trip, I know I will be making another trip soon.
As with all hikes in Northern California, be sure to bring water, a towel or blanket for you and your dog in case Fido gets muddy or dirty, a leash (sounds obvious, but I’ve seen it), and a carrier bag. Clean up after the mess left on the road.
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Finally, don’t forget to check for fleas for you and your furry friend. This disease is common on San Francisco Bay Area roads and can cause Lyme disease in humans and dogs.
Topping our list of the best dog hikes in the Bay Area is North Bay’s Cataract Falls Trail. Four-legged friends are welcome here on a leash, and it’s a popular spot for hiking after a big storm.
Located off Fairfax-Bolinas Road near Stinson Beach, it sits on Mount Tamalpais. A protected mountain area known for its rivers, reservoirs and sequoia trees.
Cataract Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Marin County and the Bay Area. It features a narrow forest trail that hugs a series of small waterfalls that flow into Cataract Creek.
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The route is quite challenging, requiring you to climb uneven stone steps and cross narrow bridges, as well as gain elevation. If you go after a heavy rain (when the falls are at their best), this means your dog’s feet will be muddy (and possibly muddy all over).
The hike to Cataract Falls can be done out-and-back or back-to-back. About 3 miles on the First Cataract Trail (1.5 miles each way). It covers a height of about 1,055 feet.
The hike is about 7.5 miles of different trails. It covers an elevation of about 1,985 feet. You can see a map of both routes on my blog about Cataract Falls for more information.
The amount of time it takes to walk depends on your fitness level and how fast you and your dog want to walk. The 3 mile hike takes 2-3 hours and the 7.5 mile loop takes 3.5-5 hours. If you are in good shape, you can do it faster. If your dog is a slower walker, this may take longer.
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You can do this hike any time of the year, but since the waterfall is the main attraction, it’s best to do it after heavy rains. In Marin County, that usually means the winter months. If you can time your trip around stormy weather, you’ll get the best view of the falls.
Mount Montara is next on my list of best dog hikes in the Bay Area. Encompassing McNee Ranch State Park and San Pedro Valley County Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this peak is an ideal place to get out and enjoy nature in San Mateo County, California.
This mountain is 1898 feet above sea level. The surrounding area is home to hiking trails that lead to the North Peak and other locations in and around Pantai Negeri Montara. It’s a great day trip from San Francisco.
Mount Montara is located in the South Pacific Ocean. It covers 690 acres and is open from 8 am to sunset. Here are some hikes you can do, all dog-friendly. Distances and challenges vary, so there are options for every fitness level.
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If you prefer an easy hike, the 1-mile Gray Whale Trail is a great option. This will take you from Gray Whale Cove State Beach to Montara State Beach and Highway 1.
After a short hill at the start, the course is relatively flat and has beautiful views of the coast. The trail is located on the beach, so you can enjoy the sea view along the way.
If you and your dog want more of a challenge, you can start on the Gray Whale Cove Trail and continue on the North Summit Trail or the Old San Pedro Mountain Trail. Both involve gradual ascents, so they are more difficult (but not as difficult) than the Gray Whale Cove Trail.
The first is a fiery path, so the path is wide. The hike is 6.9 miles one way and takes you to the summit of Mount Montara. From the top, you can admire the beautiful view of the beach and the entire Bay Area.
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The latter has more twists, but is still a good choice. This trail leads to the Pacific Ocean and crosses the North Summit inlet and joins it for a while. If you want, you can turn onto the highway to reach Puncak Utara. It is 3.2 miles one way.
Finally, the Mount Montara Trail is a moderately challenging trail that starts in San Pedro Valley District Park and leads to the North Peak Trail. From there you can follow the path to the top of the mountain. It is 2.1 miles one way.
Between the official trails, there are many small roads that can be used to switch from one trail to another or to take a shortcut. If you want more information, you can see details and a map of the Montara climb on my blog.
Next on my list of dog-friendly hikes in the Bay Area is the Oakwood Valley Trail. If you and your dog want to get out in Marin County, this moderately difficult hike is perfect.
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This trail is dog-friendly and not as steep as other trails in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for a fun hike in the woods.
Oakwood Valley is located north of Marine Hill. It is home to the largest oak trees and bayou in Golden Gate National Park. More than 500 plant species grow here, and there are grassy and mixed forests.
Oakwood Valley Trail is a 2.58 mile loop. It is fairly flat at the beginning and end and has hilly sections with lots of steps in between.
This is because the climb is partly circular and partly back and forth. It starts on the singletrack Oakwood Meadow Trail, then meets the Oakwood Valley Trail (sometimes called the Fire Road Trail). From there it continues until it reaches the Alta pass.
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When you reach the Alta Trail, you can turn around and retrace your steps to where the Oakwood Valley Trail meets the Oakwood Meadow Trail, then walk back to the parking lot via the fire road.
Oakwood Valley Trail meets Tennessee Valley Road right next to Oakwood Meadow Trail, so it’s only a short walk to the car when you get to the end of the road.
The climb starts at 33 feet and reaches 621 feet at the highest point. Most of the braces are outside and in the middle, so if you and your dog prefer a flat ride, you can skip that part and just do the loop.
The trail is well laid out and well marked so it’s easy to follow.
