Northern California is one of the great hiking destinations on the planet — and the good news for dog owners is that a remarkable number of its best trails welcome dogs. From the windswept coastal bluffs of Marin to the alpine granite of the Sierra Nevada, from the redwood canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the volcanic drama of the Shasta Cascades, the region offers more variety in a single day’s drive than most states offer in their entirety.

This is our running list of dog-friendly hikes across Northern California — trails we’ve walked with Ruby and trails we’re adding to the list. It’s organized by region so you can plan by geography, whether you’re looking for a quick Bay Area morning hike or building a longer road trip itinerary around waterfall chasing in the Cascades.

All hikes on this list are confirmed dog-friendly. Leash requirements are noted for each trail — follow posted signage on the day of your visit as rules can change seasonally.

San Francisco

Lands End

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco One of the most dramatic urban hikes in America — a 3.5-mile coastal trail winding through wind-sculpted cypress groves above the rocky Pacific shore, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and the Farallon Islands on clear days. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout. The Sutro Baths ruins at the western terminus make a memorable destination.

• Distance: 3.5 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

Fort Funston

San Francisco, Golden Gate National Recreation Area A beloved SF dog-walking destination on the bluffs above Ocean Beach — wide sandy trails, hang gliders launching from the cliffs, and sweeping views down the coast. Dogs are welcome on leash on most trails and off-leash in designated areas (check current NPS signage). The bluff-top loop is about 2 miles and endlessly rewarding on a clear morning.

• Distance: 2 miles loop | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Off-leash areas designated; leash required elsewhere

Andy Goldsworthy’s Woodline Trail

Presidio of San Francisco A quietly magical walk through a eucalyptus grove in the Presidio following Andy Goldsworthy’s iconic land art installation — a serpentine line of felled logs that winds through the trees like a wooden river. Dogs on leash are welcome throughout the Presidio trail network. Short enough for a lunch break, memorable enough to return to.

• Distance: 1 mile loop | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Sunset Dunes (Ocean Beach)

Ocean Beach, San Francisco The windswept dunes at the northern end of Ocean Beach offer a classic San Francisco coastal walk with big sky views, crashing surf, and the Golden Gate Bridge visible to the north on clear days. Dogs are welcome on the beach and dunes on leash. Best visited in the morning before the afternoon onshore wind picks up.

• Distance: Variable | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Glen Canyon Park

San Francisco A surprising pocket of nature hidden within a residential San Francisco neighborhood — a narrow green canyon with a seasonal creek, rock outcroppings, and a genuine sense of escape from the city. Dogs are welcome on leash throughout. Local dog owners treat it as a neighborhood gem. Accessible from the Glen Park BART station.

• Distance: 1–2 miles | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

California Coastal Trail — Baker Beach to Golden Gate Bridge

Presidio, San Francisco One of the most iconic urban hikes in Northern California — a 2.7-mile trail through the Presidio that hugs the Pacific-facing bluffs from Baker Beach all the way to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge, passing historic coastal gun batteries, cypress groves, and sweeping views of the Marin Headlands and bay. The trail moves through Battery Chamberlain and Battery Boutelle before reaching the Golden Gate Overlook, one of the best up-close vantage points of the bridge in the city. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the main Coastal Trail. Note that the Batteries to Bluffs detour — a short side trail that drops down along the coastal bluffs — does not allow dogs, so stick to the main path. Baker Beach itself allows dogs off-leash north of Lobos Creek, making it an easy add-on before or after the hike.

👉 For more on visiting San Francisco with your dog, see our San Francisco weekend guide.

• Distance: 2.7 miles one way | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required on trail

Rodeo Beach Coastal Trail

Marin Headlands, Golden Gate National Recreation Area The signature Marin Headlands hike for dogs — a trail that drops down through coastal scrub to Rodeo Beach, one of the only off-leash beaches in the Bay Area. The beach itself is legendary for its semi-precious stones (jade and tourmaline), dramatic rocky shores, and powerful surf. Dogs under voice control are permitted off-leash on the beach.

• Distance: 2–4 miles depending on route | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Off-leash under voice control at beach; leashed on trail

Muir Beach Coastal Trail

Golden Gate National Recreation Area A scenic coastal loop connecting Muir Beach to the surrounding headlands, with sweeping Pacific views and excellent birding. The beach allows dogs on leash (off-leash in the lower beach area — check current NPS signage). The Muir Beach Overlook a few miles north on Highway 1 is a five-minute dog-friendly pull-off with spectacular views.

• Distance: 2.5 miles loop | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Leashed on trail; check beach rules on arrival

Cataract Falls

Mount Tamalpais Watershed, Marin County One of the most spectacular waterfall hikes in the Bay Area — a 3-mile trail that follows Cataract Creek through a redwood and oak canyon past a series of dramatic cascades tumbling into pools. Dogs are welcome on leash. Best visited after winter rains when the falls are at full volume; the trail gets muddy but rewards the effort.

• Distance: 3 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required

Cascade Falls — Fairfax

Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve, Fairfax A short, accessible hike to a beautiful 20-foot waterfall hidden in a redwood canyon just minutes from downtown Fairfax. Dogs on leash are welcome on Marin County Open Space trails. Best after rains November through April; can be a trickle in dry summer months.

• Distance: 1.5 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Dawn Falls

Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, Larkspur A lovely redwood canyon hike to a tiered waterfall near Larkspur — accessible, beautiful, and rarely crowded. Dogs on leash are welcome in Marin County Open Space Preserves. The trailhead is tucked into a residential neighborhood; arrive early on weekends for parking.

• Distance: 2 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Cascade Falls — Mill Valley

Mount Tamalpais State Park adjacent trails, Mill Valley A short hike through second-growth redwoods to a beautiful cascade on Cascade Creek near Mill Valley. Dogs on leash are welcome on the county trail sections; note that dogs are not permitted on Mount Tamalpais State Park trails proper — stay on the county-maintained sections.

• Distance: 1.5 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Carson Falls — Fairfax

Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve, Fairfax A rewarding hike through grassland and oak woodland to a series of tiered falls on Pine Mountain — less visited than the other Marin waterfall trails and all the better for it. Leashed dogs welcome on Marin County Open Space trails. Best in late winter and spring.

• Distance: 4 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required

Ken Harth Waterfall

Marin County Open Space A quieter Marin waterfall hike with a beautiful redwood setting and far fewer crowds than the more well-known trails. Dogs on leash welcome throughout. A good option when Cataract and Cascade are busy on winter weekends.

• Distance: 2 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

West Point Inn — Matt Davis to Nora Trail

Mount Tamalpais State Park / West Marin A classic Marin hike connecting the Matt Davis Trail to the Nora Trail and finishing at the historic West Point Inn — a non-motorized mountain refuge that serves pancake breakfasts on weekend mornings in the summer via reservations. Note that dogs are not permitted on Mount Tamalpais State Park trails, but the road and fire road sections connecting to West Point Inn are dog-friendly. Dogs are also not permitted on the deck of West Point Inn so you’ll need to wait with your dog at the picnic tables out front while someone else orders. Check current trail status before planning.

• Distance: Varies by route | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required on permitted sections

East Bay

Briones Regional Park — Alhambra Creek Trail

Briones Regional Park, Martinez A peaceful and relatively uncrowded hike through the rolling oak-studded hills of Briones, following Alhambra Creek through a quiet valley. Dogs on leash are welcome throughout Briones Regional Park. The park’s grassland and oak woodland habitat feel distinctly California in the best way.

• Distance: 4 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

Del Valle Regional Park — East Shore Trail

Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore A beautiful lake-level trail along the eastern shore of Lake Del Valle — one of the best dog-friendly hikes in the East Bay for sheer scenic reward relative to effort. Del Valle Regional Park allows leashed dogs throughout. Combine with a swim at the designated dog area in the lake for a complete summer outing.

• Distance: 5 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Shell Ridge Open Space

Shell Ridge Open Space, Walnut Creek A network of rolling grassland trails in the Diablo foothills above Walnut Creek — open, expansive, and excellent for a dog who likes space to range on a long leash. Dogs on leash are welcome throughout Shell Ridge Open Space. The views west toward the Bay Area on clear days are striking.

• Distance: 2–8 miles depending on route | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

Redwood Regional Park, Oakland A genuine old-growth redwood experience within the East Bay hills — towering second-growth and remnant old-growth redwoods line the Stream Trail along Redwood Creek, creating a cathedral-like canopy that’s extraordinary on foggy mornings. Redwood Regional Park allows leashed dogs on most trails. A short drive from Oakland yet feeling completely remote.

• Distance: 3–6 miles depending on route | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required

Inspiration Point — Orinda

Tilden Regional Park / Sibley Volcanic Preserve, Orinda A scenic ridge walk with 360-degree East Bay views, connecting Tilden Regional Park to the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. Dogs on leash welcome throughout both parks. The volcanic terrain of Sibley adds geological intrigue to what would otherwise be an already beautiful grassland ridge walk.

• Distance: 3–5 miles | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

UC Davis Arboretum

UC Davis Campus, Davis A 100-acre living museum of California native plants threading along Putah Creek on the UC Davis campus — a beautiful, flat, dog-friendly walk with excellent plant diversity and creek access. Leashed dogs are welcome on the arboretum trail. A lovely stop when passing through the Sacramento Valley or visiting Davis.

• Distance: 3.5 miles loop | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Peninsula & South Bay

Devil’s Slide Trail

Tom Lantos Tunnels Trailhead, Pacifica The former Highway 1 coastal road section turned trail — one of the most dramatic 1.3-mile walks on the California coast, with sheer cliffs dropping into the Pacific and views in both directions along the coast. Dogs on leash are welcome throughout. An easy and extraordinarily rewarding hike that most visitors fly past on their way to Half Moon Bay.

• Distance: 1.3 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Mori Point

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Pacifica A short but spectacular coastal bluff hike with sweeping Pacific views and access to a small beach at the base of the cliffs. Dogs on leash welcome on the GGNRA trails. Often combined with Devil’s Slide for a half-day Pacifica coastal outing.

• Distance: 2 miles loop | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Gray Whale Cove

Highway 1, Montara A tucked-away coastal trail leading to a secluded cove beach below the bluffs south of Pacifica. Leashed dogs welcome on the trail. The beach is clothing-optional (officially) but the dogs don’t mind and neither do most hikers. One of the quieter gems on this section of the coast.

• Distance: 0.5 miles | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Maverick’s Cliff Trail

Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County A short coastal trail above the famous big-wave surf break at Mavericks, with dramatic ocean views and the unique experience of watching massive waves from the bluffs on big swell days. Dogs on leash are welcome on the trail. Combine with a visit to Half Moon Bay and a stop at the beach.

• Distance: 1.5 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Wavecrest Open Space

Half Moon Bay A beautiful coastal grassland preserve between Half Moon Bay and the Pacific with sweeping ocean views, wildflowers in spring, and easy access from town. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout. A peaceful and underrated Peninsula coastal hike.

• Distance: 2–3 miles | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Pulgas Ridge Open Space

San Carlos, San Mateo County A network of trails in the Santa Cruz Mountain foothills with off-leash areas in designated zones — one of very few Peninsula open spaces to permit off-leash dogs. Pulgas Ridge is an excellent choice when you want your dog to have genuine running room without driving to the beach. Oak woodland setting with Bay views from the upper ridges.

• Distance: 2–4 miles | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Off-leash in designated areas; leash required elsewhere

UVAS Canyon — Waterfall Loop to Contour Trail

UVAS Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill One of the most waterfall-dense hikes in the Bay Area — a 3.5-mile loop that passes six named waterfalls in a redwood canyon in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Santa Clara County Parks allows leashed dogs throughout. Best from November through April when the falls are running fully; the canyon can be dry by midsummer.

• Distance: 3.5 miles loop | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required

Wine Country

Bartholomew Estate Winery Trails

Sonoma The Bartholomew Estate Winery in Sonoma is a rare combination of excellent wine tasting and genuine dog-friendly hiking — the property’s trail network winds through historic vineyards and open hillside with excellent valley views. Dogs on leash are welcome on the trails and at the tasting room patio. One of the most enjoyable wine country dog experiences in Sonoma.

• Distance: 1–3 miles depending on route | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

Mendocino Coast

Russian Gulch State Park

Mendocino Coast A spectacular coastal redwood hike in one of Mendocino’s most beautiful state parks — a lush canyon with a waterfall, a coastal blowhole, and some of the finest second-growth redwood forest on the coast. Dogs on leash are welcome on the day-use trails. An excellent addition to any Mendocino coastal itinerary.

👉 For more on the Mendocino Coast, see our Mendocino guide.

• Distance: 6 miles loop | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required

Sierra Nevada & Lake Tahoe

Cook’s Meadow Loop

Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park One of the few trails in Yosemite Valley where dogs are permitted — a flat, paved 1-mile loop through the valley floor meadows with iconic views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the surrounding granite walls. Dogs on leash are welcome on this trail and on other paved surfaces in the valley. An essential stop for any dog owner visiting Yosemite.

• Distance: 1 mile loop | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Cave Rock Trail

Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Zephyr Cove, NV A short but striking out-and-back hike on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, climbing to an overlook atop one of the lake’s most recognizable geological landmarks — a 3-million-year-old volcanic vent that now forms a tunnel for Highway 50 below. The established trail ends at a saddle with sweeping lake views in both directions; from there, a rocky scramble leads to the exposed summit with a full 180-degree panorama over the water. Dogs on leash are permitted on the trail. Worth noting: the site is considered sacred by the Washoe people, who call it De’ek Wadapush, so treat the area with care. Best visited at sunrise or sunset.

👉 For more on visiting Lake Tahoe with your dog, see our Lake Tahoe summer guide.

• Distance: 0.8 miles out and back | Difficulty: Easy (with optional rock scramble at the top) | Leash: Required

Monkey Rock Trail

Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Incline Village, NV One of the best payoff hikes on the North Shore — a 2.6-mile out-and-back that climbs steadily through Jeffrey pine forest above Incline Village to a panoramic granite overlook with sweeping views of the entire lake and the Sierra Nevada to the west. The namesake rock formation at the summit is a carved boulder that, when viewed from the right angle, looks unmistakably like a sitting primate gazing out at the water. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout. The trailhead begins just behind the Tunnel Creek Café off Highway 28; parking can fill quickly in summer, so arriving early or timing for sunset is recommended.

• Distance: 2.6 miles out and back | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required

Fallen Leaf Lake Trail

Fallen Leaf Lake, South Lake Tahoe A quiet, mostly flat out-and-back along the shoreline of Fallen Leaf Lake — the second largest lake in the Tahoe Basin and one of the most serene spots on the South Shore. The trail follows the forested edge of the lake with frequent opportunities to drop down to the water’s edge for a swim or a break. The terrain is primarily dirt with some rocks and occasional downed trees, and the surrounding forest canopy makes it a particularly pleasant summer morning hike. Leashed dogs are welcome. A $10 day-use fee is collected at the Fallen Leaf Campground entrance. Note that the access road is not plowed in winter, and the trail is closed seasonally when the campground is closed.

• Distance: 3.5 miles out and back | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

Chimney Beach to Secret Cove

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Incline Village, NV A short, scenic trail on the east shore that connects two of the most beautiful hike-in beaches on the Nevada side of the lake. The trail descends from a small Forest Service parking lot on Highway 28 to Chimney Beach — named for the lone stone chimney still standing from a 1930s caretaker’s cabin — and continues another half mile to Secret Cove, a rocky granite cove with some of the clearest water on the lake. Both beaches are dog-friendly and managed by the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, which explicitly permits leashed dogs at Chimney Beach. The parking area is free but has only around 30 spaces and fills fast on summer mornings. Note that Secret Cove has a long-standing tradition as a clothing-optional beach.

• Distance: 2.4 miles out and back (to Secret Cove) | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Panorama Dome Trail

Inyo National Forest, Mammoth Lakes A short, steep climb off Lake Mary Road that earns one of the best 360-degree views in the Eastern Sierra — a wide open summit overlooking the entire Mammoth Lakes Basin, Twin Lakes, the Mammoth Crest, the southern flanks of Mammoth Mountain, and across town to the Long Valley Caldera and the White Mountains. The trail winds up through pine forest before opening into low manzanita scrub at the treeless top, where the exposure to wind is real and the views in every direction are worth it. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout. The trailhead is off Lake Mary Road near the Twin Lakes junction; parking is a small roadside pull-off that fills quickly. Best accessed May through November, though the dome is also a popular snowshoe destination in winter.

👉 For more on visiting Mammoth with your dog, see our winter guide to Mammoth Lakes.

• Distance: 0.8 miles out and back | Difficulty: Moderate | Leash: Required

Shasta & Cascades

Hedge Creek Falls

Dunsmuir, CA One of the best quick waterfall stops in all of Northern California — a short, shaded trail just off I-5 in Dunsmuir that drops into a wooded canyon to a 35-foot cascade pouring over columnar basalt into a shallow pool below. The real payoff is the trail itself, which passes directly behind the waterfall through a natural cave carved into the basalt cliff — one of the few waterfall hikes in the state where you can walk behind the curtain of water. The trail continues past the falls to a small overlook above the Sacramento River. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout; watch for poison oak on the trail. Parking is free at the small trailhead lot right off the Dunsmuir Avenue exit. One of the easiest and most rewarding five-minute detours from the highway in the Shasta Cascade region.

👉 For more on visiting the area with your dog, see our Mt. Shasta and Dunsmuir guide.

• Distance: 0.6 miles out and back | Difficulty: Easy | Leash: Required

Mossbrae Falls

Dunsmuir, CA One of the most breathtaking waterfalls in all of California — a spring-fed curtain of water stretching nearly 175 feet wide that cascades directly out of a moss-covered volcanic canyon wall and into the Sacramento River below. The falls are fed by underground springs rather than a single creek, which creates the effect of dozens of individual streams pouring through a wall of ferns and moss simultaneously. There is nothing else quite like it in the state.

A few important things to know before you go: the current route to the falls runs approximately 1.2 miles along active Union Pacific railroad tracks and is technically on private property. There is no official maintained trail. You hike at your own risk, trains pass through without warning, and you should remove headphones and stay alert the entire time. Do not bring children. The City of Dunsmuir is actively working with Union Pacific to build a safe, official trail connecting Hedge Creek Falls to Mossbrae via a pedestrian bridge over the Sacramento River — check the City of Dunsmuir’s website for updates on that project.

For dogs: the railroad ballast along the tracks is large, sharp, and uneven, and it is hard on paws. Dog booties are strongly recommended, or carry your dog in a backpack for the majority of the route. Keep your dog on a short leash and close to your side at all times given the proximity to active tracks. Best visited in spring when the spring-fed flow is at its peak, though the falls run year-round.

👉 For more on visiting the area with your dog, see our Mt. Shasta and Dunsmuir guide.

• Distance: ~2.9 miles out and back | Difficulty: Easy (terrain, not logistics) | Leash: Required

Heart Lake

Castle Lake Road, Mount Shasta area A beautiful alpine lake hike through the Trinity Mountains with sweeping views of Mount Shasta — accessible to dogs on leash on the national forest trails. The lake itself sits in a glacial cirque at just over 6,000 feet and is one of the more accessible high-altitude hikes in the region.

• Distance: 1.5 miles out-and-back | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

McCloud Waterfalls Trail

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, McCloud Three spectacular waterfalls on the McCloud River — Lower, Middle, and Upper Falls — connected by a 3.8-mile riverside trail through Douglas fir forest. The Middle Falls (70 feet wide, 35 feet high, split by a massive basalt buttress) is the showstopper. Dogs on leash are welcome throughout. No permits required. Note that access roads are subject to seasonal closure after the first winter snowfall — check conditions before visiting November through April.

• Distance: 3.8 miles out-and-back (or shorter to individual falls) | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Leash: Required

Seasonal Notes for Waterfall Hikes

The waterfall hikes on this list are organized into two categories by best season:

Winter and spring (November–April): Cataract Falls, Cascade Falls (Fairfax), Dawn Falls, Carson Falls, Ken Hartah Waterfall, Cascade Falls (Mill Valley), Uvas Canyon. All of these depend on rainfall for full flow. The Bay Area averages most of its precipitation between November and March — plan waterfall hikes after a good rain for the best conditions.

Spring through fall (April–October): McCloud Waterfalls, Potem Falls, Whiskeytown area waterfalls. These Sierra and Cascade waterfall trails are snowmelt-fed and at their best in late spring and early summer. Summer access is excellent but heat in the Shasta region can be severe — start early and bring more water than you think you need.

👉 For an in-depth guide to waterfall hikes specifically, see our Dog-Friendly Waterfall Hikes in Northern California post.

Tips for Hiking with Your Dog in Northern California

Leash laws vary by land manager. National parks (including Yosemite and Whiskeytown), state parks, and regional parks all have different rules. Always check current regulations before visiting — rules change seasonally and can differ even within a single park.

Water is the most important thing you’ll carry. Bring more than you think you need for both of you. Most Northern California trails have no potable water on route, and in summer the heat can be deceptive — especially at elevation and in the Shasta region.

Rattlesnakes are present throughout. Keep your dog on a short leash on sunny rocky trails from spring through fall. If your dog is bitten, get to a vet immediately — rattlesnake bites are treatable but time-sensitive.

Foxtails are a serious hazard. These dry grass seed pods are everywhere on California trails from May through October and can embed in paws, ears, nostrils, and skin. Check your dog thoroughly after every hike on dry grassland trails.

Pack out everything. This includes full waste bags — do not leave them on the trail to pick up on the way back or for someone else to remove. Carry them out.

This list is updated regularly as we add new trails. Have a favorite dog-friendly hike in Northern California that belongs here? Drop it in the comments.