Dog-Friendly California Road Trip Locations
Deep forests filled with ancient trees, otherworldly deserts, breathtaking mountain ranges, serene beaches, and marinas rich with rare sea life: California’s nature is as diverse as it is awe-striking.
Deciding which biome you want to visit is difficult enough when you’re only planning for yourself, but wanting to bring your pup along adds another layer of stress. We made it easy for you as we delve into some of California’s best road trip locations for nature-lovers - all of which are dog-friendly.
Lake Tahoe
Resorts
Margaritaville Resort: This resort, located right on the California/Nevada border, offers hot tubs, fire pits, live music, and hand-crafted drinks for their clients! The pet fee is $50 per day, and dogs are limited to 50 pounds and under.
For more information, check out their website here.
Tahoe Moon Properties: These properties range from locations in North Lake Tahoe to Truckee. Prices range from $150 - $1,150 a night, depending on proximity to the lake and the number of bedrooms desired.
For a detailed review of their services and available houses, check out their website
Mother Nature’s Inn: This inn is close to sledding, skiing, jet skiing, river rafting, and of course, hiking trails! Right on the shore of Lake Tahoe, Mother Nature’s Inn is within walking distance of bagels and coffee, dinner restaurants, rental kayaks, sporting stores, museums, and shopping!
For further information, take a gander over to their site.
Trails
Paige Meadows – This 3.3-mile loop is considered an easy skill level. It includes some of the best wildflower blooms in the basin, with the peak season being late May to mid June.
Eagle Rock – This trail is only 1.5 miles round-trip and is an out-and-back style trail. It’s a moderate skill level due to the steepness of the trail, and it leads up and across dormant volcanic rock for beautiful panoramic views.
Shirley Canyon –This trail is at a difficult skill level because it includes climbing! However, the effort is absolutely worth it, as it leads to waterfalls and granite boulders with breathtaking views.
Big Sur Area
Dogs are not permitted within the state park (excluding service dogs), but there are incredible views in the area of Los Padres National Forest where dogs are allowed!
Camping Sites and Lodges
Big Sur Lodge: Just a 12-minute drive from the shore, the Big Sur Lodge includes a pool overlooking a river for you to enjoy (pool not available for dog use).
Riverside Campground and Cabins: With a pet fee of only $5 per night, this camping site has easy access to rivers, trails, and pet-friendly beaches nearby for you and your pup to enjoy! All camping materials, including a tent or RV, are required for entry. There are 22 campsites along the Big Sur River, offered by Riverside Campground and Cabins. A map of the campsites can be found here.
Trails
Tanbark Trail and Tin House: This is a six-and-a-half-mile loop through the redwood forest, and the ending stretch has incredible views of the ocean. It is considered a “moderate” trail by AllTrails guide, which means that this trail may be better for experienced hikers. The average walker would take about 4 hours to complete the loop.
Salmon Creek Trail and Watering Hole: With less than a half-mile hike (around 0.3 miles) to a large swimming area, Salmon Creek Trail makes the perfect day trip destination for those with water-loving pups! Just be careful in the water - as river and lake explorers know, slipping on a wet rock can put a quick end to an adventure.
Timbertop and Boronda Trail: This hike is considered difficult due to the strenuous and extended incline, and is recommended by multiple sites to only be attempted by experienced hikers or routine backpackers. There is little sun protection, so hats, sunglasses, a lot of water, and other protective gear are a must. The trail is 5.8 miles, with incredible ocean views.
Stanislaus National Forest
With everything you, your family, and your pup could want - picnicking, camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and more. Stanislaus National Forest makes for an incredibly beautiful and wildly fun destination.
Campgrounds
The National Park sites include a map and listing of all available campgrounds. Though almost all areas are open to pups, there are certain picnic areas that do not allow dogs in the summer months.
Check out the rules here, and always follow all safety regulations mandated by the National Park Service.
*GlampingHub and VRBO also offer more luxurious options for those who enjoy staying in an apartment or house on-site!
Trails
Pinecrest Lake Loop is a hike that’s considered moderately difficult, being around 4 miles for the full loop. The trail is popular amongst hikers and those there to fish, so it’s common to run into other people on the trail.
Diana Falls is a great hike for beginners and those with pups who tire easily. It’s an easy difficulty level, out-and-back style, flat trail that runs parallel to a river and leads to a waterfall! Dogs must be leashed, but the water is excellent for swimming in the summertime.
Lyon’s Dam is also a great trail for those who like a more relaxed pace, and is popular with cyclists, joggers, and equestrians. It’s a 10-mile out-and-back trail that includes portions where dogs can be off-leash!
Conclusion
There are SO many beautiful and extraordinary places one could visit and explore in California. Even most native Californians have yet to visit all there is to see and explore. If we were to list every dog-friendly road trip destination in this article, it would be exhaustive! However, we hope that you found this article, naming just a few dog-friendly road trip destinations, to be interesting, helpful, and sparked your imagination for your next California road trip (including your furry pal, of course).
*This blog may contain affiliate links
Written by: Dog Tired Adventures Team
Co-Author & Editor: Jessica Hays
Lead Dog Walker, Social Media/Community Outreach Associate
Sources
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/tanbark-trail-and-tin-house
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/salmon-creek-trail-to-salmon-creek-falls
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/timber-top-and-boranda-trail
https://theparkslife.com/is-big-sur-dog-friendly/#Are_Dogs_Allowed_at_Big_Sur_State_Parks
https://www.yosemite.com/things-to-do/adventure-activities/diana-fall-diana-pool/
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/stanislaus-national-forest/dogs
