All "Dog Friendly" Stories in Northern CA
Winter Waterfall!
No need to wait for spring to see one of Bend’s most brilliant waterfalls. Tumalo Falls in Deschutes National Forest is wondrous in winter, when the main access road is closed to c
ViewWalk on the Wise Side
A wise man once said, “Walk it off.” And San Francisco has just the place for a colorful walk via a 2.7-mile loop along Philosopher’s Way Trail in the 318-acre John McLaren Park (S
ViewPaint the Town!
Ready to paint the town? This 1.6-mile easy urban walk from the Tendernob to Chinatown brightens winter days with bursts of color from some of the city’s newest murals. Start your
ViewMonumental Achievement
Want to kick off the New Year with a monumental accomplishment? Hike to Monument Peak in Milpitas. This 2,594-foot monument is a lightly trafficked, enjoyable, and challenging 7.7-
ViewScene Stealer
The holiday season is filled with guilty pleasures: Spiked eggnog; buying yourself a gift; climbing to a panoramic high point via a short mountain bike ride or hike. Yep, you'll be practically stealing the sweeping view at Hunter’s Point in Cupertino's Fremont Older Preserve.
ViewA Very Muiry Holiday Hike
We know the North Pole is currently all the rage with elves preparing gifts, but here in NorCal there’s something exciting afoot, too. We’ve got some new hiking open space! Thank t
ViewPulgas Pageant
Good things come in small packages! The peninsula’s Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, quietly located off Highway 280, makes an easygoing 2.3-mile loop through oaks and up to big c
ViewGo, Tell It on the Mountain
Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp
ViewTaylor Made Hike
Hiking during the holiday season is a great way to gain a little perspective … or a big perspective, if you decide to hike at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve,
ViewDrinking Wine Helps!
Sipping excellent wine while gazing out at rolling vineyards, fields of lavender in the foreground … yep, we’re ready to help wine country! Matanzas Creek Winery near Santa Rosa ha
ViewHike-in Hidden Beach
Blink and you'll miss some hidden beach bliss. Located in the tiny town of Elk on scenic Highway 1, Greenwood State Beach is easy to miss because it's a half-mile walk down to it.
ViewLight at the End of the Road
Looking for the light at the end of the road? How about a light station?! Dramatically perched at the tip of a headland and surrounded by 30 acres of open space, Point Cabrillo Lig
ViewMeet you in Montalvo
Before Hearst Castle there was Villa Montalvo, a 175-acre estate tucked in the hills outside Saratoga and built for one of the Bay Area’s wealthiest and most prominent bachelors, U
ViewThe Joaquin Dead
Named after the poet, Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland belongs in a sonnet about small wonders. But it also may belong in a classic ghost story! This unassuming park is said to be haunted....
ViewMott's Landing
Nestled north of Lafayette and Orinda, the peaks of Briones Regional Park showcase sweeping views of Mount Diablo, San Pablo Bay, and the San Joaquin River. And you may just make f
ViewCrockett in Your Pocket
There are plenty of reasons to add Crockett Hills Regional Park to your checklist of East Bay apexes. Overlooking the Carquinez Strait, the park is home to Edwards Sky Loop, a 2.1-
ViewPanorama Bonanza
Bring the dog, bag a peak, and get an impressive two-bridge view on a lollipop loop hike that includes the San Francisco skyline. Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve—high in the hil
ViewKeep on Rollin'
There are those who love to test their mettle with the pedal on road bike rides. Then there's the rest of us, looking for something more easygoing, yet still respectable in mileage
ViewGolden Sunday
Everyone sings the praises of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, and Sundays are a perfect day to tune in on its hidden art and free music scene. Go on a mile-long meander around th
ViewWalk the Line
So you’ve walked popular Lover’s Lane in the Presidio, but have you ever noticed the pathway hidden next to it? Tucked quietly between Lover’s Lane and Presidio Boulevard, Andy Gol
View
Weekend in Reno Tahoe
Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.
Reno Tahoe's Unique Spring Fun
Your Inbox to the Outdoors
Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.