Where to hike with a dog in Sonoma County: Jenner Headlands

I'll admit, the trails at Jenner Headlands Preserve definitely have some drawbacks for dogs. First, they have to be on-leash. Second, the reason for the leashes is cows. Lots of them. And if you have a dog bred to herd livestock like mine, you'll need a lot more than a leash to keep both of you on the trail when cows are near.                        

Even so, I still recommend this trail because the views are tremendous. It's truly glorious to be able to climb a mountain so close to the ocean, to feel sometimes as if you're soaring above it.

So if you can't stand hiking without your dog, and you've got a strong arm and strong collar, then by all means take your dog to enjoy those views with you.

The trailhead is just a few miles north of Jenner on Highway 1 and has a large parking lot that is easy to pull into and free of charge. But despite its many spaces, the parking lot was already nearly full by mid-morning on a recent Saturday visit.

Since most of our fellow hikers were heading up the "Sea to Sky Trail" on our visit, we turned right to take the Raptor Ridge Trail and meet up with the Wildflower Loop. In mid-April, that route was quite muddy and detours were still in effect, and it might still be muddy in early June given the recent rains. That trail also takes you very close to the highway at points, so if you want to escape the road more quickly, head to the left, where you can immediately enjoy sweeping views of the ocean.

But again, look out for those cows. There were so many cows using the trail at one point that we took to the steep hillside for about half a mile to give them plenty of space. The trail map advises hikers to approach the cows calmly using a normal voice until they move off the trail, but we were not brave enough to do that.

We also did not make the 7.5-mile hike to the top of Pole Mountain (13 miles round-trip), and instead chose about a four-mile loop that followed the Raptor Ridge trail on the way up and the Sea to Sky trail on the way down, plus a mile or so detour looking for the Wildflower Loop, which I never found the sign for.

Words to the Wise:

• There is no water available but there are restrooms, which were built to blend in nicely with the hillside. And once the vegetation around them builds up, they will disappear even more into the landscape. Since there is no running water, there are only pit toilets inside, but there was plenty of toilet paper and even incense during my visit.
• It was also very windy during my visit, so much so there were times we felt we were going to tumble down the mountain. Luckily we were finishing our hike about the time the wind really started kicking up, because I saw many hikers begin their hike, then quickly turn around because of the wind.
• Parking is free, and the lot is open 8 a.m. until sunset. The trail to the restrooms is handicapped accessible.

When you want to walk on the beach rather than above it, here's a good beach nearby that allows dogs: Blind Beach

Where to take a dog near Jenner: Blind Beach

Often you find the best things while looking for something else. That's how I discovered Blind Beach near Jenner in Sonoma County, California.

Blind Beach with Goat Rock in the background.

We were driving on Goat Rock Road and hoping to walk the dog before sunset, but the sign at the trail I was looking for said dogs weren't allowed. So we kept going until we found a sign welcoming them at Blind Beach, then stopped at the empty parking lot and I jumped out with the dog.

Heading down to the sand.

And I'm so glad I did, because that was the most beautiful beach I've visited in a long time. It's not easy to get to, so that is likely while the parking lot was empty. Not only do you have to walk down a steep hillside full of switchbacks that give you no indication you will ever reach the beach, you have to use a set of ladder stairs at the bottom to get on the sand.

Those rickety stairs gave the dog pause on the way down, and I worried that I might have to carry her a bit to get her back up. But she flew up them without hesitation, and it was me who struggled the most with them.

I don't mind, though, because those ladder stairs are likely why the beach was empty. Because if we had driven a bit further to Goat Rock Beach, we could have parked just feet from the sand. So I thank that steep hillside and ladder stairs for giving us that beach to ourselves. Especially at sunset, which is a rare treat indeed.

When this dog is happy, her human is happy.

Where to take a dog near Seattle: Marymoor Park

The dog romping in Lake Sammamish.

This dog park has it all: large, open grassy areas for your dog to chase balls by themselves. Long, fenced walking paths that make for pleasant strolls for both of you while meeting plenty of other dogs and people. And, finally, long stretches of beaches on the shores of Lake Sammamish and the Sammamish Slough.

All 40 acres of the park are off-leash, and if you are staying in Seattle, you can reach it by driving only about 20 miles over Lake Washington to Redmond.

Words to the wise: 

• If you have a small dog, they best be brave, because there are no separate areas for them. Also, if you dog isn't super friendly with all dogs, there are very narrow areas that could cause uncomfortable bottlenecks for dogs that don't like meeting strange dogs in enclosed areas.
• If you are staying in or near downtown Seattle, crossing Lake Washington is no easy feat, especially Highway 520. It can be busy all day, but is especially clogged in the mornings with students and staff trying to get to the University of Washington. Be sure and check on the current traffic conditions before you head out. We definitely got stuck in traffic, but watching the dog running freely through the water after being strictly on-leash in the busy city streets, and on her best behavior in our hotel, was well worth the hassle.

Where to stay with a dog in Seattle: The Westin

Where to stay with a dog in Seattle: The Westin

Yes, sometimes she's a city dog, too!

They don't exactly advertise this, but the Westin in downtown Seattle allows dogs. No size limit, and no additional fee.
I love them for that, because I love staying there when I visit Seattle. It's a block from my favorite donut shop, Top Pot, an easy walk to the light rail station and not too far from either the ferry building or my favorite neighborhood, Queen Anne.
But also I like staying there with my large dog because I love the looks we get from the other guests when we walk on the elevator.
"This place allows dogs?" some will ask, and I nod and smile before looking down at my dog, because I love to watch her spend each elevator ride tilting her head from side to side, trying to figure out why we are moving and what is making those noises.

Where to take a dog near Seattle: Marymoor Park

Where to take a dog on the Mendocino Coast: Pelican Bluffs

A bench where you can soak in the views.

Most of the trails along the Mendocino Coast are dog-friendly, but the relatively new Pelican Bluffs Coastal Trail might have some of the best views yet. It's short, only about two miles, but breathtaking in spots.
And while your dog won't be wowed by walking above the seemingly endless, dramatic shoreline, there's plenty of sights and smells for them to enjoy.

How to get there: If you are heading south on Highway 1, once you leave Point Arena and see Curley Lane on your left you will soon see the parking lot on your right. The lot has only five designated spaces, with one of those for vehicles with disabled placards only, but often people squeeze in a few more spaces on the margins.
At the north end of the parking lot, one trail heads straight north while another heads west from the sign. I first headed west through the trees to get to the ocean quicker, but now I recommend taking the trail headed north instead, even though it seems to take you along the highway.

Because if you take the trail to the north, soon after you head over a small bridge you are treated to a spectacular, sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean and nearly the entire trail before it heads down a long set of stairs to the bluffs below.

 Words to the Wise:
• Dogs must be leashed.
• There are no bathrooms or water available, so be sure and stop in Point Arena to use their free public restrooms that are right off Hwy. 1 with plenty of parking alongside.
• This trail is not for someone looking for a flat, easy stroll along the ocean such as the Fort Bragg Coastal Trail. And there are narrow spots, especially near the south end, that are not recommended for anyone afraid of heights or of being close to cliff edges.

Where to hike with a dog near South Lake Tahoe: Pyramid Creek Loop Trail

This hike offers waterfalls, mountain views and a lovely creek: all right off a large highway heading into the mountains of Northern California. 
So it's a great short trek to try on your way to or back from a destination hike, which is how I found it. We were driving to Carson Pass in the Sierra Nevada when I saw the parking lot and trailhead sign right off Highway 50 and promised to investigate on the way back.
It's a pretty short trail, but not an easy one. Not only because it is steep and rocky, but often the trail just disappears and you're scrambling over rock faces with no signs in sight. I found this frustrating, but my husband said he liked that it wasn't "your typical, just-head-straight-ahead-on-this-very-clear-path kind of trail." He enjoyed the challenge of figuring out where to step next, sort of like climbing a mountain.
And the dog of course had no complaints about a creek to run in and drink from, and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.
The loop is only about two miles, and takes you to the boundary of the Desolation Wilderness while offering views of Horsetail Falls.

Words to the wise:  

• The rocks by the Cascades, which is literally a long rock face with cascading water, are VERY slippery, and if you let your dog frolic there, they might take a scary slip like ours did. She wasn't injured, but it wasn't fun to watch. Likely not a good spot for older dogs to be off-leash. 
• Also, we did see Bigfoot:

  

  My hubby's "most perfect Patterson pose."
  
  
  
  

Where to hike with a dog near Lake Tahoe: Round Top Lake

The drive to this hike was almost as beautiful as the trail, which was pretty spectacular.

The dog in the gorgeous (and I'm sure very cold) Round Top Lake.

It was fall, so Highways 88 and 89 through the Sierra Nevadas were lined with yellow-gold trees (Trembling Aspens) and hundreds of people pulled over like paparazzi. We went in early October, and most years that is probably the latest you should go unless you like driving with snow.
We definitely walked with snow, as dark clouds followed us for much of the hike, dusting the mountains towering above us with white powder as we braved the wind gusts that took the temperature far below the promised 54 degrees.
Thanks to my husband's need to be prepared, we each had an extra jacket, without which we never would have made it all the way to Round Top Lake. Instead, we would have stopped at the very lovely Winnemucca Lake, as I think most people end up doing. Especially when you see a parade of people leaving Round Top Lake dressed as if they were climbing Mount Everest!

Winnemucca Lake.

We started at the Carson Pass trailhead on Highway 88, which is already at about 8,600 feet elevation. It was Columbus Day weekend and the visitor's center was closed for the season, but the pit toilets were still open.
Once you get through the trees and past Frog Lake about a mile in, the next half mile or so to Winnemucca Lake is relatively flat. 
The large boulders surrounding this lake made it hard for the dog to reach the water, and the gray, wet cold around us made me feel as if I had left California for Alaska or Norway.
The last mile to Round Top Lake was pretty steep and the wind made it very cold, but I am very glad we pushed on. The dog was in heaven, happily running right into the water even though it was likely barely above freezing, while the humans enjoyed just looking at one of the most beautiful lakes I have ever seen. It was well worth braving the freezing wind and altitude, which exhausted me more than expected for a relatively short hike, only about seven miles round-trip.

Words to the Wise: If my husband had his choice, as soon as we saw the "Plague Warning" signs at the beginning of the trail we would have gotten back in the car and gone to Sorensen's resort for lunch. But obviously we pressed on. And the dog did not get bitten by any rodents or their fleas, though there were plenty of chipmunks scurrying about, especially in the first mile or so.


Where to stay: I like staying at Best Westerns, because they usually allow pets and charge you a very reasonable fee, so we stayed at the BW Topaz Lake Inn about an hour away. The drive back and forth was quite pretty, and takes you through Gardnerville, Nev., which has a Raley's, Starbucks and restaurants. I have heard good things about Sorensen's, though, which was much closer to the hike and has dog-friendly cabins.