The sky’s a cloudless blue, and breezes kiss the mountaintops and hillside trails. Clearly, it’s time for a hike. But what to do about that pup of yours, the one with the big brown eyes pleading, “Walkies?”
That’s easy. Take Fido along for a day of tramping in the Bay Area hills.
Here are three options that welcome very good boys and girls — oh, who’s a good doggy? you are! yes, you are! — on the trails.
Shell Ridge Open Space, Walnut Creek
The first thing your dog might do on the Fossil Hill Trail is run full-speed down the opening path, turn left and dive into the muddy waters of Bramhall Pond.
And if they’re anything like Millie, a 5-year-old cattle dog with 5-month-old energy, they’ll jump out, shake off the water and shoot a look that says, “I may smell terribly, but I’ve never been happier.”
From there, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure game in Walnut Creek’s Shell Ridge Open Space, a lovely expanse featuring more than 1,400 acres and 31 miles of trails, all with varying degrees of elevation and difficulty.
The space was nearly privatized in the late-1960s, when a potential development was sniffed out by locals and a movement began to open the land to the public. In 1974, voters approved the city’s $6.75-million purchase that protected more than 2,500 acres of parks, open space and trails in Walnut Creek.
On a recent Wednesday afternoon, we chose the light-and-easy Indian Creek Loop on the Fossil Hill Trail, starting at the parking lot at 181 Sutherland Drive. We took our first right to go east, walked around the bend towards the pond and, when Millie was done splashing around, took the middle of the three paths to stay on the south side of the ridge for a relaxing, 1.7-mile stroll.
This trail is perfect for folks who want to enjoy the outdoors without much effort. Sure, we saw a few cyclists pedaling fast enough to win a triathlon. But we also saw one person carefully navigating the terrain with a walking stick in each hand. We saw youngsters and not-so-youngsters and plenty of dogs, all enjoying themselves on a calm, not-too-crowded day about two hours before sunset.
And while there were some puddles after the recent rain — Millie found every one of them — the path was relatively dry, flat and quite easy to navigate.
Even without much elevation, the trail was perched up high enough to offer scenic views of the rolling hills to the east and surrounded by enough wilderness to forget about your to-do list.
It’s just a half-mile from the pond to the turn, then the trail narrows as you weave among old oaks that provide a bit of shade. There are a few peaceful stopping points, including a bench cozy enough to coax anyone with a book to disappear for a while. The songs of the birds add to the ambiance; western bluebirds, western meadowlarks and red-winged blackbirds call this place home.
Millie made some canine friends, including Holden, whose owner, Jeff Simons, is a frequent visitor to the Shell Ridge Open Space.
“All the trails connect, so you start to learn which ones you like,” Simons says. “You can go up, down, all around. Most of the dogs are off-leash and well-behaved. The cyclists are polite and stay on the road. It’s really beautiful.”
Dogs are allowed off-leash as long as they’re under voice control. There are some dangers, though, as locals report rattlesnake sightings, often right in the middle of the path. Foxtails are a concern, too.
Horse tracks in the mud provide evidence of other furry travelers along the way.
If you finish the route and your pup still has energy, the Open Space beckons with plenty of paths to the north and west.
From the entrance on Sutherland Drive, take the path on the left and you’ll find your way up the western side of the Ridge Top Trail, with a fairly steep incline on the way up, spectacular views and lots of sunshine for an easygoing, 2.5-mile ride hugging the hilltop.
For a longer journey, stick to the route a little while more for a 4.5-mile hike (a little over two hours, according to All Trails) all the way around Ridge Top Trail, then down and around the Mount Diablo Recreational Trail and back to the beginning.
Details: Open dawn to dusk at 181 Sutherland Drive in Walnut Creek. Dog rules, which can vary by trail, are posted at the trailheads; walnutcreekca.gov.
Montara Mountain, Moss Beach
If your four-legged friend has a serious, daily case of the zoomies, a longer, hillier hike might be called for. That’s when it’s worth making the trek out to the Coastside — specifically the 7.3-mile Montara Mountain North Peak Loop Trail. Head for the Half Moon Bay’s Gray Whale Cove Trailhead for a dog-friendly starting point (Note: Not all routes to the Montara Mountain summit are dog-friendly; for instance, the San Pedro Valley Park entrance in Pacifica is not.)
From the outset, the trail is vigorous with fairly unrelenting uphill climbs. On a spring day, though, it’s easy to forgive the trail designers — who seem to have forgotten that switchbacks exist — as you’re breaking a sweat and your pup is panting as you trek directly up the mountain. That’s because when you stop to catch your breath and turn around, the view is simply spectacular. Rugged cliffs overlook the Pacific Ocean as waves foam and crash below. The first wildflowers of the season were already in bloom in mid-February, and yellow oxalis blooms carpeted the hillside.
The slope of the upward trek evens out the closer you get to the top, and panoramic vistas more than make up for the grueling climb. Plus, it’s a breeze coming down — minus a couple of steep stretches where grippy hiking shoes are merited to keep from slipping around.
For Willa, a rescue with boundless energy who can get prickly around new people and other dogs, the trail’s leashed-dogs-only rule was a great personality fit. With abundant stops for her to sniff out traces of critters past and present, the hike was a vigorous but refreshing midday escape from the daily routine and a great way to tire out a high-energy pup.
Details: Open 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at 5929 Pacific Coast Hwy, Half Moon Bay; coastsidestateparks.org/mcnee-ranch.
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, Richmond
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline could rebrand as “Doggy Heaven,” and nobody would bat an eye.
This 23-acre, off-leash park is considered one of the largest dog parks in the United States, with more than a million visitors each year.
With more than 2 miles of paved paths along the water, plenty of grassy areas for dogs to play, gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin County and a pair of side-by-side businesses, Mudpuppy’s Tub & Scrub and the Sit & Stay Cafe, it’s as fun for humans as it is for the dogs.
On a recent Sunday morning, there were cars parked all the way from the Point Isabel lot to the Costco entrance on the other side of the peninsula. But people were coming and going, most of them with a dog (or two), so it wasn’t difficult to find a spot.
There were dogs in every direction, most of them off leash, so we set Millie free. It’s hard to tell who’s a stranger and who’s known each other for decades; everyone says hello to everyone, it seems. The friendliness in the air does well to curb the stress over new dog interactions, and there were many. Millie must’ve said hello to 30 or 40 dogs along the way.
A wide path hugs the shoreline as you travel northeast, away from the water towards a bridge that crosses the Hoffman Channel. On the other side, there’s a path that swings around another 20 acres of grassy play areas. The return trip offers water views and glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.
It can be quite windy here — bring a jacket. But on this sunny day, the breeze felt as refreshing as the cold-water dip some dogs were gleefully taking.
The entire 2-mile walk should only take a half-hour or so, but with all the stops to make friends or find shade, we were out for much longer. Millie didn’t want to leave, so we checked out Mudpuppy’s bath area, ordered a coffee and a bagel from the Sit & Stay Cafe and parked ourselves at a bench with the warm sun beating down. Several dog owners sat to socialize while their pups continued to run around and explore.
As crowded as the park was, it never felt congested. There’s enough space for everybody, even the introverted dogs. The coffee was quite good, too.
It’s hard to imagine coming here without a dog, unless you’re in need of some furry love. Then an hour here might feel like an antidepressant.
Details: Open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless otherwise posted, at 2701 Isabel St. in Richmond; ebparks.org.
Additional dog-friendly parks:
Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, Redwood City
Nestled into the Peninsula hills, this open space preserve has a large off-leash area well inside a wilderness buffer far from the road – plus a variety of flat and hilly, shaded and more exposed trails offering spectacular views of the Bay.
Details: Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with off-street parking at 100 Edmonds Road, Redwood City; openspace.org/preserves/pulgas-ridge.
Seal Point Park, San Mateo
This park is home to a segment of the Bay Trail and a 3-acre enclosed dog park with separate spaces for large and small dogs. You can walk along the flat, largely paved, waterfront path to your heart’s content, then let Fido burn off the rest of his wiggles amid a tail-wagging crew of similar-sized canine companions at the dog park.
Details: Open from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily at 1775-1847 J Hart Clinton Drive, San Mateo; cityofsanmateo.org/3384/Seal-Point-Park
Reinhardt Redwoods Regional Park, Oakland
This park in the Oakland hills is one of the Bay Area’s few dog-friendly spots located among the region’s coast redwoods – Sanborn County Park in Santa Clara County is another. Thanks to the forested location, many of the trails are well-shaded, which makes it a great escape for you and your furry friends on hot days.
Details: Opens at 8 a.m. daily at 7867 Redwood Road, Oakland; ebparks.org/parks/reinhardt-redwood
Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont
Bay breezes, rolling hills, great birdwatching and more await at this East Bay oasis. It’s also accessible enough from many parts of the Bay for an after-work trail excursion, especially once later sunsets arrive. Catch even more wildlife at the bird and butterfly nectar garden next to the visitor center.
Details: Opens at 7 a.m. Nov. 28-March and 8 a.m. April-Nov. 27 at 8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont; ebparks.org/parks/coyote-hills.
Stevens Creek County Park and Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, Cupertino
Boasting shady trails, tough hill climbs and an 87-acre reservoir, Santa Clara County’s Stevens Creek County Park is a great spot for on-leash hiking and, if the pup’s up for it, trail running. The trail network connects with the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, offering even more extended trail excursions.
Details: Open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset at 11401 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino; parks.santaclaracounty.gov/locations/stevens-creek-county-park.
Keep in mind:
- Always bring a leash, water and poo bags. Pick up after your dog. Microorganisms from your dog’s doodies can contaminate local water systems and harm people and the environment if they are not collected.
- When hiking with dogs, be aware of your dog’s limitations. Some breeds are more susceptible to heat exhaustion and stroke, for instance, so be careful in warm and hot weather. Pay attention for signs of distress: panting, drooling, a high heart rate, dry nose, lethargy, or even vomiting, staggering or seizures. If you suspect heat stroke, stop all activity and cool your dog down. If the symptoms don’t improve, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
- Just because a park says it’s dog-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean dogs are allowed to hike with you. For instance, most California State Parks around the Bay Area don’t permit dogs on trails, just along paved areas and campsites. Generally, the East Bay, Marin, Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz park systems are more permissive of dogs than San Mateo County or the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and state parks, but always check before you go – and read the fine print. Some parks may restrict which days of the week dogs are allowed, like at Palo Alto’s Foothills Park, which does not allow dogs on weekends or holidays. The Alltrails website and app has a filter for searching for dog-friendly hikes too.