All "Dog Friendly" Stories in Northern CA

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  Flashy Fernandez

  Green rolling hills studded in oak trees, wildflowers like poppies, lupine, and the Mount Diablo sunflower—exclusive to Contra Costa County: the landscape at Fernandez Ranch in Martinez is a highlight reel of wildlife, wildflowers, and wowing panoramas. Try this 6-mile hike or bike ride.

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  Muiraculous Beauty

  Ready to make your non-California friends jealous? Have a bonfire at Muir Beach while watching the sunset. This is Northern California living at its most braggadocious.

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  BBQ by the Bay

  Picnic spots don't get more "on the Bay" than at China Camp State Park. This sprawling state park in Marin has several panoramic picnic spots (with BBQ grills) right on the shores of San Pablo Bay.

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  Samuel's Place

  Samuel P. Taylor State Park has all the fixings for a beautiful picnic combined with a hike or bike ride: redwood forest, babbling Lagunitas Creek, barbecue grills, and beautiful trails.

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  Ride the Ridge

  Galloping green hills, grazing cattle, great vantages … Bolinas Ridge Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore is a challenging yet visually rewarding intermediate-level mountain bike ride (or hike). Winter and spring are ideal for an adventure here, and seasonal features like wildflowers can pop early.

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  The Mission is Mission

  Thousands of hikers and bikers come to test their mettle against Mission Peak and pose with the famous “Mission Peeker” summit pole. This 6-mile out-and-back route happens to be one of the best sunset hikes in the Bay Area.

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  Loop Less Traveled

  The East Bay has some of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, and Monument Peak shares the gorgeous views with fewer people on the trail. Hike this 8.7-mile loop to the summit and it might just be you, and the cows!

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  A New Work of Heart

  Ready for a heartfelt hike? This urban walk in San Francisco features a beautiful mosaic stairway, panoramic views, a new work of "heart," and plentiful coastal drama.

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  Hood's New Trail

  Tucked just on the edge of Sonoma Valley near Santa Rosa, Hood Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve has a trail leading up to a brilliant picnic spot with a panorama of Sonoma Valley all the way out to the ocean.

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  Sponsored

  2022 Hiking Calendar

  Ready for a New Year’s hike? How about 12 of them! Spread out the hiking joy with the 2022 POST Hiking Calendar (complimentary).

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  Sponsored

  The Coast with the Most Adventures

  The Oregon Coast isn't your average coast. Take a road trip through charming towns, see numerous historic lighthouses, explore shipwreck beaches, wander bustling promenades, or go “sandboarding” at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.

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  Sweet and Salty

  Located on Highway 1 about 18 miles north of Jenner, Salt Point State Park is wild, scenic, and one of the most beautiful places to do some classic coastal camping.

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  Hill of a Good Hike

  Located just off Highway 17 in the Los Gatos hills, St. Joseph’s Hill packs a big panorama within this 3.5-mile loop. This beautiful preserve has hiking and biking trails, and beautiful vistas.

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  Hill Yeah!

  Though it stands at only 960 feet, Hill 88 features some of Marin’s best views from a peak not named Mount Tam. See the upper reaches of the wild yet accessible headlands on a 5.5-mile (round-trip) hike.

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  Three Beaches to the Wind

  This beautiful 7-mile (round-trip) coastal hike in the Marin Headlands connects three beaches: Muir Beach, Pirates Cove, and Tennessee Cove.

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  Medallion Walk SF

  The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile historical walk and treasure hunt through San Francisco. Be on the lookout for hubcap-sized bronze medallions placed on the city sidewalks with arrows pointing you in the right direction.

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  High Sierra Lake Hop

  Situated just north of Yosemite is a High Sierra wonderland that gets a fraction of the crowds and is a fantastic destination for backpacking. The Emigrant Wilderness is 113,000 acres of granite ridges, wildflower-strewn meadows, and cobalt lakes.

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  Heads Up, Headlands!

  There’s one thing that’s pretty much mandatory when you visit Mendocino and that’s a hike along the famous bluffs. The trail system at Mendocino Headlands State Park is vast, surrounding the village and meandering for miles, with sweeping sea panoramas.

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  Wide-Open Wildcat

  Sure, peak-bagging hikes are great, but ridge trails? Well, those might be the best. The East Bay’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is home to a fantastic ridgetop rolling trail.

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  Go Galena

  Close to Reno yet truly in the wilderness: This long out-and-back epic hike goes up a ridge with huge views of the magnificent Washoe Valley and its marquee mountains.

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