Skip to content

Dog-Friendly Hikes in California

The directory currently contains 297 quality-checked routes matching this guide in California. Their average mapped distance is 5.6 km and average recorded ascent is 297 m (974 ft); the longest route in the set is 31.1 km.

This subset represents 27% of the 1,083 quality-checked routes in California. Its average distance is 5.6 km, compared with 13.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 297 m (974 ft), versus 464 m (1,522 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes either have dogs marked as allowed or meet the directory’s dog-score threshold. Current land-manager rules take precedence. Within this set, 45 routes (15%) are rated easy, 35 (12%) are rated hard or expert, and 7 (2%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Trails

Old ties from the Aptos Branch logging railroad in June 2018
Hard

Aptos Creek Fire Road

California · United States

Distance
21.8 km
/ 13.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,016 m
Typical duration
6 hr 16 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Hard

Meysan Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
7.4 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,235 m
Typical duration
3 hr 23 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Arroyo Seco Trail

California · United States

Distance
7.5 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
222 m
Typical duration
1 hr 54 min
  • River
  • Mountain
  • Desert
Moderate

Mill Creek Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
134 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • River
Moderate

Rock Creek Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
5.4 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
291 m
Typical duration
1 hr 33 min
  • Lake
  • River
  • Mountain
The view goes on forever after topping out at Koip Peak Pass, which is sort of a back door out of Yosemite and into the Ansel Adams Wilderness . The prominent red peak beyond the lakes is San Joaquin Mountain, which hides Mammoth Mountain s
Hard

Alger Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
15.7 km
/ 9.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,129 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Campfire scar on Abies concolor , Pinus benthamiana , Pinus lambertiana , etc., forest floor. Viewpoint location: Snow Creek Trail, Yosemite National Park Viewpoint elevation: 2100 meter (6880 ft) View direction: N/A Location source: Casio
Hard

Snow Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
14.8 km
/ 9.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,436 m
Typical duration
5 hr 14 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Inyo County star tulip ( Calochortus excavatus ) on Tyee Lakes Trail
Moderate

Tyee Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
753 m
Typical duration
3 hr 18 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
A north-facing photo of the rugged southern face of Empire Mountain, taken from the Crystal Lakes - Monarch Lakes trail in the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park. The rock is jagged and has a unique red hue.
Moderate

Monarch Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
824 m
Typical duration
2 hr 35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Summit Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.3 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
117 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Summit push
Hard

Birch Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
8.7 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,463 m
Typical duration
4 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Giant blazing star (Mentzelia laevicaulis) against rocks. At 2,869 m (9,413 ft) along Pine Creek Trail under Brownstone Mine, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada mountains, California.
Hard

Pine Creek Pass Trail

California · United States

Distance
12.0 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,259 m
Typical duration
4 hr 23 min
  • River
  • Mountain
view across Soldier Lake The Rock Creek wildfire was started by an abandoned campfire within a meadow, at approximately 11,000-ft. elevation in the backcountry of Sequoia National Park. Because of the lateness of the season, the high altitu
Moderate

Soldier Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
556 m
Typical duration
1 hr 44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is a federal wilderness area located 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Stockton, California. It encompasses 160,000 acres (650 km2) and was designated by the California Wilderness Act of 1984. It protects an area
Hard

East Carson River Trail

California · United States

Distance
27.9 km
/ 17.3 mi
Elevation gain
288 m
Typical duration
6 hr 38 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Hard

Fish Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
31.1 km
/ 19.3 mi
Elevation gain
618 m
Typical duration
7 hr 54 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Washed-out concrete-pier bridge, at 2,746 m (9,009 ft) along trail up Convict Canyon. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California USA.
Hard

Convict Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
10.3 km
/ 6.4 mi
Elevation gain
969 m
Typical duration
3 hr 36 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Dawn Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
266 m
Typical duration
51 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Moderate

Golden Trout Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
14.7 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
32 m
Typical duration
3 hr 6 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Starkweather Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
35 m
Typical duration
52 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Tokopah Falls Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
188 m
Typical duration
55 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Moderate

Big Arroyo Trail

California · United States

Distance
14.2 km
/ 8.8 mi
Elevation gain
111 m
Typical duration
3 hr 7 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Black Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
47 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Ridge Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
302 m
Typical duration
49 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Waterfall above Rush Creek Trail, looking up from stream crossing. Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada USA.
Moderate

Rush Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
14.6 km
/ 9.1 mi
Elevation gain
202 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Baboon Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
213 m
Typical duration
44 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Dog Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
3.8 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
323 m
Typical duration
1 hr 16 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Grass Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
185 m
Typical duration
43 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Hard

Highland Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
29.1 km
/ 18.1 mi
Elevation gain
562 m
Typical duration
7 hr 19 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Little Lakes Valley, Sierra Nevada , California , USA
Moderate

Little Lakes Valley Trail

California · United States

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
240 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Ruby Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Hard

Shadow Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
13.1 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
769 m
Typical duration
3 hr 53 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Sunrise Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
189 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Timber Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
646 m
Typical duration
2 hr 45 min
  • River
  • Mountain
McGee Pass Lake, snowfields, and view south - from trail at about 10,800ft, near McGee Pass. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada USA.
Moderate

Big McGee Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
9 m
Typical duration
9 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Donkey Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Mildred Lake valley and metamorphic cliffs, looking south from high ridge at 3,157 m (10,358 ft) between Lakes Genevieve and Dorothy. John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada, California USA.
Moderate

Dorothy-Bighorn Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
125 m
Typical duration
37 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Pika Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
35 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Topsy Turvy Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
62 m
Typical duration
12 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Hard

Trout Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
13.3 km
/ 8.2 mi
Elevation gain
630 m
Typical duration
3 hr 43 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

Bubbs Creek Trail

California · United States

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
122 m
Typical duration
3 hr 45 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Skelton Lake, Mammoth Lakes, California
Moderate

Woods Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.5 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
86 m
Typical duration
27 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Leavitt Lake Area Toiyabe National Forest 2014
Moderate

Leavitt Lake Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
37 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Lupine meadow in foreground, granite ridge behind. From trail near lowest of Marie Lakes, near Rush Creek. Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra Nevada mountains, California.
Moderate

Marie Lakes Trail

California · United States

Distance
2.6 km
/ 1.6 mi
Elevation gain
274 m
Typical duration
57 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Rainbow Falls in Mammoth Lakes
Moderate

Rainbow Falls Wagon Trail

California · United States

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
90 m
Typical duration
31 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
Rainbow Falls in Mammoth Lakes
Easy

Rainbow Falls-Reds Cutoff

California · United States

Distance
0.6 km
/ 0.4 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
10 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Aptos Creek Fire RoadCalifornia21.8 km1,016 m6 hr 16 minHardApril to October
Meysan Lakes TrailCalifornia7.4 km1,235 m3 hr 23 minHardJuly to September
Arroyo Seco TrailCalifornia7.5 km222 m1 hr 54 minModerateApril to October
Mill Creek Falls TrailCalifornia2.5 km134 m44 minModerateJune to October
Rock Creek Lake TrailCalifornia5.4 km291 m1 hr 33 minModerateJuly to September
Alger Lakes TrailCalifornia15.7 km1,129 m4 hr 59 minHardJuly to September
Snow Creek TrailCalifornia14.8 km1,436 m5 hr 14 minHardJuly to September
Tyee Lakes TrailCalifornia10.4 km753 m3 hr 18 minModerateJuly to September
Monarch Lakes TrailCalifornia6.5 km824 m2 hr 35 minModerateJuly to September
North Fork Big Pine Creek TrailCalifornia12.3 km1,192 m4 hr 21 minHardJuly to September

Aptos Creek Fire Road, Meysan Lakes Trail, Arroyo Seco Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

People also search for