Eight Pawesome Park Sites to Take Your Pooch

Nestled at the end of Rodeo Valley--and next to Rodeo Beach--Fort Cronkhite is a great site for both two-legged and four-legged park visitors. Take the pup on a challenging hike on the Fort Cronkhite Trail to Old Bunker Road, or romp around on the sandy shores of Rodeo Beach.

Beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, this former army post now houses Cavallo Point-The Lodge at the Golden Gate, a prime place for you and your pooch to grab lunch while taking in the iconic views of San Francisco. Enjoy a walk around Horseshoe Cove, jaunt down the Fort Baker Bay Trail, or have a picnic with your dog (on-leash) on the historic Parade Ground.

At this dramatic landscape of rugged coastline, where the land meets the sea, you and your dog can get some fresh air--away from the hubbub of the city--and soak in views of the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Strait, and Golden Gate Bridge. This 2.9-mile out-and-back hike will be a cinch for you and your pup. 

This former airfield is now a centerpiece of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and offers a bridge-side playground for you and your pooch. Take your dog for a swim off the Central Beach and then let your buddy dry off by running around Crissy Airfield (water fountains and restrooms are located at both ends).

Tucker your dog out with a frolic around this white sand beach (under voice control, of course). Watch the sunset and then snag one of the beach fire pits (read the rules for beach fires) to complete a quintessential California day.

This former military post is renowned as a dog-friendly destination. You and your pup can take in the views of the soaring hang gliders, and then walk down the Coastal Trail sand ladder to the scenic beach. Once you hit the sand your dog will love running on the beach and playing in the water.

On the windswept coast of San Mateo County, Milagra Ridge boasts jaw-dropping views that won’t be lost on your pooch. Take the Milagra Ridge Road to the historic Battery #244 and survey the growing abundance of native plants.

Tucked along the coastline south of Pacifica, this tranquil and dramatic park site offers world-class vistas of the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy the fresh air while taking a stroll by restored wetlands on Old Mori Trail to the Coastal Trail. In the spring, the hillsides are ablaze in wildflowers that you and your pooch will surely love.