May 26, 2021

“There’s nothing quite like escaping the city to a local redwood grove and relaxing next to a stream after work,” says Cameron Potratz, who takes his dog Tyson to Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. The park, Tyson’s favorite, is popular among pooch owners because dogs are allowed off leash on most trails. “He loves to run down the steep trails with abandon,” Potratz says.

It’s no wonder dogs love redwood forests—they’re places to sprint with a stick, splash in puddles, meet new friends, bond with their humans, and maybe appreciate the beauty of their surroundings.

Many California coast redwood and giant sequoia parks allow dogs for hiking, camping, picnicking, and frolicking on the beach.

Just as their humans, dogs and other pets can have a substantial impact on the natural environment and the wildlife that lives there. For the safety of the parks and your dog, it is important to only take pets where they’re allowed, and follow all the rules.

See how every dog can have their day at some of these enchanting parks.

Roy’s Redwoods Preserve

Woman and dog looking out from inside redwood tree trunk

Old-growth coast redwood trees delight pups and their people at Roy’s Redwoods Preserve in Woodacre, 27 miles north of San Francisco. Dogs must be leashed on trails and are allowed off leash on fire roads. Photo by Cameron Portratz.

A woman smiles as she greets five dogs on a trail in the redwoods

Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland is fun for the whole pack. Dogs are allowed off leash on most trails. Photo by Vivian Chen.

A kneeling woman gives a small dog a treat on a trail in the redwoods

Dogs large and small enjoy Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. Photo by Vivian Chen.

Joaquin Miller Park

A person in a rain jacket walking a dog in the wet forest along a trail with a fallen log to their right

Marvelous rain or shine, Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland offers second-growth coast redwood groves, fern-lined creeks, and a place to stroll with your (leashed) dog. Photo by Vivian Chen.

A man taking his dog for a walk down a trail in the redwoods

Joaquin Miller Park is considered to contain one the few redwood forests to flourish today in an urban setting. Photo by Vivian Chen.

Two people and two dogs in a redwood forest walk side by side

Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park is minutes away from the bustling city, a great refuge for dogs and their humans. Photo by Vivian Chen.

Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest

a man poses in front of a tall tree while a dog stares from further in the background

Massive trees, granite peaks, and rushing rivers await visitors at Giant Sequoia National Monument and Sequoia National Forest in the Sierra Nevada. Dogs are allowed off leash on trails and on leash in developed places such as picnic areas and campgrounds. Photo by Alyse & Remi, Flickr Creative Commons.