Don't worry Spike, there's room for you on all of these dog-friendly trails across SoCal!
California! The home of diverse landscapes from top to bottom; we've got lakes, rivers, deserts, mountains, beaches, forests and plenty of places for your furry friends to frolic without interruption by the typical lull of city life and suburbia. As dog owners, it's our duty to make sure our pets are getting the exercise they need to be healthy, in addition to our own physical and mental health. A restless dog makes a restless owner, so make sure to check out these neat scenic trails the next time you're perusing Los Angeles county for an authentic nature hike!
1. Runyon Canyon Park
Did someone say Runyon Canyon? Of course, as no dog-friendly hikes are as high profile and well-known as Runyon Canyon Park. Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, this park grants LA hikers and outdoorsy tourists perhaps the best view of the Los Angeles cityscape, as well as the Hollywood sign. Visited by the likes of Kim K, Diplo, and all the pampered Hollywood pooches alike (don't forget their owners!), this makes Runyon Canyon the prime spot for "rugged-but-not-too-rugged" canine workouts. Note: be prepared to scavenge for a coveted parking spot on weekends. What better way to start off your beautiful day in La La Land than this?**
**Bikram yoga, cold-pressed juice and your dog's VSCO fame, maybe.
Wait...Is that Ryan Gosling at Runyon Canyon with his pupper? SIGN ME UP PLEASE!
2. Griffith Park
Did you know Griffith Park, the nation's largest municipal park (with a whopping 4,300 acres of space!) has 50 miles of dog-friendly trails? Well now you do! Home to the Griffith Park Observatory, this gigantic puppy playground offers several trails with incredible scenic views of all of Los Angeles. A good spot for a day hike of any duration/energy level, but remember to bring water for you and Buddy, as this SoCal summer's rising temperatures are relentless and dry brush fire risk varies from day to day.
A dog hike meetup with the Westside German Shepherd Rescue at Griffith Park Observatory
3. Fryman Canyon
Also known as the "Prettier Runyon", Fryman Canyon is the less crowded, valley alternative to Runyon Canyon, boasting a moderate 3 miles and relatively better parking, a feat for Angelenos all over the county. By word-of-mouth it's called Fryman, but most maps and GPS services label it as "Wilacre Park" or the "Betty B. Dearing Mountain trail". Keep climbing and you'll come to the TreePeople's Center for Community Forestry, a nonprofit whose cause is to fight deforestation--they've also got community dog walks every second Saturday of the month!
Serenity lies beneath the shady trees at Fryman for you and your panting pet.
4. Tuna Canyon Park
Yes, that is a flabbergasting sunrise over the ocean.
Relatively unknown and rather under-visited for the most part, Tuna Canyon Park is remotely situated past long, winding roads between Topanga and Malibu. Hikers and their companions alike are stricken with awe as they shudder at the beauty of this panoramic view, which overlooks the ocean all the way from Santa Monica bay to the ends of Malibu. Ranging from 1.6-5mi in distance (depending on how godly you are feeling up there on a given day), there are 2 viewpoints one can trek to, one on Hearst Tank motorway and the other on Big Rock Lateral, where at both viewpoints bikes and dogs are welcome (but always exercise caution!). While the trailhead is hardly marked, you can find Tuna Canyon Park off to the side of Tuna Canyon Road at the bend, whereupon hiking down a dirt service path (Big Rock Motorway) will point you in the right direction.
Always dreaming Blue dreams...
No matter how scenic the view, always make sure you and your puppy are staying well-hydrated, sun-protected, and ready for the beautiful but gritty terrain that makes the mountain-scape of Southern California so notorious. So if you're thinking, "hey, it's really nice out today," and "hey, I'd like to go do something fun that's also free!", go forth and check out all these trails Los Angeles has to offer! Happy trails!
