Dog-Friendly Activities in Saratoga, CA

Leashed dogs are welcome at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve in Saratoga, CA. You and Fido can enjoy numerous hiking trails throughout this 739-acre pet-friendly nature preserve. Be sure to clean up after your dog, and remain on the trails to protect the native flora and fauna.

Sanborn County Park is pet-friendly. Leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners on the woodland trails that wind around this lush 3,453 acre park. Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains between Saratoga and Skyline Boulevard, walk with your pup in the shadows of redwoods and tan bark oak. The park offers hike-in camping, RV camping and picnicking opportunities year-round. Sanborn County Park is open every day of the week from dawn until dusk.

Roaring Camp Railroads offers dog-friendly train rides in Felton, CA, through the California Redwoods. Located just a few miles from Santa Cruz, you and Fido can climb aboard an authentic 19th century steam train for a trip through the magnificent redwood forest. As you travel along the historic, winding narrow-gauge track to the summit of Bear Mountain, the conductor will entertain you with the history of the railroad and its locomotives, which were once used to haul giant redwood logs out of the forest. Tours are offered daily and departure times vary by season.

Hapa’s Brewing Company is a pet-friendly brewery in San Jose, CA, where Fido is welcome inside and outside. Sample IPAs and other craft beers while you play a game of cornhole. Food trucks are sometimes onsite in case you get hungry; check their website for the current schedule of events.

Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is a pet-friendly recreational area in Portola Valley, CA. Leashed dogs are allowed on all trails at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve except Lost and Razorback Trails. Dog owners are reminded to clean up any mess that is left behind.

Cuesta Park is a dog-friendly area in Mountain View, CA. Enjoy tennis, volleyball, or a simple walk through nature. Pets are welcome if they remain on a leash and are cleaned up after.

Dogs are welcome in the pet-friendly picnic areas and campsites of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton, CA. Also, unlike many state parks in the area, leashed dogs can join you on a number of trails, including the Meadow Trail, Pipeline Road, Graham Hill Trail and Powder Mill Fire Road. The park has been established to preserve forests and the areas next to the watershed of the San Lorenzo River, including a number of huge redwood trees.

The Arizona Cactus Garden is a pet-friendly botanical garden located inside Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. Fido is welcome to join as you tour the grounds, but please note that there are no boundaries around the cacti. Guests can expect to see a variety of unusual plants, including Cholla, Prickly Pear, several types of Aloes and more.

Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos, CA is dog friendly. Bring Fido along as you explore the serene natural beauty of this park. Enjoy a scenic walking trail around the lake, stroll along shaded pathways and take advantage of the 45 acres of lush lawn.

Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is a dog-friendly park in Redwood City, CA. Take your pet for an on-leash hike throughout this large, lovely nature preserve, or let them run free in the 17.5-acre area located in the center of the preserve, accessible from the Cordilleras Trail, Polly Geraci/Hassler Trails and the Blue Oak Trail. Be careful as the area is fenced and signed at entrances, but there is no fencing around the off-leash area. Dogs must be on a leash when outside of the off-leash area.

Take Fido to run and play at the dog park inside of Ed Levin Park in Milpitas, CA. This off-leash play area is one of the largest in the area and features two separate sections, providing dedicated spaces for small and larger dogs.

Bring Fido to Las Palmas Dog Park in Sunnyvale, CA. This off-leash dog park features a large, fenced space for pups to run and play, as well as running water, donated toys, and waste bags. Please note that the dog park is located within Las Palmas Park, and dogs must be leashed until they enter the designated dog park space.

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos, CA, is dog friendly. This redwood forest is home to trees that stretch up to 2,600 feet into the sky above. Although logging felled thousands of trees that once stood in the area, many new trees are starting to grow back to cover the land that lay bare for so long. Dogs are only allowed on Aptos Creek Fire Road and the four single-track trails below the steel bridge. Unfortunately, dogs are prohibited beyond the gate at the Porter picnic area parking lot.

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad in Los Gatos, CA is pet-friendly. Committed to providing a great experience to children and adults alike, ride aboard a real steam engine as it goes through beautiful Oak Meadow and Vasona Parks. Dogs & Pets are permitted on the train as long as they are on a leash.

Leashed dogs are welcome at Greyhound Rock, a pet-friendly beach in Davenport, CA. You and Fido can enjoy the surf and the sand, as well as an observation deck, fishing and more at this beautiful coastal access point.

Bargetto Winery is a certified sustainable and dog-friendly winery in Soquel, CA. They offer a wide selection of reds, whites and reserves for visitors to try. Leashed dogs are welcome to join their humans in the Creekside Courtyard. Please note that the availability of this space is subject to capacity limits, seasonality and private reservation. Guests are encouraged to call to confirm availability prior to visiting. Reservations are required on weekends.

Stevens Creek County Park is a dog-friendly recreation area in Cupertino, CA. Leashed dogs are welcome to join you for a hike across nine miles of multi-use trails, many of which connect to Mid-Peninsula Open Space Fremont Older Preserve. Visitors will also find shaded picnic areas and an 82-acre reservoir suitable for boating and fishing.

Jose Higuera Adobe Park is a pet-friendly community space in Milpitas, CA, spanning 5.5 acres. It features open fields, wildflowers, a historic cactus plant and a tree-lined creek, along with interpretive signage. The park also includes a paved path and a children's playground.

The whole family is invited to visit Cardoza Park in Milpitas, CA. This pet-friendly recreation area spans ten acres and offers various amenities, including horseshoe pits, a playground, volleyball courts, and a large baseball diamond. Leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners on walking paths.

Pet-friendly Almaden Quicksilver County Park in San Jose offers a view of California's mining era history, and springtime offers the chance to see one of the most spectacular wildflower displays of the region. There are over 34.2 miles of hiking trails for you and Fido to explore, and picnic tables are scattered throughout. Dogs must be on a six foot leash and wear proof of a current license and rabies vaccine. Owners are responsible for pet care and clean up, and aggression is not tolerated. Please note that park trails are subject to closure due to poor conditions.