April 2007
The Bay Area's Best Dog Scenes
As the days get warmer, you’re getting more of those looks from your dog, and you know what they mean: it’s time to grab a leash, some water, and head for the great trails, beaches, and parks of the Bay Area to explore!
Destinations
| Destination | Rating | Water | Restrooms | Parking | Accessible | Leash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crissy Field | 5 paws | Yes | Yes | Free | Yes | Off |
| Ocean Beach | 4 paws | No | Few | Free | Yes | Partial |
| Fort Funston | 5 paws | Yes | Yes | Free | Yes | At own risk |
| Mt. Lake Park | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Street | Yes | Partial |
| Golden Gate Park | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Free | Yes | On |
| Buena Vista Park | 4 paws | No | No | Street | Yes | Off |
| Dolores Park | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Street | Yes | Mixed |
| Bernal Heights | 5 paws | No | No | Yes | No | Off |
| Pt. Isabel | 5 paws | Yes | Yes | Free | Yes | Off |
| Redwood Regional Park | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Fee | Some | Both |
| Joaquin Miller Park | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Free | Some | Both |
| Ohlone | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Street | Yes | Both |
| Cesar Chavez Park | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Yes | Some | Both |
| Tilden Park | 5 paws | Yes | Yes | Free | Some | Both |
| Alameda Crown Beach | 4 paws | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Both |
Tips for a Fun Trip
Before taking your dog along, call ahead to make sure she will be welcome. Dog policies can change quickly, and website information is often outdated. Please be sure your dog will be a good ambassador, since one bad experience can cause a business owner to ban all dogs. If some of your plans cannot include your dog, be sure you have somewhere cool, comfortable, and safe to leave her.
If you are taking your dog hiking, be sure to bring along plenty of fresh water for both of you. Lakes and streams may look beautiful, but that doesn’t mean the water is safe for either of you to drink. Also be sure to let someone know where you are going and what time you plan to be home. If you or your dog are not experienced hikers, start out with easy trails and build up gradually. Even a 10 pound dog feels heavy when you have to carry him back to the car!
When visiting dog parks, please be attentive to your dog. It is fun to chat with other dog lovers, but your dog’s play needs to be supervised and his waste needs to be cleaned up. If play does not seem to be fun for all dogs involved, then break it up. Interact with your dog, and make sure she is having fun playing with you as well as with the other dogs. Finally, please remember that dog parks are not for every pooch. If your dog is aggressive towards or scared of other dogs, then this is no place to work on his problems. Working with a professional trainer may help resolve the issues, but ignoring them isn’t fair to your dog or to the other park users.
For more Information on dog-friendly activities, check out: www.dogfriendly.com The Dog Lover’s Companion to California, 5th Edition, by Maria Goodavage, ISBN 1-566691- 696-8.