Dog Hikes, Beaches, Parks & Excursions

Below are lists of places you can take your pooch off-leash in Pasadena and within day trip driving distance. Please note: there is a leash law in Pasadena and most other cities that requires dogs be on a 6 ft or shorter leash at all times except when in a designated off-leash area.

-- OFF-LEASH DOG PARKS --

Eaton Wash Park
Alice Frost Kennedy Off-Leash Dog Park
3026 East Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena
Open 7am - dusk, 2.5 grassy acres, small dog area, large dog area, water station, benches, parking.
click here for park map and description

Hermon Dog Park in the Arroyo Seco
5568 Via Marisol, Los Angeles, CA 90042
1.3 acres, large & small dog areas. Grand opening was July 16, 2005
www.HermonDogPark.com

Sierra Madre Dog Park
611 East Sierra Madre Blvd.
Fenced, handicap, pickup bags, trees, parking, phones, restrooms, water, trash cans. One area for large/active dogs, one for small/special needs dogs. Located at the northwest end of the park. Open 6am - 10pm.

Silver Lake Dog Park
www.canineworld.com/silverlakedogpark
1850 Silverlake Blvd. at Easterly Terrace
At the south end of Silver Lake Reservoir, this quarter-acre fenced area has benches, tables, handicapped access, pickup bags, trees, lights, water, trash cans, and dog drinking fountains.

Griffith Park Dog Park
Adjacent to Ferraro Soccer Field - from Pasadena, exit the 210 freeway at Zoo Drive (follow the signs to 5 FWY South), bear right at the end of the ramp and look for the dog park on your left. Fenced, parking, trash cans, separate areas for large and small dogs, half grass/half dirt. Opened July 2002. Open 6am to 10pm.

North Hollywood Dog Park
Whitnall Highway at Cahuenga Blvd.
Opened September 2002, all grass, two separate fenced areas both with double entrance gates, dog drinking fountains, trees, picnic benches, pickup scoops, trash cans, street parking.

Laurel Canyon Dog Park
818-989-8188
Studio City, CA (Hollywood Hills)
On Mullholand, entrance just west of Laurel Canyon. 3 acres of grass, fenced, parking lot, very crowded weekends.

Sepulveda Basin Dog Park
www.dog-park.com
White Oak and Victory Blvd., Encino
818-756-9642
Located at the North-West corner of Balboa Park, a full 5 acres of fenced off-leash dog park. 1 acre separate for small dogs. Open daily sunrise to sunset except on Friday when its open 11am to sunset, due to maintenance. Website has maps and photos.

Redondo Beach Dog Park
www.rbdogpark.com
200 Flagler Lane, Redondo Beach
Within the 23 acre Dominguez Park, at the corner of 190th Street and Flagler Lane. Fenced, benches, tables, handicap access, pickup bags, trees, parking, telephones, lights, restrooms, water, trashcans, shelter; separate fenced area for little dogs. 30 miles/40 minutes from Pasadena.

Westminister Dog Park (aka Venice Dog Park)
www.venicedogpark.org
1234 Pacific Ave (Westminster and Main), Venice
Fenced, benches, trees, water, trash, separate areas for large and small dogs under 25 lbs and a 'sandbox' for dogs to dig in. Open 5am - 10:30pm.

-- HIKES --

Angeles National Forest
http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/angeles/
Dogs allowed on all trails on leash. Forest Headquarters: 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia. 805-683-6711. Website has maps and hiking trail difficulties and lengths.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
53 miles across, from Beverly Hills to the Oxnard Plane. Dogs are permitted on all National park land within the recreation area. Dogs must be on a leash 6ft or less. State Parks in the recreation area (as in all of California) do NOT permit dogs at all. Free maps of National Park sites are available from their offices, also a list of all dog-friendly parks at www.nps.gov/samo/brochure/dogleash.htm

Runyon Canyon
Hollywood, CA
Legal off-leash dog recreation area, trails for hiking but not completely fenced, except for a small grassy area at the bottom. Hiking the main, paved trail, top to bottom, takes a little over an hour. There are two dirt trails that stretch top to bottom as well, one on either crest, with the paved path winding up the floor of the canyon. Lots of dogs and people at all times. Water fountains for dogs only at the bottom. Top parking lot/entrance: Mullholland Drive, about five minutes west of the 101. Bottom parking/entrance: street parking, entrance is at north end of Fuller Ave.

California Canine Hikers
2154 Woodlyn Road
Pasadena, CA 91104-3333
Send SASE for hiking schedules and information

-- BEACHES --

Huntington Beach Dog Beach
www.dogbeach.org
Official off-leash dog park on the beach! Located on the Pacific Coast Highway between 21st Street and Seapoint Street, open 5am to 8pm daily. Dogs may be off leash in the water and on the wet sand.

Leo Carrillo State Beach, Malibu
818-706-1310
Dogs allowed on a 6 ft leash. Allowed ONLY west (ie north, up the coast) from life guard Tower 3 for this beach and the other Malibu beaches listed below. New law as of January 1, 2003.

County Line Beach, Staircase Beach and beaches with Point Mugu State Park beaches, Malibu
Dogs allowed on 6 ft leash.
805-370-2301

Haute Dogs On The Beach Days
www.hautedogs.org
Special events on the beach in Long Beach, where dogs are allowed off-leash in the surf and sand. Visit website for dates and to support such events. Average attendance is 450 dogs. 32 miles/46 minutes from Pasadena.

Dog PAC of Santa Barbara
Supporting off-leash beaches: visit their website for test areas and hours
www.dogpacsb.org

 

-- EXCURSIONS – DOGS ALLOWED --

Catalina Cruises
800-228-2546
Boat trip is 2 hours. Dogs are free, but must be leashed and muzzled.

Catalina Channel Express
310-519-1212
Boat leaves Dan Pedro and Long Beach. Dogs go free, but must be leashed and muzzled.

Griffith Park
Miniature Train Ride
323-664-6788
Yes, dogs are allowed on this fun eight minute ride, and ride for free.

 

Also visit the Dog-Friendly Hotels listings at DogPark.com and also at DogFriendly.com