Bay Area off leash hiking resources

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Albany Bulb

A park at the north end of Golden Gate Fields in Albany. There is a smallish beach- with a pretty shallow slope in the water- so although one has to use a chucker for sure to get the ball out far enough for swimming- it lets non- swimmers have lots of space to gallivant. It is across from the Golden Gate Bridge- so the wind can come up- especially in the afternoon. On a very hot day, with the wind coming from inland, it is like in the tropics, placid water, people on bathing suits tanning in the little dunes. In the mornings, water is pretty calm all year. Some seaweed in places.
There is hiking out to a point to the north- through more shrubs than grasses. although grassy areas are nearby. Up and down somewhat- this used to be a landfill, with big concrete slabs and rocks leading to the bay. There is a paved path running from the freeway all the way to the beach- so you could park along the road there and get some walking in before and after the beach that way too. It can be a popular place on the weekends. Parking spaces along road from the freeway and some near the beach too.

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East Bay

You can hike off-leash in many of the parks in the east bay.

Sunol Regional Wilderness

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Del Valle in Livermore

Has a big lake, swimming is allowed but dogs not at developed beaches. Fairly flat trail along edge of lake would likely get us to a place that the dogs could swim. Horseback riding allowed.

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Funston

I love the walk from the backside down to the beach. Near the horse stables, there is an opening to the trails. There is a tremendous network of secluded trails leading through the bluffs down to the beach. The flowers and colors are lovely right now. Ella doesn't know what to do with the giant dogs (horses) so that is a little bit of a problem for us in this area.

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Golden Gate Park

Lots of people have their dogs off-leash on Sundays when Kennedy drive is closed to traffic. I'm amazed at all the trails spidering through the park. The area across the street, northwest of the Buffalo paddocks is a particularly nice area for off-leash romps. The inside trails on the meadows are also nice places for an off-leash romps. You can easily take a 7 or 8 mile hike through Golden Gate if you start at the beach and explore the trails and lakes in the park. Of course, unless your dog is glued to your side the dog will have to be on leash some of the time because of traffic. The flowers are particularly lovely right now.

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Half Moon Bay

Off leash at the Popular Street Beach in Half Moon Bay during the week. Technically dogs are supposed to be on leash, but no one pays attention, at least during the week. People also walk dogs off -leash on the bluffs above the beach. There are ticks and foxtails, however. My favorite place on the Peninsula is Princeton Beach, specifically Pillar Point where the Mavericks are held. There is a secluded bay, safe for the dogs and it's fun to hike out where the ocean is. On weekends, it's a bear to find parking. You get to see all kinds of sea life, anemones, star fish, etc. In the inlet during high tide, there is a rock outcropping that dogs who love to dive can spring off and go swimming.

Half Moon Bay (On-Leash Regulation): Outside Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Area. The walk along the bay offers opportunities for a lake like swim and then around the bend is the ocean beach. Note this is the location of the famous Mavericks surfing contest but the waves are far from the shoreline. The beach is almost like a dog park on the weekends with lots of friendly dogs and people. If you want a longer hike, you can go north of the parking lot up along the bluffs. The Half Moon Bay Brewery or Sam's are great places to have lunch with your dog.

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Lake Berryessa

I go all the way to lake berryessa! Sorry I don't have 'detail' spot info but there is an area that you can park, get out and walk (not hike) then go down to the private beaches. The swimming is good for both dog and human! Especially on a hot day. Wish I remembered the name of the spot! It is on the right before you get to the main industry there... I go on weekdays (weekends = party goers!)...I always like swimming holes that I can have without a lot of other people dogs and at the lake b. each beach is private and separate from the other beaches and day campers.

updated 6/1/09

Marin

Stinson Beach has a huge beach open to dogs and great hiking along the beach. Huge parking lot--a favorite among dog owners and the drive is spectacular. I also like to go to Bolinas Bay. There is another protected inlet that the dogs love to swim in. The ocean there is also relatively safe depending on tide conditions.

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McLaren

The McLaren reservoir is great for dog swimming; lots of dogs swimming even though posted that they aren't suppose to be in the reservoir.

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Mt Tam fire roads

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McNee Ranch State Park

McNee Park

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Pacifica

Pacifica between the golf course and the ocean there is a path to the spring fed pond. There is a waste can close to the beginning of the path. There is hiking to the hills where many are off leash at your own risk. Free Swim your dogs in Pacifica behind the golf course. There is a spring. Lots of people swim their dogs there, but I bet it is empty during the week. There is also hiking up the hill, altho I've not done that before.

If you start at the Pacifica pier, you can walk south for probably 5 miles along the bluffs or around the backside of the hills; trails go every which way heading towards Linda Mar beach. About a 1/2 mile from the pier on the east side of the path is the Pacifica golf course pond. It is a really nice pond for dog swimming. The ocean beach south of the pier and the Linda Mar beach are both kid and dog friendly for swimming. I've never heard of riptides there.

Note that the stated reason for closing the pond and recreation area to dogs is the endangered red legged frogs and the San Mateo gartner snakes. The small ponds to the south of the golf course are definitely conservation areas for these.

updated 6/1/09

Point Isabelle in Richmond

One trail is leashed, the one right along the water is unleashed. Might just be a pile of big rocks along the channel for water access. No horses.
Point Isabel regional park, in Richmond a bit north of the Albany bulb, is my dogs' 2nd home. It's a zoo on weekends, but during the week, especially in the morning, there's not too much pressure. It's also a nice place to watch the sun set behind the GG bridge in the evening. Most (MOST!) of the dogs that go there are well socialized and most (MOST!) of the owners/handlers show basic good sense and are responsible. I've been taking my guys there for 3+ years and have seen/heard about remarkably few incidents. You won't get what i'd call a hike, but you can take a good long (flat) walk; the dogs can swim in both bay and channel. consult a tide table if you're concerned about mud ... tho there's a rinse-off hose at the non-café entrance to the park. when the tide is out there are a couple of little beaches (one, famously, where lacy peterson's body washed up a few years ago), and there's a ramp that dogs can take down to the water too. basically the water/land interface is rocks, and can be slippery.

As for ticks and foxtails: no ticks that I'm aware of. the fields on the near side of the channel were renovated and replanted a year or so ago, so no foxtails at all on that side. across the bridge there might be a few. there's a cafe -- pretty good soups, sandwiches and espresso drinks.

updated 6/1/09

Point Pinole in Richmond

The Vizsla club has picnics here in September. Lots of pretty flat hiking, some next to the bay which would give access for swimming.

updated 6/1/09

Redwood Regional in Oakland

Sounds cool and shady and flat but the dogs would have to be leashed on the trail along the stream. Horseback riding allowed.

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San Jose

There are some percolation ponds on Noble Ave just off Piedmont Rd where I used to take Jamie to swim on the way home from Power Paws. Not a great hiking area, but good for a swim. Seems there were no restrictions when I was last there a couple of years ago.

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Stern Grove

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Tilden

We've only been once but it was lovely, and there were lot of dogs swimming on the backside of the lovely lake. I'm sure if we lived in the East Bay it would be a regular hang out. I'm pretty sure there wasn't any rules about swimming in the lake but I'm not sure.

updated 6/1/09

Sweeney Ridge Area

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Other References

updated 6/1/09
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