Dog Friendly Hikes in the LA Area
We spent 2.5 years living in Venice Beach exploring dog-friendly hikes around LA. The good news is that LA is SUPER dog friendly, but some of the most popular hikes might be off limits. Check out the posts below to find your dog-friendly hike in LA & general Southern California.
Trail Distance: 6.1 miles
Elevation Gain: ~2300 ft.
Terrain Rating: Moderate - dirt, switchbacks and elevation
Hike Time: 3 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: All
Trail Distance: 8.7 miles
Elevation Gain: ~2900 ft.
Terrain Rating: Moderate - dirt, switchbacks and elevation
Hike Time: 4 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: Summer, Fall
Trail Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation Gain: ~300 ft.
Terrain Rating: Easy except the narrow stairs
Hike Time: 1-1.5 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: Any
Trail Distance: 7.5 miles via Mount Woodson Trail
Elevation Gain: ~2,100 ft.
Terrain Rating: Medium
Hike Time: 3-4 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: Not peak summer
Ojai is the new hotspot getaway for Angelenos. Only an hour and a half from Santa Monica, Ojai makes for a perfect daytrip or weekend jaunt with the pup.
Trail Distance: 2-3 miles
Elevation Gain: ~500 ft.
Terrain Rating: Easy
Hike Time: 1-2 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: All
Trail Distance: ~4 miles
Elevation Gain: ~1,000 ft.
Terrain Rating: Medium, loose rock and dust
Hike Time: 2 hours
Dog Friendly: Yes
Recommended Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring
Idyllwild is a small hiking town near the San Jacinto Mountains. 2 hours from Los Angeles, it’s one of the closest hiking destinations with trees instead of dry shrubs
Joshua Tree National Park is a quick 2 hour drive from Los Angeles. It's famous for climbing but also for it's unique landscape. We were really excited to go but quickly became disappointed when we found out that it is one of the least dog friendly national parks. We did a lot of searching to find the best spots so you can enjoy a weekend with your pup!
Trail Distance: ~6 miles
Elevation Gain: ~1,500'
Terrain Rating: Moderate
Hike Time: 3 hours
