Best Dog Friendly Beaches in California

Located to the west of Loleta, Mike Thompson Wildlife Area – South Spit Humboldt Bay – also known as South Spit Beach – is a long beach with brown sand. This beach is a part of a state-protected wildlife area named Mike Thompson Wildlife Area. 

Located in the city of Coronado, Coronado Dog Beach is situated on the north side of Coronado Beach in front of Sunset Park. Also known as the Coronado North Beach, Coronado Dog Beach is the only beach in Coronado where dogs are allowed off-leash – but be careful to keep dogs on leash until you reach the designated off-leash area.

Located in the city of Half Moon Bay, Poplar Beach - also known as Blufftop Beach - is located along the central part of the San Mateo County shoreline. The beach is situated below a bluff-top grassy park, is narrow, and has light brown sand. Poplar Beach is popular among pet lovers as it is one of the very few beaches in Half Moon Bay to allow dogs on leash. Additionally, trail runs are popular in the area, providing an adventurous way to explore the coastal landscape.

Located near the San Diego Bay, Coronado Beach - also known as Central Beach and Coronado Central Beach - is a large and flat beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. Coronado Beach starts near the historic Hotel del Coronado and spans north along Ocean Boulevard all the way north to a park named Sunset Park. This popular beach is one of the main beaches of the resort-city of Coronado (which is also nicknamed as "Crown City"). Coronado Beach has been named one of the Top 100 beaches in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The approximately one-and-a-half miles long beach has a wonderful backdrop of oceanfront residential buildings. The sand in Coronado Beach has a substance named mica, which occasionally causes it to shine. Visitors can encounter this shining sand around the water near Coronado Beach during calm water conditions. The shoreline around this beach also has remnants of a sunken ship named SS Monte Carlo, which was shipwrecked here in the 1930s. 

Located in the Westside area of the city of Santa Cruz, Its Beach is a south-facing beach that has light brown sand and multiple rock formations.  This beach is located below oceanfront bluffs and it is adjacent to a state park named Lighthouse Field State Beach.  There is also a lighthouse near the beach named Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse.  Two of the major rock formations on Its Beach are a natural rock archway and a sea stack – this sea stack on Its Beach is a remnant of another collapsed natural archway.  The bluff sides around the beach are composed of sandstone and are millions of years old. 

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Located in the city of Daly City, Thornton State Beach is a remote beach situated below bluffs on the south side of San Francisco.

Located in the city of Arcata, Manila Beach is four miles long and is a part of the Manila Dunes Recreation Area on the Samoa Peninsula. Also known as Manila Dunes, Manila Beach is situated in front of the small Manila community.

Located in the city of Trinidad, Moonstone Beach County Park is a half-mile long and wide beach situated on the north side of the point where the Little River meets the North Pacific Ocean. Moonstone Beach County Park is a part of a park with the same name and is a great surfing destination because of its mid-sized waves. Moonstone Beach County Park is a family-friendly beach as children can play safely in the slow river current.  

Huntington Dog Beach is a popular dog-friendly beach located in Huntington Beach, United States. The beach stretches for 1.5 miles and features soft golden sand, making it a favorite spot for both locals and visitors in Southern California.

Located in Marin County, Bolinas Beach is an L-shaped beach situated in the seaside town of Bolinas at the mouth of Bolinas Lagoon. The beach has light brown and the scenic Bolinas Ridge can be seen from here. Bolinas Beach has calm water with mild waves and is also called Brighton Beach because the beach can be accessed primarily via Brighton Avenue. Bolinas Beach does not have lifeguards or other amenities except restrooms, so come prepared. However, the beach does allow dogs on leash. Getting to Bolinas Beach is easy - it is located near the intersection of Brighton Avenue and Cliff Road off of California Highway 1 / Pacific Coast Highway. Free street parking is available along Brighton Avenue.

Located in the town of Dillon Beach, Dillon Beach is a private beach that is owned by the Dillon Beach Resort and is open to the public. Dillon Beach is considered one of the most popular surfing spots in the city because of its big waves. 

Located near MacKerricher State Park in Mendocino County, Seaside Beach - also known as Seaside Creek Beach - is a large public beach with light brown sand. Parts of the beach are situated below oceanfront bluffs. There are many rock formations on the beach and also around it. The Seaside Creek occasionally flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. Seaside Beach has no lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Seaside Beach allows dogs off-leash.

Located along the rugged northern California coast, near Fort Ross in Sonoma County, Clam Beach is a small, beige sand beach with many rocky portions.  This remote beach is positioned near Fort Ross State Historic Park and has a spectacular background of lush vegetation, dramatic cliffs, and headlands that have shaped over the years due to coastal erosion, creating a picturesque setting along the Pacific Ocean.  The beach is named after the clams that can be found in the area, though populations have declined over the years.  Clam Beach is part of the Sonoma Coast State Park and is promoted as an ecotourism destination, encouraging sustainable tourism practices to preserve the natural beauty and diverse marine life of the region.

Granada Beach, located in the city of Long Beach, United States, is a popular spot stretching approximately 1.5 miles along the coast with beautiful golden-colored sand. It's an ideal destination for a day at the beach, offering a blend of scenic beauty and enjoyable activities. La Herradura adds an authentic cultural flavor nearby, which draws both locals and visitors.

Located in the city of San Luis Obispo, Olde Port Beach is a very long, wide, and rarely crowded beach situated on the west side of the city of Avila Beach. Olde Port Beach is north of the Fisherman's Memorial and the historic Harford Pier – you can fish here without a license. Olde Port Beach is a dog-friendly beach as it welcomes dogs off-leash.

Located in Mission Bay Park, Fiesta Island is a large artificial island that has a single continuous stretch of beach around its perimeter. This beach is called Fiesta Island Beach and has light brown sand and sparse vegetation. 

Located near the downtown area of Santa Barbara, Arroyo Burro Beach - also known as Hendry’s Beach - is a popular and clean beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated at the base of steep oceanfront bluffs. The Arroyo Burro Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. 

Carmel Beach is renowned by both locals and tourists as one of the most spectacular beaches in the world - and for good reason. The beach is an oasis with a backdrop of white sand and turquoise water, and is overlooked by beautiful, grassy hills. The world-class scenic pathway is filled with old, green trees and looks onto the beach. Watching the sunset on the beach is a local tradition - add to the natural romance with a bottle of wine, as alcohol is permitted on specific days of the week. With the gorgeous scenery of Carmel City Beach, you'll be sure to have an unforgettable beach day!

Located between the town of Cayucos and the city of Morro Bay, Toro Creek Beach - also known as Dog Beach - is a wide beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated between two halves of a separate state-protected beach known as the Morro Strand State Beach. The beach is one mile long and has sparse vegetation. The beach can be rocky during winters as it loses a significant amount of sand during winter storms. Toro Creek also flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. Toro Creek Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. The beach allows dogs off-leash. 

Located to the north of Trinidad, Big Lagoon County Park Beach is a large beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This beach is situated between a three-mile long lagoon called Big Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. Interesting sea stacks are present just offshore in the ocean near Big Lagoon County Park Beach. Big Lagoon County Park Beach is a part of Big Lagoon County Park, Humboldt Lagoons State Park, and Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area. Big Lagoon County Park Beach does not have lifeguards. However, the beach and the area around it have many amenities including restrooms, boat launching facilities, picnic tables, and barbecue spots. While dogs are generally required to be on leash in Big Lagoon County Park Beach, they are allowed off leash in the wave slope in Big Lagoon County Park Beach.

Located in the city of San Francisco, Fort Funston Beach is a long and wide beach situated below tall bluffs in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Fort Funston Beach is the southernmost beach on the Pacific Coast side of the city and is a well-known hang-gliding destination where hang-gliders take off from a platform on the tall bluffs above the beach.

Located near the mouth of the Klamath River, Klamath Beach is a large beach with pebbles and gray sand. The beach is a sand-spit that separates the Klamath River and the Pacific Ocean. The Klamath River occasionally flows into the Pacific Ocean through this beach. Klamath Beach also has a fantastic background of the mountainous Del Norte County landscape. 

Located in the city of Del Mar, Del Mar Dog Beach - North Beach is situated next to Camino del Mar road on the north side of the San Dieguito River Lagoon. As the name suggests, Del Mar Dog Beach - North Beach is the only beach in the city where dogs are allowed off-leash in the area between 29th Street and Solana Beach on the north; except from June 16th to Labor Day when they must be on-leash. The beach offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, and volleyball courts.

Located in the East Mesa neighborhood of Santa Barbara, Shoreline Park Beach is a narrow rock-and-sand beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated below a blufftop oceanfront recreational park known as Shoreline Park. Shoreline Park Beach does not have lifeguards. 

Located in Santa Barbara, Mesa Lane Beach - also called Mesa Lane, Mesa Lane Beach Park, Mesa Lane Steps, and also formerly nicknamed “Pendulum” - is a narrow beach with light brown sand and many rocks.  This beach is located below an oceanfront blufftop area.  This beach received its alternate name - Mesa Lane Steps - because the long wooden stairway leading to this beach (that is also called Mesa Lane Steps) is a popular local landmark and has approximately 241 steps.  As an interesting fact, Mesa Lane Beach was featured in the music video for musician Gordon Lightfoot’s song “Sundown.”  The area around Mesa Lane Beach’s western part also has locally famous “inverted trees” - these trees earlier used to grow in the normal upward direction, but eventually started growing downwards because the blufftop area around them started eroding away.  Please note that Mesa Lane Beach should not be confused with another separate beach with a similar name called Thousand Steps Beach (that is also called One Thousand Steps Beach) - this beach is also located in Santa Barbara and it also has a long stairway near it.  

Stinson Beach is a picturesque, curve-shaped beach located in the town of Stinson Beach. Known for its light brown sand, it is part of the Gate National Recreation Area. Recognized by SFGate as one of Northern California's top beaches and featured in AFAR’s “16 Best Beaches to Visit in California,” it attracts visitors from all over. It is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known at Mr. Beach. The beach opens daily at 9 AM, with closing times varying by season.

Located in west side of the city of Malibu, Leo Carrillo State Park - Staircase Beach is one of the three beaches that are part of Leo Carrillo State Park. Leo Carrillo State Park - Staircase Beach is situated at the north end of the Leo Carrillo State Park – and is a narrow, rarely crowded, and rocky beach. Leo Carrillo State Park is 2,513 acres in size and named after Leo Carrillo, an actor and preservationist who served on the California Beach and Parks Commission for 18 years. Many prominent actors including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis, Nancy Sinatra, and Dick Clark have been featured in films shot at this park. Leo Carrillo State Park - Staircase Beach is also known as Heavens and is on the north side of Leo Carrillo State Park - North Beach and Leo Carrillo State Park - South Beach. Leo Carrillo State Park - Staircase Beach welcomes dogs if and only if they are on leash.

Located only an 8-minute drive north of downtown La Jolla, La Jolla Shores beach is popular with families and active beachgoers because of its endless activities and many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, and showers. 

Located in the Westside area of the city of Santa Cruz, Lighthouse Field State Beach is actually the name of a state park managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and is situated adjacent to two bluff side beaches. The state park is comprised of two major parts. The northern portion of Lighthouse Field State Beach is a large grassy walking park, one of the last open oceanside forelands in urban California, that is situated in the north of West Cliff Drive. The southern portion is a rocky sandstone blufftop area which is called the Lighthouse Point (also known as Point Santa Cruz) as it features Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum – and is also has a paved esplanade running to its west which is popular with bikers.

There are two beaches adjacent to Lighthouse Field State Beach - one is located to its south just across West Cliff drive and is known as Its Beach and another is situated east of the state park and is called Steamer Lane. The park and the adjoining beaches usually don’t have any lifeguards, although Steamer Lane often sees lifeguard deployment during high surf conditions. However, the park and the beaches have many amenities including showers, restrooms, walking trails, picnicking areas, and drinking fountains, and also allow pets on a leash. The park and the beaches are easy to access - they are located at 701 West Cliff Drive. There are a number of free parking lots along West Cliff Drive and Lighthouse Point, from where you can access the state park and the stairs leading down to the adjacent bluff side beaches.

Nestled between the San Lorenzo River and Santa Cruz Harbor, Seabright Beach—also known as Seabright State Beach—is a beautiful sandy beach with soft light brown sand, located close to the iconic Santa Cruz Beach and Wharf. This half-mile stretch of sandy beach is loved for its scenic views and unique vegetation, including the rare pink sand verbena flower. Seabright Beach is sometimes considered part of the Twin Lakes State Beach, which lies just across the Santa Cruz Harbor.

Located in the town of Cayucos, Cayucos State Beach is a large state-protected beach that is managed by San Luis Obispo County. The beach has light brown sand, cold water, and a gradual sloping incline. Cayucos Creek meets the ocean near the northern part of the beach. The Cayucos Pier is also present on the northern part of the beach. Lifeguards are generally present in Cayucos State Beach during peak summer months. Cayucos State Beach offers many other amenities including lifeguards, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, and a children’s playground. The beach allows dogs on leash and also offers accessibility to people with disabilities. Getting to Cayucos State Beach is easy - the beach is located near the intersection between Cayucos Drive and Ocean Front Avenue, where there is also a large free parking lot nearby on Ocean Avenue and Ocean Front Avenue.

Located just north of Montara in San Mateo County, Montara State Beach is a stunning cliffside beach that’s perfect for San Francisco city goers that want to explore the outdoors. Just 30 to 40 minutes from Downtown San Francisco, Montara Beach is an easily accessible destination that feels worlds away.

Located to the south of Half Moon Bay, Bean Hollow State Beach is an oceanfront state park. This state park has two separate beaches - Pebble Beach and Arroyo de los Frijoles Beach - which are situated in rocky coves below oceanfront bluffs. The beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach are separated by a mile-long rocky headland. Pebble Beach is in the northern part of the state park and is a pebbly beach with rocky and sandy portions. Arroyo de los Frijoles Beach is in the southern part of the state park and is a generally sandy beach with some rocky parts. A creek flows through Arroyo De los Frijoles Beach into the Pacific Ocean. The beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach do not have lifeguards. However, the area around these two beaches has many amenities including restrooms, picnic tables, barbecue spots, and walking trails. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beaches in Bean Hollow State Beach. 

Located on the southern part of the town of Pacifica, Pacifica State Beach is a state park area situated in a large cove along the San Mateo County shoreline. There is a large beach in this state park which is three-quarters of a mile long and has light brown sand. Pacifica State Beach is also known as Linda Mar Beach and Taco Bell Beach (due to a Taco Bell Restaurant present nearby). The northern part of Pacifica State Beach has large sand dunes while the southern part is narrower and rockier. The San Pedro Creek meets the ocean on the southern part of the beach. Pacifica State Beach is open from 5:00 am to 10:30 pm during Daylight Savings Time (usually between second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November) and from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm during fall and winter. 

Located south of the Mission Bay channel entrance you’ll find Ocean Beach, a small town with a laid-back atmosphere that is home to the lively main Ocean Beach. Visitors have access to many amenities including lifeguards, public restrooms, outdoor showers, and free public parking lots located throughout the city of Ocean Beach. You can also find free street parking along Newport Avenue as well as in surrounding residential neighborhoods.

This one-mile stretch of golden sand provides plenty of space for all beach activities including walking, running, and playing spike ball. On the north end of Ocean Beach, you’ll find sand volleyball courts that are always popular with athletes. The ocean at this beach is divided into two zones - surfing and swimming so be sure to stay in the designated areas. If you’re looking for a break from the sand, check out Ocean Beach Municipal Pier located at the south end of the beach. This pier is one of the longest in Southern California and is one of the few places you can fish without a valid California fishing license. If you want to hang with the locals, the Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market takes place every Wednesday from 4 PM-8 PM in downtown Ocean Beach and offers handcrafted goods, fresh food, and live music.

If you get hungry, you’ll find many options just a short walk from the beach in downtown Ocean Beach. We like Ocean Beach Pier Café, a small restaurant that’s located at the end of the pier and provides fresh seafood and gorgeous ocean views. Another local favorite is Hodad’s, one of San Diego’s most celebrated burger joints – this small restaurant was visited by Guy Fieri on his show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in 2007 and 2013. We also recommend Mike’s Taco Club, a small taco shop that is always crowded with beachgoers because of its phenomenal Mexican food.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out Ocean Beach Hotel located directly on the beach that's within walking distance of many restaurants, surf shops, and other commercial establishments. You can also take a 6-minute drive to The Inn and Sunset Cliffs, a waterfront hotel with a relaxing atmosphere, a swimming pool, and the largest deck on the entire United States western coastline. Further north you’ll find The Dana on Mission Bay, a large waterfront resort with two outdoor pools, two luxury spas, and on-site water sport and bicycle rentals.

Located in the neighborhood of Belmont Shore in the city of Long Beach, Belmont Shore Beach – also known as Claremont Beach - is a large south-facing beach that has light brown sand.  This beach is located between the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier and a street named 55th Place.  A portion of this beach is called Granada Beach – this portion recieved this name because it is located near Granada Avenue.  In addition, another portion of this beach is also named Rosie’s Dog Beach.  Belmont Shore Beach offers many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, concession stands, volleyball courts, a boat launch area, and a bike path.  It is important to note that dogs are allowed off-leash between 6 am and 8 pm in a specific part of Belmont Shore Beach and named Rosie’s Dog Beach – this portion is located along Ocean Boulevard between its intersections with Argonne Avenue and Roycroft Avenue.  It is also important to note that dogs are not allowed in other portions of the Belmont Shore Beach.