Beaches are a perennial favorite summer destination. Whether you are interested in the waves and surf culture or not, beaches always provide a nice, secluded place to relax.
If you are looking for a dog-friendly beach, you have plenty of options in California. The best part is, many of them have rules about dogs, so you will need to be knowledgeable about that to meet your dog’s needs.
Some of the most popular California beaches for dogs are where there is food and/or water available. This makes for a good challenge for dogs as they must hunt out the goods and find it before another dog does!
Since these sites have similar requirements to normal ones, this gives you more flexibility when planning your trip. You do not need to go to an established site if this is not a friendly environment for dogs.
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Balboa Pier in Newport Beach
Balboa Pier is a neighborhood beach access point in the coastal region of California near San Diego and Los Angeles.
The pier was built in the 1920s and is located just outside of Newport Beach, a city known for its long, gentle waves. Since then, it has been a popular spot for water dogs looking to get a little wet-t-nose time on the water.
Today, dogs are allowed on Balboa Pier without any worries. There are no gates or restrictions, just like most public beaches. With so many people visiting, there are plenty of places to stretch your legs.
However, because of its popularity, dogs are not allowed on most beaches in Newport Beach.
Watson Island in Los Angeles
Located in the county of Los Angeles, Watson Island is a beautiful dog-friendly beach that offers visitors a quiet place to enjoy the ocean and dogs alike.
Visitors can find the beach open Monday through Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6:30am until 8:30pm and Sunday from 6:30am until 7:30pm.
The dogs allowed on the beach depends on when you visit. On Sunday morning, there is a service at 8:30am, so if you are planning on going to church that day, you should let your dog stay at home.
However, if you are planning on just enjoying the sun with your dog instead, then Watson Island has you covered. You can go off-leash for your dog at all times, so don’t worry about keeping your pet safe.
Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles
Dog-friendly beaches are not too common, but if you are looking to add a dog to your family, Dockweiler Beach in Los Angeles can be amazing.
It is a designated dog beach, which means only dogs can go on the water and explore the beach. It also means only their owners can go with their dogs!
Many people take their dogs to the beach just for the enjoyment of the water and meeting other dogs. The views are beautiful and offer a comfortable place for both dogs and owners to relax.
The sand is fine enough that even small children can walk their dogs without worry. Just be careful about how long your dog will stay dry!
If you are planning on taking your dog to dockweiler beach, make sure they are up to date on basic wet-dog training.
Huntington Dog Beach in Orange County
Huntington Dog Beach in Orange County is a local dog resort that offers visitors a place to enjoy the beach with your dogs. It’s open to the public and they accept dogs for the entire day.
The facility has signs posted explaining how to enter the beach with your dog. The staff there works with dogs as well as people, so you can take your dog even if you’re not very strong yourself.
Many people enjoy coming to this dog resort with their dogs. First, it is a nice, sheltered beach where you can let your dog go as far as they want to explore. Second, it is nice that other people can come and use the beach with you. You can keep your distance at this resort, which is nice!
The cost of visiting this resort with your dog is $10 per person per day or $20 for weekend visits. There are discounts for multiple visits.
Balboa Island in Orange County
Balboa Island is a city-run dog park just outside of North Torrance, California. It’s the largest dog-friendly beach in Orange County and offers three areas to play, romp, or relax with your pup.
The entire beach is fenced in and separated into four different areas for your dog: Playzone, Chokecherry Tree, and Lawn. All of these are designated for small dogs only, so if you have a larger dog it’s not available.
All of these areas are separated by fences so your dog can’t get lost unless he gets super excited and breaks the fence. The other dogs on the beach can see your pet pretty well so no problem there!
There are also games and toys for my dogs to chase and enjoy.
Seal Rock in San Francisco
A medium-sized dog is not expected at Seal Rock beach in San Francisco. Instead, this dog-friendly beach is located just a short drive away in Pacifica.
Seal Rock is a small, family-oriented beach located in Pacifica, a city just east of San Francisco. It has picnic areas, fishing spots, and even a playground for dogs.
The sand is thick and black, making it hard to find even if it was covered with other pieces of debris. Because of the coverings of debris, it is difficult to determine where the sun really sits and how bright the sand actually appears.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area In San Francisco
A national recreation area in California, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is home to beautiful beaches, rugged coastline, and beautiful vistas.
Some of the most popular beaches in California are located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are numerous parks and beach communities within the reservation that have public beaches.
Many local residents use the recreations area networks as a convenient place to hang out and enjoy the sun. Since most networks have open water conditions, you can easily go swimming!
When going swimming at a network beach, be careful about what kind of apparel you are wearing. Some fabrics exposed too much skin when wet! If you must go swimming but want to stay safe, avoid exposed skin and wear protective clothing.
Naples Creek Dog Park In San Diego
Naples Creek Dog Park is a wonderful venue for dogs. It is a large, dog-friendly facility with multiple areas to play, exercise your pets, and even have water breaks.
The park is located in the middle of a busy urban area, so it may be difficult to find on foot. However, you can drive or take public transportation to the park.
Naples Creek Dog Park is open from 6 AM until 9 PM with the exception of 8 week-end-only events. These events include games and activities for dogs, giveaways, and any other special events that need to be scheduled for the dog community.
The owner of the facility makes all decisions at what times they are so they are always available to answer questions or schedule an event.