Today I want to share my guide to the best dog-friendly hikes in San Mateo County with you. If you and your four-legged companion love Northern California’s stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views, my list will introduce you to some of the top places to go hiking in the San Francisco Bay Area. From Montara Mountain to Portola Valley, coastal hikes to woodland trails, it has a range of options. I’ve included a map, too.
Dog-Friendly Hikes in San Mateo County
I’ve been hiking with dogs in San Mateo County my whole life. I grew up here, and I walked a lot of dog-friendly hiking trails in the Bay Area with my family as a child. From Windy Hill to Coal Mine Ridge, many of the trailheads were so close we could walk to them from our front door with our dog.
As an adult, I’ve revisited my favorite hikes on the Peninsula with my boyfriend and his Mini Goldendoodle. From the coast to the mountains, we’ve covered a lot of ground. This list has my favorite dog-friendly hikes in San Mateo County.
The pup has enjoyed them as much as we have, and we can all recommend them from personal experience (although we’re a bit more vocal about them than he is!).
Given how much Bay Area residents enjoy getting outside with their canine companions, there are lots of dog-friendly hikes in and around Silicon Valley. Whether you want to go to Woodside, Portola Valley, Half Moon Bay, or elsewhere, there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to hikes with dogs in this part of Northern California.
And that’s to say nothing of terrain. Love Pacific Ocean views? There’s a hike for you and your furry friend. Like challenging climbs? The county has you covered. Want woodland, mountains, or rolling hills? Check. Check. Check.
I’ll add more hikes to this blog post as I write about them, so you can bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest for easy reference. Given how much the pup enjoys hitting the trails, I’m sure I’ll be publishing another soon.
Tips for Hiking with Dogs in the San Francisco Bay Area
As with all Northern California hikes, there are some important things to remember when you and your dog are on the hiking trails in San Mateo County.
Make sure to bring plenty of water for you and your pet, towels or blankets for your car in case Fido gets muddy or dirty, a leash (sounds obvious, but I’ve seen it happen), and bags to clean up after any mess left on the paths.
Don’t forget to pack sunscreen, wear sturdy shoes, and dress in layers. The weather and temperature can change quickly, especially on the coast where fog can roll in (or out) on a moment’s notice.
If you’re planning to go on a longer hike, it’s always a good idea to bring snacks. Make sure to pack out your litter and leave no trace, too. Bringing a good backpack can help you organize extra clothes, water, food, sunblock, and waste bags.
Don’t forget to stick to the trails to protect local wildlife and avoid things like rattlesnakes, poison oak, and coyotes. Be sure to check yourself and your dog for ticks at the end as well. They’re common around the trails in San Mateo County, and they can cause Lyme disease in both humans and dogs.
Above all, have fun!
1. Windy Hill Open Space Preserve Hike
First on my list of the best dog-friendly hikes in San Mateo County is the Windy Hill hike in Portola Valley. This has always been my favorite one in the area, and I highly recommend it.
Starting at Alpine Road and going all the way up to Skyline Boulevard, this open-space preserve spans 1,414 acres. It’s known for its mix of open grassland, spectacular views, and wooded areas full of redwood, fir, and oak trees.
Four-legged friends are allowed on-leash on designated trails here, and it’s a popular place for humans and their furry companions to hit the hills on the Peninsula.
My favorite way to approach the Windy Hill hike is to go up the Hamms Gulch Trail to the summit, follow along the Lost Trail and Anniversary Trail at the top, and head down the Spring Ridge Trail to the bottom. Doing the hike this way means you and your pup will be hiking uphill in the shade and downhill in the sun.
This loop hike is around 7.6 miles round-trip, and it takes 3-4 hours to complete (depending how fast you walk and whether you stop for a picnic at the top). Along the way you may spot natural highlights like California poppies, Pacific Hound’s Tongue, and Forget-Me-Nots. You’ll also enjoy views across the Peninsula and up to San Francisco.
If you want to take this hike, you can find a map of the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve here. As an added bonus, you can go for lunch at the famous Alpine Inn in Portola Valley afterwards. You can read about it in my blog post about a hike in Arastradero Preserve.
2. Montara Mountain Hike
Next on my list of the best dog-friendly trails in San Mateo County is Montara Mountain. Located just south of Pacifica on the Pacific Ocean, it’s an easy day trip from San Francisco if you’re coming from the city.
The mountain rises 1,898 feet above sea level. Spanning McNee Ranch State Park and San Pedro Valley County Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this peak is the perfect spot to get outside and into nature in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The terrain around it is crisscrossed with hiking trails that lead to the North Peak and other places in and around Montara State Beach. It covers 690 acres and it’s open from 8am to sunset. There are a number of hikes you can do here, all of which are dog-friendly. They range in distance and difficulty, so there’s an option for every fitness level.
If you’re looking for an easy hike, the 1-mile Gray Whale Cove Trail is an ideal choice. It will lead you from Gray Whale Cove State Beach to Montara State Beach and Highway 1.
After a short hill at the start, the path is relatively flat and it features views of the beaches below. The trail sits right on the coastline, so you can take in the Pacific Ocean scenery the whole way.
If you and your dog want something a bit more challenging, you can start on the Gray Whale Cove Trail and continue on the North Peak Access Road or the Old San Pedro Mountain Trail. Both involve a gradual climb, so they’re more challenging than the Gray Whale Cove Trail (but still not too difficult).
The former is a fire road, so it’s a broad, smooth trail. The hike is 3.9 miles each way, and it will take you to the top of Montara Mountain. You’ll be able to enjoy views of the coast and the whole Bay Area from the peak.
The latter has more twists and turns, but it’s also a fun option. The path leads to Pacifica, and it crosses the North Peak Access Road and joins it for a while. You can switch onto the road to reach the North Peak if you want to. It’s 3.2 miles each way.
Alternatively, the Montara Mountain Trail is a fairly challenging path that starts from San Pedro Valley County Park and leads up to the North Peak Access Road. From there you can follow the road to the top of the mountain. This one is 2.1 miles each way.
Interspersed among the official trails are lots of smaller paths you can take to get from one to another or take shortcuts. If you want more information, you can see the details and map on my blog post about a Montara Mountain hike.
You can also watch my YouTube video about Montara Mountain. It will show you my favorite route and give you more details about what hiking here is like.
3. Coal Mine Ridge Open Space of Blue Oaks
Another of the best dog-friendly hikes in San Mateo County is in the Coal Mine Ridge Open Space of Blue Oaks. It’s part of a preserve in Portola Valley that was created to protect the natural tranquility and beauty of this part of the Bay Area.
Dogs are allowed on-leash on designated trails in the Blue Oaks Open Space. These include the Los Trancos Road Trail, parts of the Old Spanish Trail and Toyon Trail, the Lake Trail, and others.
My favorite way to approach this dog-friendly hike is to pick up the Black Oak Trail from Portola Valley Ranch, follow it to the Blue Oak Trail, then do a loop around the Buck Meadow Trail and Sunshine Trail before going back down the Blue and Black Oak Trails.
This hike is around 2.9 miles round-trip, and it takes around 1.5 hours to complete (depending how fast you walk and whether you make any stops). There’s gradual elevation gain on the way out, but the hike is a moderate one on the whole.
If you and your furry companion want to do this one, you can find a map of the Coal Mine Ridge Open Space of Blue Oaks here. As with Windy Hill, you can have lunch at Alpine Inn afterwards if you want to.
Map of Dog-Friendly Trails in San Mateo County
As promised, I created an interactive map of all the hikes on my list. You can see it here. I hope it helps you find your favorite hikes to do with your dog in San Mateo County.
Dog-Friendly Hikes in San Mateo County
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the best dog-friendly hiking trails in San Mateo County. There are lots of fun trails for you and your canine companions to follow in this part of Northern California, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy them as much as I do.
If you’re looking for other dog-friendly hikes in the Bay Area, I’ve done lots of good ones in the Marin Headlands, Pulgas Ridge Preserve, Coyote Hills Regional Park, and on the Bolinas Ridge Trail, the Oakwood Valley Trail, the Cataract Falls Trail, and more. They’ve all been enjoyable.
Further afield, I’ve enjoyed dog-friendly hikes up Fitch Mountain in Healdsburg, and in Portuguese Bend Reserve and San Vicente Mountain Park in Los Angeles. Happy hiking!
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