When it comes to green spaces any dog would love, the North Bay Area throws its residents plenty of bones.
The inventory of dog-friendly and dog-dedicated parks that dot the nearly 90-mile stretch of land between Sacramento and San Francisco is long and diverse. There are beachfront play areas, hiking paths crisscrossing hilly fields, and urban oases crowded with wet noses and wagging tails. Here are a few pup-and-people-approved destinations worth sniffing out.
Dogs of all sizes have room to play at Lynn Robie Dog Park, which is within Sacramento’s sprawling Bill Conlin Youth Sports Complex. The fenced-in area, which opened in 2015, is separated into a 0.21-acre small dog park and a 1.34-acre park for larger breeds. Both sections feature turf, drinking fountains, and adorable bone-shaped benches for humans and their climbing-inclined four-legged friends. The park gets busiest in the evenings.
The three miles of trails that slice through the open-space Alston Park in northwest Napa are popular paths for horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and dog walking. At the top of one of the park’s many hills, an enclosed off-leash space known as Canine Commons welcomes dogs of all sizes in two different areas. There’s flowing water for thirsty pups, some agility equipment, and plenty of trash cans for cleaning up. Some visitors have noted there’s not a lot of shade, so owners should make sure their furry friends are hydrated and not overheated.
