Our 5 Favorite Dog Friendly Beaches on the West Coast

June 18, 2020

With over 840 miles of Pacific coastline in California alone, the West Coast is a paradise for dog lovers looking to take their best friend on holiday. From San Diego up to Astoria, the whole coast offers beautiful and varied experiences ranging from the sunny beaches of SoCal to the green beauty of the evergreen state. In this article we are going to be taking a look at some of the best dog friendly beaches and holiday destinations on the West Coast.

DOG BEACH, SAN DIEGO

As the name suggests this is a beach that revolves around dogs. Dog Beach is renowned for being one of the first official leash free dog beaches in the United States. Situated at the mouth of the San Diego River, Dog Beach is part of Ocean Beach Community and reflects the spirit of this beach community where surfers, residents, people on vacation and, of course, dogs all share the public space. They have a few rules such as always cleaning up after you dog, and ensuring that all vaccinations are up to date, but if you adhere to these, Dog Beach is a beautiful space with wide open sands for dogs of all breeds to enjoy.

WEST BEACH RESORT, WASHINGTON

Our next destination takes us far north from SoCal to the pet-friendly West Beach Resort in Washington State. Not only do they offer a host of dog-friendly spaces and activities but their beach front cabins and cottages have a special pet rate of $18 per pet per day. This means instead of having to drive to doggie friendly facilities they are quite literally, on your doorstep. Situated on Orca’s Island the resort and surrounds are packed full of dog friendly activities including the Eastsound Dog Park, a designated dog park complete with waste bags, picnic tables and a doggie toy box.  The Pacific Northwest may not be the first place that springs to mind when you consider a West Coast vacation, but there is no shortage of fun to be had with your furry friend here.

ROSIE’S DOG BEACH, LONG BEACH

Rosie’s Dog Beach is a special area of the greater Belmont Shore Beach. This wide sandy beach has been designated by the city of Long Beach as an unleashed dog friendly space. The official dog friendly section is located between Roycroft and Argonne Avenues along Ocean Boulevard. As you can see in this video humans and dogs of all sizes are free to play and frolic together on the sandy beach. If you’re feeling hungry, there are also a host of dog-friendly restaurants in Long Beach with  Utopia, Café Sevilla, The Attic on Broadway, Restauration, and Beachwood BBQ all offering dog friendly dining environments. When you consider the ample parking along Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach really is a true doggie vacation paradise.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA

First a disclaimer, most of Huntington Beach’s beautiful coastline is off limits to dogs. This sunny stretch of Southern California Coastline is, however, a paradise and so we wanted to focus on the 1.5-mile stretch between Goldenwest and Seapoint Streets, which is dedicated to our furry friends. This spotless beach offers a large flat expanse of sand, where dogs are able to roam freely and play with one another, but is also large enough for you to find a quiet place just for you and your pup. The beach also offers two special events aimed just at dog lovers. Firstly, So-Cal Corgi Nation holds regular Corgi Beach Days, and while these events are aimed at honoring corgis specifically, all dogs and owners are welcome to attend for a day of fun in the sand. The second event is the annual Surf City Surf Dog Competition, which as the name suggests, sees our furry friends and their owners take to the waves. 

KIVA BEACH, LAKE TAHOE

This beach takes us away from the Pacific to the picturesque shores of Lake Tahoe. Kiva Beach is a hidden jewel found slightly off the beaten track. It is located on National Forest land, a quick walk from the visitor’s center. The trail leading there is largely unmarked so it can be a little tricky to find, so we suggest getting clear directions before setting out. When you find it though you will discover crystal clear water, abundant sand and Tahoe’s distinctive mountains rising up in the background. Kiva Beach is one of the only dog-friendly beaches and while the shore and water’s edge are demarcated as on leash you’ll find plenty of other dog owners taking advantage of this beautiful setting. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of dog friendly beaches and holiday destinations along the West Coast. With such a long coastline of varied beauty this list could never be exhaustive, and there are many beaches we had to leave out. If you have a favorite though that isn’t on our list, why not email us and we can add it ([email protected]). Alternatively, we will be featuring some East Coast beaches next and here is Our 5 Favorite Dog Friendly Beaches on the Gulf Coast.

For more reading on pet wellness:

Indoor vs Outdoor. Why Pet Access is Key to a Healthy, Happy Pet

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