A wealth of beaches where canines are allowed to run free within the wave slope make the Humboldt shore one of the most dog-friendly coastal areas in California. A favorite with locals is Clam Beach in McKinleyville, the perfect end point for a hike along the five-mile Hammond Coastal Trail, voted in a recent newspaper poll as best place to hike in Humboldt County. North of Arcata, Highway 101 hugs the continent’s edge all the way to Trinidad, where dog-friendly Moonstone Beach offers gorgeous vistas of rugged headlands and rocky coves. Photo: Alsye and Remi (CC)