Dog-friendly Alta Trail

Alta Trail

Sausalito, California 94965
Visit Website

This is a long but gradual climb from the eastern side of the Marin Headlands. Enjoy Golden Gate views from this trail.

Dogs must be on-leash or under voice control.

Help us keep this trail beautiful and dog-friendly:
• Always follow the posted rules as they may have changed
• Respect and protect wildlife and habitats
• Pack in and pack out, leaving only paw prints

Chasing Waves With Your Pup
Splash! Photo Credit: @Sweetd67
Splash! Photo Credit: @Sweetd67
For water-loving canines, nothing beats fetching a bright yellow tennis ball from the surf and romping full speed ahead on a sandy beach. But while there’s plenty of sand to share with your leashed pup along California’s 840 miles of coastline, you should know before you go where dogs are and aren’t allowed to get their ya-yas out. Here are a few of our favorite off-leash strands: more »
Make a Splash in Marin
Pee Wee in Marin
Pee-wee at Muir Beach
Marin County is spring-loaded with dog-friendly places, but we at DogTrekker have some tail-wagger favorites. The good news in the beach department: after months of parking-lot restoration work, beautiful Muir Beach is due to open again to visitors in late November. Dogs under voice control are still allowed to be off-leash here, but those privileges soon may be reduced, restricted or eliminated under terms of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s new dog management plan. Rules, if adopted, wouldn’t go into effect until 2015, so enjoy it while you can. more »
Best Ocean Beaches
Dogs playing on beach
When it comes to blue-ribbon beaches, DogTrekker.com gives top honors to strands where dogs under voice control can legally romp leash-free. There aren’t many in Northern California, but these three will definitely set your pup’s tail a-waggin’.    more »
Sand and Sea With Your Dog
When the urge to brush sand out of your dog’s coat becomes irresistible, throw a towel and a dog brush in the car and take off to enjoy one of Marin’s dog-friendly beaches. more »
Healthy Pets Healthy People

white dog at sunset
You’ve seen the views a million times in photographs, but if you haven’t soaked them up yourself, what are you waiting for? The Marin Headlands, that hilly peninsula on the Marin County side of the Golden Gate Bridge, is best known for views of the iconic structure, but with a little exploring, you’ll come to know it in a different way.  more »

Bridge for All Seasons
Cavallo Point
Cavallo Point

For 75 years, the Golden Gate Bridge has been the symbol of San Francisco — and one that never grows less beautiful with the passing of time. It's no longer legal to walk over the bridge with a dog, but there are many trails-with-a-view from which to admire it in the city and in adjacent Marin County.  more »

See Spot Smile
Dog bliss, Rodeo BeachThe first time we poked around the Marin Headlands with our pup, we were playing tourist, popping out of the car here and there to snap photos of a fog-shrouded Golden Gate Bridge. We didn’t know where the maze of roads we were exploring might take us, but when we saw people walking dogs over a bridge at Rodeo Lagoon, we leashed up for a look-see.  more »
Marin County
If you’re a dog, you can thank your lucky stars for the opportunity to live in or visit Marin County, where dog-friendly open space abounds. In the beach department, leash-optional Muir Beach, Rodeo Beach, Bolinas Beach and Dillon Beach are tail-wagger faves. more »
Download Our Free Mobile App


© 2025 DogTrekker.com

BESbswy