American River Parkway

Just up Highway 50 from Sacramento, the city of Folsom is a superb dog-friendly destination with a handsomely renovated Old Town just a block or two from the Sacramento River. Cuddle up in dog-friendly lodging and spend a weekend exploring with your four-legged friend. Get your bearings on Sutter Street (the main drag), where you can soak up some local motion at a dog-friendly taproom or restaurant. more »

From the downtown core to the farthest reaches of suburbia, Sacramento abounds with dog-friendly places to stay. If downtown is your chosen destination, the new Kimpton Sawyer might be just your ticket. It’s smack in the heart of the developing DoCo (Downtown Commons) district surrounding Golden 1 Center, offering out-the-door access to numerous restaurants with dog-friendly patios (plus lots of buzz on event nights). As at all Kimpton hotels, dogs are welcome at no extra charge. more »

Sacramento, California’s “City of Trees,” takes great pride in its shady parks. William Land Park, just south of downtown, is its largest urban oasis. The 166-acre preserve is home to a zoo, a golf course, an amusement park, duck ponds, picnic grounds and miles of canine-friendly walking paths. Among many other events, it hosts the annual Doggy Dash and Bark in the Park Festival (April 27 this year) to benefit the Sacramento SPCA. more »

History, a vibrant dining scene and outdoor recreation options galore beckon in this gateway to California Gold Country. Folsom’s nucleus is its handsomely revitalized Old Town district, centered on Sutter Street and great for an anytime stroll or sit-down with your four-legged friend. more »

Highway 50 buzzes right through Rancho Cordova between Sacramento and Folsom, so unless you pull off to explore, you won’t know what you’re missing. Start, perhaps with an overnight stay at a dog-friendly hotel and get a complimentary Sierra Foothills Wine Tasting Passport good for two people at eight regional wineries that welcome dogs. more »

Visitors know Folsom for the song made famous by the Man in Black, but no one sings the blues once they get to this historic little city at the western gateway to California Gold Country. Folsom makes a great launching pad for forays into El Dorado County wine country and the Apple Hill region, where many dog-friendly adventures await. But it also has much to offer DogTrekkers in its own right—including a new, 2.5-mile trail and sculpture park named for Johnny Cash.

The Johnny Cash Trail connects to an extensive network of paved paths shared by cyclists, joggers and dog-walkers, while just outside town, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, which includes the separate Lake Natoma, have their own sets of pathways along with miles of shoreline where Sparky can swim and fetch sticks to his heart’s content. And that’s not to mention the American River Bike Trail hugging the river of the same name for 32 miles, all the way to downtown Sacramento. more »

The California capital makes a great jumping-off place for DogTrekkers poised for a trip to high country. Snuggle into a dog-friendly hotel, dine on a restaurant patio with your pup at your side, take a scenic hike on the American River Parkway, and you’ll be primed to head “up the hill” for your next stop on your high Sierra road trip. more »

If you’re one for “spoke and wheel” getaways, the centrally located state capital makes a great hub for day trips throughout the region. Of course, you and Sparky might find so much to do that you won’t even want to leave town. more »

Johnny Cash may have put Folsom on America's musical map, but visitors don't sing the blues once they experience the vitality of this historic little city at the western gateway to California Gold Country.

DogTrekkers visiting Folsom will find more than 32 miles of paved, multi-use trails for cyclists, walkers and joggers, including many segments that intersect with open space corridors, creeks and greenbelts. To get a feel for what’s out there, stroll a section of the Humbug-Willow Creek trail system, which meanders 15 miles through a variety of terrain. Or, follow the American River shoreline along a segment of the 32-mile American River Parkway connecting Folsom with the Old Sacramento historic district. more »

From the downtown core to the farthest reaches of suburbia, Sacramento abounds with dog-friendly places to stay. If you and your furry friend are avid walkers, the Westin Sacramento, just off Interstate 5 about five miles south of downtown, is a four-paw DogTrekker choice.  more »

Johnny Cash may have put Folsom on America's mental map. but visitors don't sing the blues once they experience the vitality of this historic little city at the western gateway to California Gold Country.  more »

A paddle trip down the six-mile stretch of the Lower American River between the Sunrise Bridge off Highway 50 and River Bend Park (called by its former name, Goethe Park, on many maps) is a signature summertime experience for residents of and visitors to Sacramento. more »