Eldorado National Forest

Rise above the summer heat at these high-elevation campgrounds. more »

We’re not claiming to be personally familiar with every campground in Northern California, but our experiences at these dog-friendly sites have been pawsitive enough to keep us coming back again and again. more »

 There are reasons why the section of the Pacific Crest Trail leading from Echo Chalet into Desolation Wilderness (part of the Eldorado National Forest) is so doggone popular: It's easy most of the way, you can take a boat taxi back if you tucker out-and you can grab a cold one at the store by the trailhead. 
Photo: "Echo Chalet" - Glen Gould (CC) more »

Eighteen national forests encompassing 20 million acres of land are found in the Golden State. In Northern California, national forests blanket the spine of the Sierra, the crest of the Cascades and much of the far north. Forests most accessible to the Bay Area and Sacramento are listed below.
Photo: Janet Fullwood  more »

We went to the source to get the official bark on U.S. Forest Service policy regarding canine visitors. “We basically want to be able to provide as much variety of outdoor recreational experience as possible to our visitors, and part of that is allowing people to enjoy our national forests with dogs,” said John Heil, press officer for the† agency’s Pacific Southwest Region. “Canine companions are welcome, but we do have a few rules that we ask visitors to follow.” more »

Pick a bluebird day and pack plenty of pep for an excursion to Echo Lakes, southern gateway to Desolation Wilderness and one of the most glorious (and dog-friendly) ski and snowshoe destinations in the Sierra. more »