Hope Valley Outdoors

If you haven’t tried snowshoeing, what are you waiting for? You don’t have to invest in your own equipment if you’re new to the activity. Snowshoes are available for rent from most ski shops; all you need are some warm snow boots. On designated trails with packed snow and flat terrain, walking in snowshoes is almost as easy as walking in street shoes. more »

Almost every public campground in California is dog-friendly, but that doesn’t mean your dog is welcome to hike with you, even on a leash. At most state and national parks, dogs are confined to paved paths, fire roads and picnic areas. If those rules don’t fit your free-roaming style, take heart: There are plenty of other places to camp and hike with your best four-legged friend. Here are two campground-rich areas in Northern California that get the DogTrekker paw of approval. more »

Yes, it will snow again — and when it does, you and your best friend will find groomed cross-country trails as well as limitless tracts of public lands to glide on. Be sure to check with these centers regarding their status prior to heading out. more »

Anywhere there’s snow, you can snowshoe. Your hound, however, won’t float atop fresh powder like you do. He risks post-holing, floundering in tree wells or even breaking through a snow bridge and falling into an icy stream if you don’t have enough backcountry experience to recognize the hazards. more »