Thank you Cindy Adams of Best Friends Pet Care & Supplies for the tips in Monterey County. They are located at 167 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

Fresno

Coalinga

• Coalinga Mineral Springs Scenic Trail. 2.5 mile trail. Highway 198, right on Coalinga Mineral Springs Road, and go to where the Coalinga Mineral Springs Recreation Area ends. 408-637-8183.

Fresno

• El Capitan Dog Park. Friendly, safe and clean. Please keep it this way by observing dog park etiquette, picking up after your dog, controlling your dog, and respecting the park rules. This park was made possible by hard-working citizen users, who volunteer time and money to maintain the park and buy insurance. Location: From Highway 99 and Shaw Ave. in Fresno, drive east approximately 1.5 miles. At the intersection of El Capitan and Shaw, there is a stoplight and a Wendy's R Hamburger's on north side of street. Turn right on to El Capitan and go 2 block, where the street ends in a T-intersection at W. Los Alamos. The park is right there. The light Intersection Turn right. (Thank you Tony Cresap)
• Fresno Leash Free Dog Park. Fenced ponding basin with shade & water. Located at At the corner of W. Alamos & El Capitan in Fresno, California. From 99 freeway take Shaw Ave East to El Capitan. Turn South. El Capitan ends at W. Alamos.  (Thank you Keith Goble)
• Woodward Park. 1 acre fenced off-leash, over 240 acres of trails, river and paths. Located off freeway 41 at N. Friant Rd. Take the 41 North towards Yosemite, take Friant off-ramp right, Park on Left hand side, corner of Shepherd and Friant. (Thank you Keith Goble and Susan Sims)

Mendota

• Mendota Wildlife Area. Almost twelve thousand acres. Follow the signs on Highway 180. 209-655-4645

Mercey Hot Springs

• Panoche Hills. Thirty thousand acres. Off County Road J1 and follow the signs. Call before you visit to find out if it is open. 408-637-8183.

Shaver Lake

• Forest land is unleashed but leashes are required on County property. Follow Highway 168 North to the Lake.

Sierra National Forest

• 1.3 million acres with more than 400 lakes and 1,100 miles of trials. Forest Headquarters: 1600 Tollhouse Rd., Clovis, CA 209-297-0706.

Kern

Chimney Peak Recreation Area

• Highway 178 to Canebrake Rd going North to the Tulare side.

Sequoia National Forest

• 1.1 million acrest with 830 miles of trails. (Some parts of Kern River Canyon are off limits to dogs.) Forest Headquarters: 900 W Grand Ave., Porterville, CA 93257, 209-784-1500.

Los Padres National Forest

• 1.9 million acres. Forest Headquarters: 6144 Calle Real, Goleta, CA 93117, 805-683-6711.

Kings

Madera

Madera

• Hensley Lake. Highway 145, left on County Road 400 for 10 miles to the lake. 209-673-5151.

Sierra National Forest

• 1.3 million acres with more than 400 lakes and 1,100 miles of trials. Forest Headquarters: 1600 Tollhouse Rd., Clovis, CA 209-297-0706.

Merced

Los Banos

• Los Banos Wildlife Area. Leashfree during certain times of the year in this fifty-five hundred acres of grassy land. Hwy 152, North on Mercey Springs Rd (HWY 165) for 3 miles. 209-826-0463.

Santa Nella

• O'Neill Forebay Wildlife Area. Interstate 5, South on HWY 33 to the entrance. 209-826-0463.

Monterey 

Carmel

• Carmel City Beach. Highway 1, exit Ocean Avenue to the parking lot at the end. 408-624-4909.

Carmel Valley

• Garland Ranch Regional Park. 4,500 acre park with 9 miles of trails. Highway 1 to Carmel Valley Road (East). Take Carmel Valley Road for about 10 miles east from Highway 1. The park is on the right. Follow any of the trails that go over the Carmel River. 408-659-4488.

Del Monte Beach

• At the exit of Pacific Grove and Del Monte Avenue, off Highway 1 (South or North). Packed sand, gentle slope, somewhat protected. Good beach walking, but caution should be exercised during on shore and off shore storm periods. Most of the beaches north of the Del Monte Beach area are also off leash areas and fairly safe in general. High tides can be dangerous around here so folks need to be aware of this. We've lost some dogs at high tide.  (Cindy Adams)

Los Padres National Forest

• 1.9 million acres. Forest Headquarters: 6144 Calle Real, Goleta, CA 93117, 805-683-6711.

Pacific Grove

• Asilomar State Beach. This is probably one of the safest as far as tides go. Located in Spanish Bay. Packed sand, gentle slope, open to the ocean. Good beach walking, but caution should be exercised during on shore and off shore storm periods. At Asilomar Blvd. and Sunset Avenue, go to the end of the beach. (Left of Asilomar State Beach.) Go down the path and turn left. When you see a golf course, you will be in the off-leash area.  There is also a nearby quarry that is a great place, but a little difficult to find. (Cindy Adams)
• George Washington Park. Dogs may run leashless from sunrise to 9am and from  4pm to sunset. The leashless portion is within the area of Short, Melrose, Alder, and Pine Street. (408) 648-3100.
• Rip Van Winkle Open Space Park. Great forest with trees. Dogs have been known to go leashless at any time. Follow the non-toll portion of Seventeen Mile Drive south and go left on Sunset Drive. Then right on Congress Avenue. Passed the Forest Grove Elementary School on the left. Then you will come to a dirt parking area on the right. 408-648-3100.

San Benito

New Idria

• Griswold Hills Recreation Area. Several thousand acres. Panoche Road, South on New Idria Road. Call first to find out if it is hunting season. 408-637-8183.

Pacific Grove

• George Washington Park. Leash free from sunrise to 9am and from 4pm to sunset. Within the block of Short Street, Alder Street, Melrose Avenue, and Pine Avenue. 408-648-3100
• Lynn "Rip" Van Winkle Open Space. Leashless from sunrise to 9am and from 4pm to sunset. 17 Mile Drive, Left on Sunset Drive, right on Congress Avenue, just passed Forest Grove Elementary School on the left (no sign). 408-648-3100.

San Joaquin

Lodi

• Beckman Park. Large grassy area for fun loving dogs to run! Location: 1426 W. Century Blvd. (Thank you T. Brennan)
• Lawrence Park. Grassy area for fun, loving dogs to run and play! Location: 350 N. Washington St. (Thank you T. Brennan)
• Vine Wood Park.  Big Grassy area, with doggy bags and benches to sit on. Great place to take your fun loving dogs to play. Great people too! Location:1824 W. Tokay St. Directions: Take 1-5 exit Hwy 12 turn left on Ham Lane, left on Tokay St right behind Vinewood Park School. (Thank you T. Brennan)

Tracy

• El Pescadero Park. 1 acre of enclosed grass area with benches, water fountain for dogs & humans, doggy bags, lights. Best time to go 4pm-6pm when most dogs come to play! Location: Tracy Blvd & Kavanaugh Ave. (dog park is on Kavanaugh) Directions: Right off Hwy 205. Exit Tracy Blvd (South). Left at Kavanaugh Ave (3rd stop light). Dog Park will be one block down on the right. (Thank you Anthony & Janet Dumlao)

San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

• San Luis Obispo Dog Park. Location: Highway 1 @ El Chorro Regional Park. Directions: It's in the back of "El Chorro Regional Park", the park across the street from Cuesta College which is midway between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo on Highway 1 about 4 miles Northwest of SLO. (Thank you Michael Graf)

Stanislaus

Tulare

Inyo National Forest

• 1.8 million acre forest with 1,200 miles of trials. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest has twisted trees that are the oldest living things on earth. Forest Headquarters: 873 N. Main St., Bishop, CA 93514, 619-873-2400.

Mountain Home

• Mountain Home State Forest. 4,800 acres with several trails. Highway 190, exit Balch Park Drive and go North to Bear Creek Road and go East for 15 miles. 209-539-2855.

Sequoia National Forest

• 1.1 million acres with 830 miles of trails. (Some parts of Kern River Canyon are off limits to dogs.) Forest Headquarters: 900 W Grand Ave., Porterville, CA 93257, 209-784-1500.