Walking a Cairn Terrier: Northern California Park and Beach Rules

Golden Gate National Recreation Area has trails, beaches and open spaces available for dog walking.

Golden Gate's designated dog areas

The National Park Service's Golden Gate policy provides for responsible off-leash dog walking in particular areas designated for that purpose. Dogs must be under voice and sight control in those areas. The agency describes Golden Gate as the only park in the National Park Service to make that designation.

The person controlling a dog must deal with pet waste immediately, either by removing it from the park or depositing it in an appropriate trash or waste container.

Point Reyes permits pets only in specified places

The Point Reyes National Seashore pet policy allows leashed pets in parking lots and along public roads, as well as on the sections of specific beaches and trails that the National Park Service identifies as open to pets.

Leashes may be no longer than six feet, or 1.8 metres, and pets must remain on them at all times. Other trails, beaches and off-trail land within the seashore are closed to pets. That closure also applies to other trails, beaches and off-trail land in the Northern District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Ocean Beach's plover protection season

In the Ocean Beach Snowy Plover Protection Area, dogs must be restrained on a leash no longer than six feet from July 1 through May 15. The protection area runs from Stairwell 21 to Sloat Boulevard.

The covered area includes the shoreline and beach west of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area boundary. It also includes all tidelands and submerged lands, extending to 1,000 feet offshore.

Temporary closures

Point Reyes warns that sections of the trails it lists as open to pets may temporarily close to dogs. The National Park Service attributes those possible closures to unexpected circumstances.