If you are a dog lover like me, you love watching the pure joy of a dog running on the beach. With summer among us, it’s the perfect time to know exactly where you can (and cannot) let your dog run off-leash along the Northern California Coast. According to BringFido.com, here are the area’s top 7 dog-friendly beaches ranking 1 doggie bone to 5 (five being the best). 

1. Poplar Beach – Half Moon Bay, CA | Rating: 4 bones

Pets are welcome to join you on-leash at this busy Half Moon Bay beach.
Location: At the end of Poplar Street, west of State Route 1​​​​​​​

2. Montara State Beach – Montara , CA | Rating: 4 bones 

Montara State Beach is a popular dog-friendly destination. Pets are allowed to join you on this beach as long as they are on a leash under six feet. This area is really popular for people who want to explore tide pools and partake in a little bit of surf fishing. While you’re there, you can check out Montara Mountain as well, featuring the only undisturbed coastal mountain habitat across 100 miles of coastline. Montara State Beach is open every day of the week from 8am until sunset.
Location: Eight miles north of Half Moon Bay on State Route 1

3. Pillar Point Harbor – El Granada, CA | Rating: 4 bones

Enclosed within a sea wall, it’s an area where dogs and kids can swim and play. Parking lot fills up early on weekends.
Location: Just north of the town of Half Moon Bay at the village of Princeton-by-the-Sea

4. Bean Hollow State Beach – Pescadero, CA | Rating: 4.5 bones

Pets are welcome to join you on-leash as you explore the rocky shores of this Pescadero beach. A great spot for for tide-pooling and beachcombing.
Location: Along Highway 1 near the town of Pescadero​​​​​​​

5. Fort Funston Doggie Beach – San Francisco, CA | Rating: 5 bones

An off leash doggie beach with a huge area of tons of trails. There are typically hundreds of well socialized and well behaved dogs for your dog to play with.
Location: In the southwestern corner of San Francisco on Fort Funston Road

6. Esplanade Beach, Pacifica, CA | Rating: 3.5 bones

Your dog will thank you for bringing them to the only off leash pet-friendly beach in Pacifica.
Location: At the north end of Esplanade Drive in Pacifica near the Land’s End apartments.

7. Pacifica State Beach, Pacifica, CA | Rating: 5 bones

Pacifica State Beach (Linda Mar) is pet-friendly. You can bring your pet with you on-leash for a stroll along this beautiful Pacifica beach with stunning ocean views. Dog owners are reminded to clean up any mess that is left behind by their pups to preserve the cleanliness of the beach.
Location: At the mouth of the San Pedro Valley in downtown Pacifica off State Route 1

*Please note, Half Moon Bay State Beach does not allow dogs off-leash and you may be sited.