A hand-picked map of the best dog-friendly hikes in Marin County — split into off-leash trails (on Open Space fire roads) and on-leash trails. Tap any pin or card for details and directions. Also see the Marin dog parks and Bay Area dog beaches guides, or the wider Bay Area dog hikes roundup.
Tap a pin for details · tap a card below to zoom to it
🐕 Off-leash hikes
These are Marin County Open Space preserves, where dogs may go off-leash under voice-and-sight control on the fire roads (keep a leash handy, and leash up on narrow single-track trails). Max 3 dogs per person; stay on the road.
🦮 On-leash hikes
On Marin Water (Mt. Tam watershed), GGNRA and Point Reyes lands, dogs are welcome but must stay leashed at all times — these are some of the prettiest leash-on trails in the county.
- Off-leash ≠ everywhere. Even in Open Space preserves, off-leash applies only to designated fire roads under voice control — leash up on narrow trails and wherever signs say so.
- State & national parks are stricter. Most of Mt. Tamalpais State Park, Muir Woods and Point Reyes ban dogs on trails entirely — Bolinas Ridge is a rare leashed exception.
- Know your land manager. County Open Space = off-leash on fire roads; Marin Water, GGNRA & Point Reyes = leash always. When unsure, leash up.
- Wildlife & cattle. Many preserves are grazed and full of deer, coyotes and ground-nesting birds — a reliable recall is essential before going off-leash.
- Water, ticks & foxtails. Carry water, watch for poison oak, and check for ticks and foxtails after grassland hikes — see foxtail season in Marin.
- Pack it out. Carry bags and scoop every time — access depends on dogs being good guests.
Andy can take your pooch on a longer adventure walk — think Mt. Tam, Cascade Canyon or the Coastal Trail. Add it when you book.
Book a walk or sitting 🐾