Heading to Joshua Tree National Park with your dog? Like most National Parks, there are restrictions to a pet’s visit, but with a little compromise, there is plenty to enjoy!

Nestled in the heart of California, Joshua Tree National Park is a desert wonderland for adventurers. Whether you’re a hiker, climber or simply love the outdoors and stargazing, you’ll love the unique landscape and iconic Joshua Trees. For those who also prefer to travel with their dogs like we do, your trip might be more limited but there is still plenty to enjoy.

Safety First! While Joshua Tree offers a great environment for adventure, it’s essential to prioritize safety for both you and your dog. The desert can be harsh and the combination of desert air and elevation can quickly lead to dehydration, so be sure to carry enough water for both of you, protect your dog’s paws from hot surfaces, and be most mindful of the temperature. It’s best to keep your dog at home in the summer months.

You should also review the park’s rules on pets in the park. Generally speaking, leashed pets are allowed as long as they remain within 100 feet of roads, picnic areas, and campgrounds. You can check park maps for the most up to date acceptable locations.

So where can you go with your dogs in the park?

We have found that the best way to enjoy the park with your canine companion is by entering through the West Entrance Station. This entrance is closest to the trails and campgrounds we enjoy.

Luckily, according to the park’s rules, you are allowed to walk your dog anywhere you can drive your car, so we enjoyed walking the pups on a handful of dirt roads that the park has. This offered several paths to stretch our legs and enjoy the views. Some of our favorites include the roads around Hidden Valley Campground and the Geology Tour area. You can find many of these roads designated on the park map. We also suggest asking a ranger which roads offer the best scenery and are most appropriate for your skill level.

Most of the roads start near a parking lot and have pull-outs along the way where you can begin your walk. Just be sure you are not blocking traffic and that your dog is leashed the entire time. And also remember to pick up after your dog. Some roads have more traffic than others, so be sure to stay alert and move out of the way of any vehicles that need to pass.

One of our favorite pet-friendly paved trails is Keys View Trail. This is an easy and family-friendly trail (just about a quarter mile long in total) that offers a nice little loop to a spectacular overlook of the valleys below. There you’ll also be able to see the shining surface of the Salton Sea, San Jacinto Peak, and the usually snow-covered peak of San Gorgonio Mountain. Some have noted that on really clear days, you might be able to see Signal Mountain in Mexico, but that has become somewhat rare due to the poor air quality over the years. Our favorite time to visit Keys View is at sunset. However, traffic picks up quickly at that time so you’ll want to head over a little earlier to grab a parking spot.

Joshua Tree is one of the national parks that is pretty easy to explore without having to hike for miles. You’ll be able to stop at pullouts or take side roads to see the rock formations and Joshua Trees that make this park so special.

If rock climbing is your thing, or maybe you just enjoy watching the climbers while having your favorite snack, you’ll be happy to know there are four rock climbing areas within 100 feet of a road, picnic area, or campground and therefore pet-friendly. Check out the climbing areas at Belle Campground: Castle Rock, Hidden Valley Campground, Indian Cove Area (there are a few climbing areas here), and the Quail Springs Area.

And if you enjoy camping, there are plenty of campgrounds in and around the park to choose from.

So whatever reason brings you to the park, with a little compromise, there are ways to enjoy Joshua Tree with your dog.

Happy Adventures!

Hiking is a great way to get away from your busy work week, day-to-day responsibilities, and stress. It offers unplugged quiet time with fresh air, views, exercise, and a chance to reset our minds. After all, studies have shown that hiking not only improves your fitness, but also positively effects your mood, and overall well-being. It’s not a surprise that hiking has become more popular.

If you’re looking to beat the crowds, follow these tips to improve your chances of avoiding crowded trails.

If you’re new to hiking, remember to always pack the 10 essentials, let someone know where you’re going, and practice leaving no trace. If you’re new to hiking with your dog, check out our blog on Hiking with your dog: The essentials. Need new adventure gear? Shop now at REI.

Go early

Head out early. For some trails that might mean before 8am, others it might mean hitting the trail at sunrise. Generally speaking, if you go early, you’ll likely beat the mid-day crowd and can enjoy more of the trail to yourself.

Go late

Just like many do not like to get up and hit the trails early, most also don’t like being on the trail when it’s getting dark. If you feel comfortable doing so, then we say go for it. Plan a sunset hike. See the trail in a different light, literally. But remember this means you need to pack additional gear, like a headlamp.

Go during the week, avoid holidays

It makes sense that most people are heading out to the trails on the weekend and holidays. If able, going during the less popular times, like during the work week, is an easy way to avoid those weekend adventurers.

Hike year round

The average joe likely hits the trail only in the best conditions. Consider hiking in the off-season or in “bad” weather (keep yourself safe though, of course), and find excitement in checking out the trail in a different way. Some of the best memories are made overcoming different challenges, like hiking in colder temperatures, snow, or rain. The photo above is from a hike we did on one of the coldest days I’ve ever experienced (it was like 5*F?) but it’s one of my favorite memories now.

Avoid the most popular hikes

The internet and resources like popular hiking apps make finding trails a lot easier. This means a lot of people are searching for the best and highest rated trails. Take some time to look for gems that might be flying under the radar. Here are some ways to find awesome trails that might not be at the top of the search list:

Check for alternate routes

Coupling going early and finding an alternate route might be the ticket to visiting a popular hike while avoiding much of the crowd. You might still get some when you get to the destination, but at least you’re avoiding the popularity of the main trail.

Look for harder or farther hikes

Generally speaking, most people are open to hikes that are a few miles and have easy to moderate elevation gain (something that only takes about an hour or two). But the longer or harder the hike, the less likely it will be crowded. I guess a simple way to put this is: avoid shorter trails.

Find trails off of the main roads, drive further away

This is where the benefit of having a 4×4 or all-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance comes in. You can make your way to some neat trails that less people have access to.

If you don’t have a suitable vehicle for dirt roads, or don’t mind driving far, you might consider getting away from the big city. Hikes near a big city are often the most popular because they’re easy to access. If you drive more than an hour away, your odds to lesser trafficked trails increases.

Need help finding trails? Check out the AllTrails app to search your area and beyond.

Do you have additional tips to avoiding crowded trails? Leave them in the comments!

Summer doesn’t have to mean your dog stays indoors while you get to have all the fun. Here are a few of our favorite dog-friendly summer hikes near Los Angeles.

Dogs can overheat just like humans, so it’s important to take precautions when planning your summer hikes. Check out our 7 Tips for Summer Hiking With Dogs before heading out to the trail.

Ready to go? Check out some of our favorite summer hikes around Los Angeles listed below. These hikes are generally shaded, and feel rewarding with water features; but we still recommend going early to avoid the hottest times of the day and crowds around these popular trails. Dogs are allowed on all of these trails but you should keep them leashed.

Hiking with your dog for the first time? Make sure you’ve packed all the essentials.

Have additional recommendations? Leave them in the comments below!

Switzer Falls

A generally easy to moderate 3.6 miles out-and-back hike with approximately 695 feet of elevation gain. Most of the trail is shaded, with only about half a mile exposed in a rocky section.

Be sure to park in the lower lot (follow the directions/signs down to the campground), otherwise you’ll have quite the trek back up to your car. An adventure pass is required to park so be sure to purchase one before you go. We used our annual National Parks Pass.

View more information about Switzer Falls on AllTrails.

Eaton Canyon Falls

There are a few trail options to get to Eaton Falls that range from 1.9-4.4 miles out-and-back. We usually take the 4.4 mile hike to enjoy a longer hike with multiple water crossings.

This is generally an easy hike, but do be careful at the water crossings. Rocks and logs can be slippery. If you do fall in, the water is usually only about ankle deep.

It’s easy to find parking at this park. The park offers a main parking lot with additional overflow parking in a dirt lot. There are plenty of signs to help guide you to additional parking. No parking passes were required during our visits.

View more information about Eaton Canyon Trial on AllTrails.

Millard Canyon Falls

A relaxing and easy 2.5 mile out-and-back hike. There are two ways to access the trail to Millard Canyon Falls.

You can park near and start at the point shown in the AllTrails link below, or you can drive to the lower Millard Canyon Campground parking lot and start from there for a shorter version of the hike.

Shortly after you pass the campsites you’ll meet a 4.5-5 foot tall wall that you’ll need to climb to access the trail. There are some rocks that act as steps, but might require a little jump up for you and your dog. This is the hardest obstacle you’ll encounter.

There is nice shade throughout the trail, and a few shallow river crossings. Rocks and logs are placed to help you at these crossings.

View more information about Millard Canyon Falls on AllTrails.

Gabrielino Trail: Jet Propulsion Laboratory to the USFS Dam

This is a longer trail that totals about 9.3 miles out-and-back, but is otherwise pretty easy terrain with about 954 feet of elevation gain that is very gradual along the way.

The first half of the trail is wide and much more trafficked. You might even run into some horses.

Once you pass Gould Mesa Campground the trail begins to narrow and you’ll see people less frequently. There are a few water crossings after the campground, most of which have a path laid out by rocks or logs, before you’re met with the sounds and view of the Dam.

View more information on the Gabrielino Trail to USFS Dam on AllTrails.

Escondido Fall

Escondido Falls is an easy 3.7 mile out-and-back trail near the beach. There isn’t much elevation gain throughout the hike, but there is one section at the start of the trail that might be a little steep for some.

There is a very small parking lot that requires a parking pass just off of PCH. This lot fills up fast, and many will opt to park across the street along the Pacific Coast Highway. Since the start of the trail is in a residential area, you’ll need to walk up through the neighborhood from the parking lot to access this trail.

The walk from the parking lot to trailhead is exposed along a road. Once you make it to the trailhead, most of the trail is covered. You’ll follow the trail, cross two small water features, before making it to Escondido Falls.

View more information on Escondido Falls on AllTrails.

Paradise Falls

Paradise Falls is located in Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, California. There are a number of trails you can access in this park, and many of them connect to Paradise Falls. Generally speaking you can follow the trail for a 2.1 out-and-back hike to the waterfall, or you can turn it into a 3-4 mile loop by connecting it to a few other trails.

There are some picnic tables near the Falls should you choose to bring a snack to eat while you stop and enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfall.

View more information on Paradise Falls on AllTrails.

Happy Adventuring!

Summer is around the corner, which means we have to be even more thoughtful about how we plan our hikes, especially with our dogs. Below is a list of tips to stay safe on summer hikes with your dog.

We love hiking with our dogs, and we hike with them a lot. However, I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t say we definitely take some breaks from hiking in the summer when the heat is too much.

Dogs can overheat just like humans, so it’s important to take these precautions when planning your summer adventures.

Avoid the hottest times of day

There are a number of variables we keep in mind when it comes to the heat. This is definitely number one. Summer means we take on more early morning or the occasional late evening hike.

Going early in the morning helps us avoid the hottest times of the day, and the ground is usually at it’s coolest.

Why do I bring up the ground temperature? Because we want to protect our dogs paws from burning. The ground can be a lot hotter than the air temperature. We usually start to double check the ground when the air temperatures start to reach mid to high 70’s (F).

If you’re unsure if the ground is too hot, try the seven second test by placing the back of your hand on the ground and wait several seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog.

Find shaded hikes

Although shade doesn’t actually make temperatures cooler, it does make a difference in how you feel. Generally, it’ll feel 10-15 degrees cooler in the shade because you’re avoiding direct sunlight, which is still a benefit in my opinion!

Hike closer to water

If you have access to areas by the beach, the cooler ocean waters bring in a comforting sea breeze.

One of our favorite things to do is hike to a water feature, usually a waterfall or a lake. It’s feels like a treat when we make it to our destination and are rewarded with both the views and mist from the falls. Chase especially loves when we hike to a lake that he can swim in, like Rainbow Lake in Colorado (pictured below).

Note: Be careful around stagnant water as that can be a breeding ground for bacteria or fungi that’ll make you and your dog sick.

Hike in higher elevation

Higher elevation usually means cooler air temperatures.

The exact amount of change, however, depends on factors like sunshine (which is more intense at elevation), clouds/fog, wind, and if there’s any precipitation. Be careful about how high you decide to go though! There may still be snow in the summer. And in some cases, inversions might actually make it feel hotter, which basically sounds like a long winded way of saying you should still always double check the weather.

Plan to give yourself more time

Hike slower – It’s not a race! Take it easy and enjoy the view. Plus, it’s better for your joints and can add an element of meditation, which is good for your mental health too!

Preparing for the heat

Just like you have to adjust your planning, the things you bring will also change.

Pack plenty of water

I’m always under the mindset that I’d rather have carried too much water than not enough, and this is even more important when it comes to a warm day. Plus, any “extra” water can also be used to help cool you or your dog off, like soaking your bandana or your their cooling vest.

Adding electrolytes to your water can also be beneficial in the summer to keep you hydrated and avoid cramping. If you need to encourage your dog to drink more, one trick that has worked for us is mixing in some bone broth to their water.

Wear the appropriate clothing

For us this means moisture wicking clothes (avoid cotton) with SPF protection, and a good sun hat.

We also pack items like dog booties and cooling vests for the dogs, just in case. (Links to Kurgo’s Blaze Cross Dog Shoes and Dog Core Cooling Vest. Although we are Kurgo Ambassadors, these are not affiliate or sponsored links. We just genuinely love their products.)

For a full list of hiking essentials, check out our blog post Hiking With Your Dog: The Essentials. And if you are looking for new gear and want to save a few bucks, you can check out our discount codes here.

Think about other options

Sometimes it’s just simply too hot to hike, and that has to be OK. Consider other fun summer adventures like kayaking or paddle boarding. This can be relaxing alternative, or at least an excuse to try something new. And, if your dogs are anything like mine, they might jump off and prefer to swim around to keep things exciting. As long as they’re OK with water, I see that as a benefit (they go home tired!).

Whether you are a veteran hiker or are just getting started, there are a list of basic essentials everyone needs to hike with their dogs.

Notice that we’re missing something in this post? Let us know in the comments.

Preparing your pup for the trails

If you love the outdoors and own a dog, then you and your pup are likely to be great hiking buddies. It’s important, however, to make sure that you’re prepared to take care of yourself and your furry companion before you head out on the trail.

Be sure to consult with your vet, brush up on obedience training and trail etiquette, pick appropriate trails, and pack accordingly.

Ready to head out? Remember to double check the weather and trail conditions before you go. Slight changes may call for additional gear, like an extra base layer for you or booties for your dog.

You should also consider downloading a trail map, and telling a friend about your route before you go. Many trails don’t have cell service so it’s a good idea to take these additional steps for safety.

Essentials for the trail

What you bring on each hike can vary depending on length, terrain type, weather, etc. However, there are things that you should always bring like identification, plenty of water, and treats/snacks for you and your pup. Check out some of our favorite companies for more adventure gear recommendations.

Gear

Collapsible bowl (for water/food), Collar and/or harness, Leash, Poop Bags

Nutrition

Food (depending on length of hike), Treats, Water

Safety

First aid kit, Flea & tick spray, Tag/ID with contact information

Additional Accessories (optional or depending on weather)

Backpack, Boots, Clothing (i.e. vest, jacket, rain coat), Cooling collar or vest, Long line leash, Tab leash, Reflective gear or lights, Towel, Treat pouch

** Safety is a top priority, so be sure to always have identification on your dog/s in case you get separated. **

BONUS: We asked our Instagram friends for some of their tips, and here’s what they said

What we wish we knew when we started

“As a first time hiker, harnesses are the way to go (vs collar). The support is better, and if you fall or accidentally pull on them, it’s not choking them!” says @murray_themountainpup

Rado sits in the car wearing a grey harness. The car is protected by a blue and orange Kurgo car hammock.

@tumbler.ridge recommends owners to “buy a seat cover to save your car!”

“One of the things I wish I knew when we started was the appropriate amount for a pup to hike at their age” says @kopadoodle.

@the_koa_chronicles says they definitely recommend “a harness. Especially one with a pack so you’re able to carry extra snacks. We also love the water bottles with the attached bowl, giving us the option to put the water back inside so nothing goes to waste.”

@kaleiahskyy hikes alone with her pup a lot and recommends “always telling your friends and family where you’re going and packing a first aid kit. For safety we also bring pepper spray, a whistle and flashlight.”

Hiking with more than one dog

@findbluedog says, “if you’re into photography and want free hands, get a waist leash.” (also referred to as a hands-free leash).

“The #1 tip I have is to train an emergency whistle recall. Even if you have dogs with solid recalls, nothing beats the emergency” says trainer Katie @themaniacmutts.

“It’s hard! Especially when the trails get narrow and they can’t be off leash. PS, Always bring a leash!” says @adogbymyside.

Hiking with small dogs

“Warmth! Sonny gets cold easily when we stop moving, so we always like to keep a warm layer handy. Also, backpacks! When we were in snow deeper than Sonny is tall, it was easy to have him ride along on our hike in the backpack. It’s also great for biking!” says @sonnybymyside.

@sunnysbestlife warns us all to be especially aware of our surroundings – including the sky. “Small dogs are prey. Sunny is never off leash but I’m always aware of our surroundings in the sky.”

Happy Hiking!