Woof Town

Bring Petzooie to Salvation Mountain in Niland, CA, a brightly painted hill that has become a landmark. Leashed dogs are welcome at this work of art in the desert. It's a terrific place to stop on your way to capture some nice Instagram pics of your dog.

The Sunset Trail in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is an easy, dog-friendly 3.25 mile hike that will take around 2 hours to complete with Petzooie. You can also do the 9.2 mile roundtrip out-and-back (connecting with the Big Laguna Trail). Parking is available on the shoulder on either side of Sunrise Highway (SR-1) near mile marker 19.1. Big Laguna is the place to go if you want to avoid the crowds and take your dog somewhere he can run off-leash. This hiker-only track is a terrific way to get a taste of this beautiful location, which is reminiscent of the Rocky Mountains.

Pioneer Mail Trail in Julian, California, is a dog-friendly 1.75-mile hike in Cleveland National Forest that takes around an hour to complete with Petzooie. A breathtaking panoramic vista awaits you at the end of this trail. Mountains stretch as far as the eye can see to the north and south, and Anza Borrego Desert State Park is 3000 feet below you. It is necessary to have an Adventure Pass.

Cuyamaca Peak via Azalea Glen Loop is a tough, 7.7-mile dog-friendly path in Descanso, CA that takes about two hours to complete and includes a river. From October to June, the path is at its best. Dogs on leashes are welcome to accompany you on the hike. There is a per-vehicle day-use cost.

Some portions of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park near Julian, California, are dog-friendly. Dogs are not permitted on all trails, so keep an eye out for signs. On the campgrounds, picnic areas, paved roads, and Cuyamaca Peak Fire Road, pets are welcome. From spring until fall, the two family camps, Paso Picacho and Green Valley, can be rented. Green Valley is located at 4,000 feet above sea level and is bisected by a beautiful babbling creek. Petzooie must be kept on a leash at all times.

Chambers Park at Lake Cuyamaca is a dog-friendly park near Julian, California, about an hour north of San Diego. The park's lake is flanked on three sides by the 26,000-acre Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, which is located at an elevation of 4600 feet in an Oak and Pine forest. The main track, which runs from the Chambers Park sign across the dike to the thick pines on Fletcher Island, is an easy 3.5-mile trip. The lake is surrounded by picnic tables. Leashed dogs are welcome to accompany their owners on a walk as long as they pick up after themselves to keep the lake clean.