Pioneer Mail Trail

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.

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.

Leashed dogs are permitted to stroll with their owners on the fitness trail and cavort off-leash on the fenced-in T-ball field at Jess Martin Park, a 9-acre dog-friendly park in Julian, CA. Petzooie is only allowed on the pitch when there are no games in action from the beginning of August until the beginning of February.

The Volcan Valley Apple Farm in Julian, California, is a dog-friendly farm where you can tour with your dog on a leash. They even have doggie bags and a bucket of water at the entrance gate for thirsty pets. The Volcan Valley Apple Farm is only available during the summer. Check their website for the most up-to-date hours of operation.