Bringing your dog on a trip out to Los Angeles? Or just trying to explore more dog adventures around the city? If you’re willing to put up with the traffic, you’ll find that the city, and so many restaurants, shops, and parks, LOVE having dogs around and treat them nearly as well as any other city in the country. Here are a few of our favorite tips for getting around (or getting out of) LA with your dog.
Getting Around Los Angeles With a Dog: Transportation & Travel Tips
Getting around Los Angeles involves a fair share of sitting in traffic. Always remember to check traffic and try to make a parking plan before leaving to try to make the most out of your day. Non-service dogs are allowed on public transportation if they are “secured in closed carriers” according to the LA Metro website. Another option is Uber and Lyft, as they offer the option for a pet-friendly ride share.
Image courtesy of @sallylongdog
It’s also incredibly important to check the weather at your destination before making any hiking or walking plans. If you’re staying close to the water in Santa Monica you could have an overcast and 75 degree day, but the weather could easily be sunny and close to 90 as you head east towards downtown or Pasadena. Additionally, many trails around the city have very little shade, so make sure to bring plenty of water and plan to hike in the mornings or evenings when it’s much cooler.
Dog Beaches & Coastal Walks in and Around Los Angeles
Unfortunately, dogs are prohibited from going on the sand at nearly all beaches in Los Angeles year-round. In good news, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy being near the beach with your dog. The Marvin Braude bike path (AKA “The Strand”) runs along the beaches of LA and has an adjacent walking path that’s perfect for a long dog walk and some great people watching. The 22-mile trail’s most popular stretch runs unobstructed for 8.5 miles from Will Rogers State Beach down through Santa Monica and Venice. It can get busy on weekends, and you’ll have to keep an eye out for E-bikes whizzing by, but it’s a great way to observe beach life.
For greener pastures to take in ocean views, I would recommend heading to Palisades Park. It's a beautiful park on the bluffs overlooking the water, and is extremely easy to bop in and out of the surrounding neighborhood streets like Montana Ave for a coffee or a bite to eat.
To get to dog-friendly beaches, you can head south to Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach, further south to Huntington Beach in Orange County, or up north to Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu.
Hiking in LA with a Dog: Top Trails & What to Know
LA is full of dog-friendly hiking options, and those hikes have no shortage of beautiful views and photo ops.
Griffith Park:
Griffith Park has some of the best views of downtown and a whole network of dog-friendly trails, making it easy to find a distance/difficulty suitable for any dog. If you decide to hike up to the Griffith Park Observatory, know that dogs aren’t allowed into the actual observatory itself. For some of the best views of the city and the Hollywood sign, the Mt. Hollywood Trail is a beautiful 2.5-mile loop that climbs above the observatory and takes you away from the foot traffic right around the observatory itself.
Runyon Canyon:
Sat in the hills directly above Hollywood, Runyon Canyon is always filled with interesting people and pups. You’ll have some great views of the city, but be prepared for lots of foot traffic and other dogs during peak hours. The West Trail is currently closed due to fires, but the East Ridge Trail offers a quick, 1.6-mile out-and-back to the park’s two classic viewpoints: Cloud’s Rest and Inspiration Point.
Santa Monica Mountains:
Providing some of the best hikes with ocean views, the Santa Monica mountains include the beautiful and dog-friendly Will Rogers State Park and Tuna Canyon. The area was unfortunately part of the 20,000 acres burned in the Palisades fire. While rehabilitation for the Santa Monica Mountains will certainly be a long process, there are plans for parts of Will Rogers State Park to open up by the end of 2025. Be sure to check trail conditions and reports before heading to Santa Monica Mountains with your dog!
Angeles National Forest:
Visiting the sprawling and traffic-filled city, it’s easy to forget how close it is to some incredible out-there nature! The Angeles National Forest has great options for backpacking, camping, and swimming. It even has waterfalls and occasionally snow. Not bad for a park with an entrance less than 20 miles from Downtown LA.
There are over 50 dog-friendly trails in the forest with all different types of terrain. The Angeles National Forest was on the border of the Eaton Fire, and while most of the park was unharmed, about 17% of the forest is currently closed due to fire recovery. That number should reduce significantly at the start of 2026. Take a look at which trails are operational before planning your trip.
One of the easier trails to reach from the city, Trail Canyon Falls is a 4.5-mile and easy-to-follow trail that leads right to a 50-foot waterfall and offers some varied terrain along the way.
Great Dog-Friendly Parks for Picnics & Walks
The city is filled with some awesome parks that all have different and vibrant personalities. Anywhere you’re staying in the city, you shouldn’t be too far away from a great option for a morning walk or a picnic. While every neighborhood will have their smaller parks, here are a couple of options for a visit you could make a day out of.
Elysian Park (Echo Park):
The expansive park sits right next to Dodgers Stadium and has a great mix of walking trails and green spaces. If you time your visit right, you could even hike up to the top of Angels Point and catch a Dodgers game from the hills above.
Kenneth Hahn Park (Baldwin Hills / Culver CIty):
The state park is extremely well taken care of and centrally located, making it a watering hole for people all around the city for gathering and exercising. Sitting on top of a hill with plenty of trails, the park has viewpoints of nearly every part of the city. The ponds and streams filled with geese, swans, and ducks that can make you forget you’re in one of the biggest cities in the country - and they make for great animal watching for a dog.
Silver Lake Reservoir (Silver Lake):
Silver Lake is a protected reservoir circled by a 2.25-mile dirt path that’s perfect for a dog walk or run. And not to worry, there are plenty of beautiful places to stop along the loop, including a beautiful green space called Silver Lake Meadow and a large, bustling dog park.
Dining with your Dog in LA
Los Angeles is an extremely dog friendly city when it comes to entering shops and restaurants. As a general rule of thumb, indoor seating at sit-down restaurants and most grocery stores or food markets do not allow non-service animals, but most counter service food options or sit-down restaurants and bars with outdoor seating will be able to accommodate a dog. Of course, make sure to check with individual restaurants on their policies. Just like many other cities, breweries are always a great bet for a dog-friendly outing, and there are tons of them throughout the city.
Larchmont Village, Culver City, and Los Feliz are just a few neighborhoods with some great, walkable downtowns and no shortage of outdoor dining options to check out.
Enjoy Your Trip!
Los Angeles is so large; it would take months to feel like you’ve seen every neighborhood or park. Don’t put too much pressure on seeing everything and try to enjoy some of the great culture and food the city has to offer. There is certainly no shortage of adventures for you and your dog. Happy traveling!
