Mendocino County’s best dog hikes

MENDOCINO CO., 5/6/26 — If you live in Mendocino County and you have a dog, you have already learned the hard way that most state-park trails are off-limits to four-legged company. Pull up to Van Damme on a Saturday morning, get out of the truck with a leash in your hand, and a ranger will politely send you packing.

Same at Russian Gulch once you push past the dog-friendly side of the park, same at Hendy Woods once you leave the campground and day-use area, same at Sinkyone. The default rule on California state-park trails is no dogs, and the rule is enforced.