Walking the Dog - Revisited

Where to Hike with Your Dog on the Peninsula

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, there is “. . .nothing like so good company as a dog. . .” (from Country Life and Concord Walks).

Dogs, like small children, seem to know when it’s time for a walk. Our family dog for 14 memorable years was a Dalmatian named Abby. She was a reasonable dog around the house who seemed to tolerate the day-by-day tedium in exchange for the occasional magic word: “Walk?” We lived in the East Bay during her early years and soon developed the practice of a romp in Redwood Regional Park in the East Bay Hills.

By some uncanny sense, Abby knew when it was 6 a.m. Saturday, and I was compelled to go walking with her regardless of how I felt about the early hours, my weekend plans, or the weather outdoors. Three hours later, I had covered a vigorous 10 miles, but Abby had run four or five times that amount. I enjoyed watching her fly up and down the trail, sometimes behind, usually ahead, but never out of eyesight. I sensed that when walking, Abby assumed the role of my protector. She would run ahead over the crest of a hill or around a curve on the trail, then return, acknowledge my progress, then race ahead knowing that I was safe and proceeding on schedule.

Twenty-four years ago we moved to San Carlos. I soon discovered free-for-all runs with Abby were a thing of the past. For good reasons, most parks and open space districts in San Mateo County are off limits to dogs, and I was not yet compelled to search out the very best trails. Flora and fauna and equestrians and other hikers should not be unnecessarily endangered or inconvenienced by man’s best friend, but I will never forget those Saturday mornings of “. . .nothing like so good company as a dog. . .”

Abby is gone, but now we have Mack, an 8 (plus or minus)-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever. Mack is the four-legged part of my son Scott’s family. Scott is a Marine aviator on deployment in the Persian Gulf for nine months. Our daughter-in-law Jenny, and grandsons John and Bobby are at the “other” grandparents in North Carolina. So we have Mack until next May—or longer—so our interest in dog walks is rekindled.

Fortunately, Mack’s dog years are about equivalent to my man-years, so the all day-all out adventures are a thing of the past. Mack always keeps up, but seldom runs ahead, and the slower pace seems to suit both of us.

So what’s new with dog walks? County and state park trails are off limts. However, the Midpeninsula Open Space District allows dogs on designated trails at Windy Hill and Long Ridge; and all trails at Coal Creek, Foothill, Fremont Older, Pulgas Ridge (including a 16-acre off-leash area), Sierra Azul, St. Joseph’s Hill, and Thornewood.

Check out the district’s excellent website at www.openspace.org and look for “Dog Access Guidelines” for information and general rules. Maps are also available.

Other local dog walks we enjoy include:

1) Bay Trail, Redwood Shores - From Radio Road to the San Carlos Airport, this levee walk features good views along the saltwater marsh any time of the day.

2) Bair Island, Redwood City - At the foot of Whipple Avenue is a three-mile loop that is a local favorite for Peninsula dog walkers. Leashes are not required, but this may change since the area is now under the jurisdiction of the Don Edwards San Francisco Wildlife Refuge.

3) Sweeney Ridge, San Bruno - From the end of Sneath Lane, an asphalt road winds up to the discovery site where explorer Gasper de Portola took the first recorded look at the San Francisco Bay in 1759.

4) Water Dog Lake, Belmont - A popular local choice, about two miles round trip, but you

can extend into the John S., Brooks Memorial Open Space Preserve.

5) Eaton Park-Big Canyon Trail, San Carlos - A popular "in-town" 2.2-mile ramble above Brittan Avenue.” Good views with a moderate elevation gain.

Be sure to follow the rules:

· Keep your dog on a leash. Retractable leashes should be locked at 6 feet or less within 100 feet of any place of public assembly, or within 50 feet of other people or bodies of water.

· Dogs are not allowed in streams or ponds.

· Carry water for your dog.

· You must clean up your dog’s waste.

· Watch for rattlesnakes.

· Give other hikers and horses the right-of-way.

· Check for ticks.

Watch for Mack and me on the trail.

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