Dog Friendly Big Bald Rock

Big Bald Rock is a granite peak overlooking Lake Oroville and the Sacramento Valley near the town of Berry Creek, California. It’s not quite Yosemite, but unlike the domes in Yosemite, dogs are allowed to explore and climb this granite peak.

Linus and Luna both enjoyed hiking up to and around the top of Big Bald Rock. There is a short .5 mile path up to the granite. Once we reached the top, it was wide open without any clearly marked paths. We explored, scrambled up the various granite formations, and took in the epic panoramic views. Also it had rained recently so there were many shallow pools and small streams for the dogs to play in. If you’re in the area, it’s a great way to spend a couple hours.

This area was devastated by the 2020 wildfires, so be sure to check conditions and restrictions before you go.

Reactive Note: We did not see any dogs when we visited, and only saw a few other people. There is good 360 degree visibility at the top, so it’s a great place for reactive dogs to be able to easily avoid triggers.

Parking: There is a free parking lot with pit toilets off Bald Rock Road.

Other Tips: Table Mountain is about 30 miles away. It is a beautiful area to hike especially in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom and the waterfalls are flowing. It is also a very popular area for people and leashed dogs. There’s a small designated parking lot and parking on the side of the road. Visitors 16 years or older are required to carry a land pass, which can be purchased online.

We visited midday on a weekend, and it was packed with cars, dogs and people! The trail is wide and with few trees, making it easy to spot other dogs and maneuver off-trail for passing. But it still was a challenge for Linus. Next time we'll opt for a weekday sunrise hike to avoid the crowds.