Discovering Dog-Friendly Big Sur-The Ultimate Guide to Camping, Hiking, & Exploring
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is one of California’s most breathtaking destinations, offering stunning redwood forests, scenic hiking trails, and access to some of the most beautiful coastal views. Getting a camping reservation can be tough, but worth it, if you plan in advance, go during the week, or take your chances on a last minute cancellation, which is what we did. The campground is located off Highway 1 in the Santa Lucia Mountains, surrounded by redwood and oak trees. The Big Sur River also runs through the campground for a refreshing or freezing dip, depending on the time of year. While the campground is dog-friendly, many of the trails within the park are not. But there are still plenty of dog-friendly activities to enjoy, such as Pfeiffer Beach and the Ventana Wilderness.
Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach, known for its arched keyhole rocks, is a few miles drive from the campground down a narrow, hard-to-see road. So be on the lookout. Leashed dogs are allowed on this mile-long beach to enjoy the purplish sand, impressive rock formations, and crashing waves. There is a paid parking lot at the end of the road, which can fill up on busy summer weekends. But visiting in the off season, we were able to park and enjoy the beach without too much of a crowd.
Ventana Wilderness
The nearby Ventana Wilderness, which borders Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, also has many dog-friendly hiking and backpacking options-over 200 miles of trails. We hiked part of the popular Pine Ridge Trail with views of the mountains in one direction and the Pacific Ocean in the other. Dogs are allowed off-leash in some areas.
Reactive Note-Linus did not come on this trip, but camping in a crowded public campground could be challenging for a reactive dog. We visited the Big Sur area on a weekend, so the campground was full of people, dogs, trailers and cars. On the other hand, hiking in the Ventana Wilderness even on a weekend was not too crowded. We saw a few groups of backpackers hiking with their dogs, but most of the time, we had the trail to ourselves. So maybe Linus would enjoy a future backpacking or day trip in the off season!
Here’s a list of some of our dog camping essentials:
Portable dog cot for having a “place” at the campsite
Mesh screens for the car windows for dogs or people sleeping in the car.
Chew treats-Ocean Chews and Beef Jerky. Luna and Linus both like these single ingredient easily digestible chews.
Freeze dried food-Both Linus and Luna eat the Steve’s Raw Frozen food when at home, so this Steve’s Raw Freeze Dried option is great for travel, and doesn’t seem to upset their stomachs.
Portable Overhead Tie Out Cable. After a day of hiking, swimming, and exploring, the dogs are usually pretty tired and content to just rest on their cots at the campsite. However, Luna with her high prey drive sometimes needs to be leashed so she doesn’t chase after critters. This type of overhead line is helpful for giving Luna a little freedom while also keeping her contained. And it doesn’t get tangled up in all the camping gear laying on the ground.
For more dog-friendly hiking and adventure options about 30 miles north of Big Sur, check out our Monterey and Carmel by the Sea post.
