Dog-friendly beaches, parks and trails in Monterey County
Monterey County has 31 places in our guide; 20 of them welcome dogs today, 11 of them off-leash. Here are the ones to start with.
Open to dogs now first, then off-leash places and those with a photo.
- Dog parkAromas Dog ParkOff-leash
- Dog parkCity of Monterey Dog ParkOff-leash (hour limits)No dogs: midnight-dawn; No dogs: dusk-midnight; Off-leash: Other times
- Dog parkDog park at Doe Super ParkOff-leash
- Dog parkDog park at Nativiad Creek ParkOff-leash
- Dog parkDog park in East GarrisonOff-leash
- Dog parkDog park in MontereyOff-leash
- Dog parkEast Campus Dog ParkOff-leash
- Dog parkEast Garrison Dog ParkOff-leash
- Dog parkOrchard Lane Park Dog ParkOff-leash
- Dog parkPacchetti Dog ParkOff-leash
- Dog parkPet area at Love's Travel StopOff-leash
ParkAsilomar State BeachLeash required
Photo by Joyce Cory on Flickr as docentjoyce from Los Osos, u.s.a, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- BeachAsilomar State BeachLeash required
- BeachCarmel River State BeachLeash required
- ParkEl Estero ParkLeash required
- ParkKirby ParkLeash required
- BeachMonastery BeachLeash required
- BeachMonterey State BeachLeash required
- BeachMonterey State BeachLeash required
BeachCarmel BeachDogs allowedLeash rule not stated
Photo by Mutante, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
ParkPoint Lobos State Natural ReserveNo dogs
Photo by Kai Schreiber from Jersey City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- TrailBird Island TrailNo dogs
- BeachGibson BeachNo dogs
- BeachHidden BeachNo dogs
- BeachMonterey State BeachNo dogs
- ParkNativiad Creek ParkNo dogs
- TrailSand Hill TrailNo dogs
- TrailSea Lion Point TrailNo dogs
- TrailSouth Shore TrailNo dogs
- TrailTonys TrailNo dogs
- BeachWeston BeachNo dogs
Nearby counties
Towns in Monterey County
How we knowThe agencies that set dog rules here, and what each one says
- California State ParksLeash 6 ft in campgrounds, picnic areas and lots. No dogs on beaches and trails unless posted.9 places here
- City of MontereyLeashed in city parks except nine named parks and areas. Off leash in the El Estero dog park dawn to dusk.1 place here
- City of SalinasNo dogs in city parks except the dog areas. Leash law citywide.1 place here
- OpenStreetMapWhere no agency rule is on file, the dog tags people add to the map.20 places here
Rules that cover places here
- City of Carmel-by-the-Sea dog rulesOff leash under control on Carmel Beach and city park land. No dogs in Devendorf Park.1 place here
- City of Pacific Grove dog rulesNo dogs in city parks except listed areas. Leashed on the coastal trail. Off-leash hours at Rip Van Winkle.2 places here
- City of Seaside dog rulesLeash law citywide. Off leash in dog parks.2 places here
- County of Monterey dog rulesLeashed (7 ft) in county parks and on their trails. Dog parks off leash.17 places here
Check posted signs. They are the rule on site. This guide restates published rules and OpenStreetMap data, which can be out of date or incomplete. It is not legal advice.
County boundary: US Census Bureau, cartographic boundary file, 2025 (public domain). A place belongs to the county that holds its point on the map.