Dog-friendly parks throw pet owners a bone

Dogs are allowed to run off leash at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline near Richmond, one of the most popular parks for dogs in California Dogs are allowed to run off leash at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline near Richmond, one of the most popular parks for dogs in California Photo: East Bay Parks / Special To The Chronicle Photo: East Bay Parks / Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 22 Caption Close Dog-friendly parks throw pet owners a bone 1 / 22 Back to Gallery

Having a dog bounding along with you on the trail can be one of the most rewarding moments possible in the outdoors.

Unless it’s not your dog. In that case — for someone afraid of dogs — that moment can become a nightmare.

These polar opposite reactions — and the differences in how parks are governed — have resulted in a patchwork-quilt of rules for dogs at parks, beaches, open spaces and wildlife areas by more than 25 agencies that govern roughly 275 recreation areas in the greater Bay Area.

At most of the 65 parks in the East Bay Regional Park District, for instance, dog owners are allowed to let their dogs romp off leash, providing the dog responds quickly to voice commands. But at the 25 state beaches and parks in the Bay Area, dogs are not allowed on the beaches or the trails, for the most part, under any circumstance.

Rules at the other parks fill the spectrum.

In the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the issue has become so contentious that there are ongoing proposals, public hearings and lawsuits. At Rancho Coral de Tierra in the coastal hills above Moss Beach, where off-leash dog walks were a common practice before the National Park Service took over the land, a ranger used a stun gun on a resident (with an unleashed dog) when the man refused to provide identification and tried to walk away.

Photo: Courtesy East Bay Parks / Special To The Chronicle Leashed dogs are permitted in virtually all of the 65 parks in the...

The recent trend is to specify where dogs are permitted, which tends to sharply restrict the number of areas dog owners can take their pets. In addition, it has become a standard practice that dog owners are required to carry bags to pick up and pack out waste (they’d like to see horseback riders do the same).

Dog owners should carry papers that show that dogs are up to date on shots, license and tags, and verify the rules before they set foot in a park.

A look at what’s allowed:

Greater Bay Area

State parks: Of the 25 state parks in the Bay Area, no dogs are permitted on trails or beaches except in rare cases. Dogs are permitted on paved areas at parks, and at campgrounds when attended, and at night, inside tents or RVs. Contact: State Parks and Recreation, Bay Area District, (707) 769-5652, www.parks.ca.gov.

State wildlife areas: In most cases, dogs are required to be leashed and to stay within 10 feet of their handlers in parking lots and when traveling afield. They are permitted off leash during training and retrieving in hunting season. Some periods of time are set aside at most wildlife areas when no dogs are permitted. Contact: State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Area Regional Office, (707) 944-5500, www.wildlife.ca.gov.

U.S. wildlife refuges: For the most part, leashed dogs are allowed wherever visitors are allowed. Contact: Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Newark, (510) 792-0222, www.fws.gov — click on find an office or a refuge; Environmental Education Center, Alviso, (408) 262-5513, www.fws.gov/desfbay.

San Francisco & Peninsula

Golden Gate National Recreation Area: For now, dogs are banned from more than 50 trails. That restriction would become more extreme with the current proposal — open to public comment until May 25 — that would restrict dogs (usually on a leash) to 22 areas. Contact: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Pacific West Information Center, Dog Management Line, (415) 561-4728, www.nps.gov/goga.

San Francisco parks: San Francisco has designated 28 dog play areas, including off-leash areas. Contact: San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, (415) 831-2700, sfrecpark.org.

Mount Sutro Forest: Leashed dogs permitted. Contact: Mount Sutro Forest, mntsutro.com, also www.sutroforest.com and www.sutrotower.org; UCSF, www.ucsf.edu — in search box, type “Sutro.”

Midpeninsula Open Space District: Of 26 preserves that span more than 60,000 acres, leashed dogs are allowed in 10. Of those, dogs can be limited to specified trails. No water contact permitted. Contact: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, (650) 691-1200, www.openspace.org.

San Mateo County parks: Of 22 parks, dogs are restricted on leash to seven trails. At most parks with large wildland areas, dogs are not permitted on trails. Contact: San Mateo County Parks (650) 363-4020, http://parks.smcgov.org; Pillar Point Harbor: Pillar Point Harbor, (650) 726-6070.

Pacifica beaches: At Linda Mar/Pacifica State Beach, leashed dogs are permitted on the beach, which has proved extremely popular. This is the standard for beach areas governed by Pacifica. Contact: City of Pacifica, (650) 738-7381, www.parks.ca.gov; Pacifica Visitor Center, (650) 355-4122, www.pacificachamber.com.

Palo Alto: At Foothills Park (Palo Alto residents only), no dogs are permitted in the park on weekends or holidays, but leashed dogs are permitted on weekdays. At Arastradero Preserve, leashed dogs are permitted on trails. At Palo Alto Baylands, restricted to posted trails. Contact: Foothills Park, city of Palo Alto, (650) 329-2423; www.cityofpaloalto.org.

North Bay

Point Reyes National Seashore: Across 71,000 acres and 150 miles of trails, dogs are banned from all trails except for the short route to Kehoe Beach. Leashed dogs are allowed at Kehoe Beach, Limantour Beach and North Beach. For the most part, rangers discourage visitors from bringing dogs. Contact: Point Reyes National Seashore, Bear Valley Visitors Center, (415) 464-5100, www.nps.gov/pore.

Marin Headlands: Across 12,000 acres at the Marin Headlands, leashed dogs are allowed at portions of four trails: Coast Trail (Hill 88 area), Tennessee Valley, the fire road at Battery Smith-Guthrie and the trail to South Rodeo Beach. Dogs are specifically prohibited from 30 trails. As part of the GGNRA, the Marin Headlands is part of the proposal that further would restrict dogs. Contact: Marin Headlands, Visitors Center, (415) 331-1540, www.nps.gov/goga.

Marin Watershed: Across 21,000 acres of watershed lands, leashed dogs are permitted on 130 miles of unpaved roads and trails. Contact: Sky Oaks Ranger Station, (415) 945-1181; Marin Municipal Water District, (415) 945-1195; www.marinwater.org.

Marin County parks: Of 38 parks or open-space areas, leashed dogs are permitted at most. In addition, in some open-space areas, dogs can run off leash if under voice command. No dogs at McNears Beach, Paradise Beach and Stafford Lake. Marin County Parks and Open Space, (415) 499-6387, www.marincountyparks.org.

East Bay shoreline, hills

East Bay parks: Most of the 65 parks in the East Bay Regional Park District allow leashed dogs from parking areas to trails, and in many cases, dogs are then allowed off leash, if under voice command, in the interior of parklands. Point Isabel Regional Shoreline is one of the most dog-friendly parks in California. Contact: East Bay Regional Park District, (888) 327-2757 www.ebparks.org.

Contra Costa Water District: No dogs are permitted on lands managed by the water district or at Los Vaqueros Reservoir and watershed. Contact: Los Vaqueros Marina, (925) 371-2628; Contra Costa Water District, watershed information, www.ccwater.com/losvaqueros.

East Bay Municipal Utility District: Of 27,000 acres managed by the water district, three trails — Oursan Trail, Hampton Trail and Kings Canyon Loop — allow leashed dogs. Otherwise, no dogs permitted. Contact: East Bay Municipal Utility District, (866) 403-2683, www.ebmud.com — click on “recreation.”

Santa Clara County

County parks: Leashed dogs are generally welcome at 28 parks, which include off-leash dog parks at Los Gatos Creek, Levin and Hellyer. About half of the parks in the county have posted trail restrictions. Contact: Santa Clara County Parks Department, (408) 355-2200, www.sccgov.org/sites/parks

Others of note

San Rafael: San Rafael Parks & Recreation, (415) 485-3333; www.cityofsanrafael.org/comsvcs-home — click on “Parks & Recreation.”

Napa: City of Napa Parks & Recreation, (707) 257-9529, www.naparec.com.

Solano: Solano County Parks, (707) 784-6765, http://solanocounty.com.

Sonoma: Sonoma County Regional Parks, (707), 565-2041, parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Santa Cruz Mountains: State Parks and Recreation, Santa Cruz District, (831) 335-6318, www.parks.ca.gov.

Felton: Loch Lomond Recreation Area, (831) 335-7424, www.cityofsantacruz.com.

Tom Stienstra’s Outdoor Report can be heard at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Saturdays on KCBS (740 and 106.9). E-mail: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com