It is fairly common for San Luis Obispo High School students to talk about being bored over the summer.

Imagine, however, how boring it must be for most dogs, who almost never get the opportunity to leave their house or yard. It doesn’t have to be that way.

“It’s incredibly important to take your dog for exercise and fresh air. My dog Maggie hates being cooped up inside and so my family and I are constantly taking her for walks on the beach and around the neighborhood,” said junior Cypris Hogan.

San Luis Obispo has a plethora of unique, exciting, and free opportunities and adventures for people and their best animal friends. 

  Take a look at this list and consider providing a dog a great day out:

Olde Port Beach – The Olde Port Beach trail is located near Port San Luis on Avila Beach Drive, past Avila Beach.  It is open all day, every day.  Dogs are free to run about without leashes.

Morro Bay Dog Beach – Located between Cayucos and Morro Bay, parking is right off Highway 1. It is open all day, every day and is also leash optional.

El Chorro Dog Park – Located within the El Chorro Regional Park across from Cuesta College on Highway 1. Open every day from 7:30 am to sunset. There are two enclosed dog areas: one for larger more active dogs and the second for smaller or older dogs. It is free half of the year, but an entrance fee of $3.00 is required between April and September. It is leash optional.

Laguna Lake Dog Park – Located within Laguna Lake Park on Madonna Road. Leashes are optional in this unenclosed area, so owners should be vigilant in watching their dogs. 

Local Trails – Most of the local hiking trails allow dogs if they are on leashes. Such trails include 

Reservoir Canyon, Johnson Ranch, Bishop Peak, and Cerro San Luis. By googling “San Luis Obispo Hiking Trails” one can easily find additional dog-friendly trails.

  Taking a dog out is not only great for the canine, it’s also beneficial for the human companion, in the form of good exercise, fresh air, and maybe a new perspective. 

  “Morro Bay Dog Beach is my personal favorite place to take my pupper during COVID-19; she loves barking at the birds and meeting new dog friends” says Hogan.