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Dogs in Santa Cruz County, California
69 of 84 places verified in Santa Cruz County allow dogs in at least some areas.
Cities with their own page: Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Watsonville
Show only:off leash (15)dog parks (11)
Jump to: hotels and lodging (7) · beaches (14) · parks (54) · trails (6) · places to eat and drink (3)
Hotels and lodging
| Place | Town | Dogs | Answer | Pet fee | Weight limit | Pets | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Western Plus, Santa Cruz* | Santa Cruz | Varies by location | Depends on the hotel: Best Western lets each hotel decide. Where pets are accepted: up to 2 pets per room; up to 80 lb each; up to $40 per room per night. | Up to $40 per room per night | Up to 80 lb per pet | Up to 2 | October 26, 2026 |
| Best Western, Santa Cruz* | Santa Cruz | Varies by location | Depends on the hotel: Best Western lets each hotel decide. Where pets are accepted: up to 2 pets per room; up to 80 lb each; up to $40 per room per night. | Up to $40 per room per night | Up to 80 lb per pet | Up to 2 | October 26, 2026 |
| Chaminade Resort & Spa | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes: up to 2 pets per room; up to 75 lb each; $75 per pet. | $75 per pet | Up to 75 lb per pet | Up to 2 | October 31, 2026 |
| Dream Inn Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions: up to 2 pets per room; up to 40 lb each; $100 per stay. Dogs only. No pets on the Pool Deck, in Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge, in the event space or on Cowell Beach. | $100 per stay | Up to 40 lb per pet | Up to 2 | October 31, 2026 |
| La Quinta Inn, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | No | No. Listed by the brand as a location that does not allow pets. | $25 per room per night, up to $75 per stay | Set by each location | Up to 2 | October 28, 2026 |
| Ocean Echo Inn & Beach Cottages | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dog friendly in some rooms; the page says to call. It gives no fee, weight limit or leash rules. | November 1, 2026 | |||
| Best Western Rose Garden Inn* | Watsonville | Varies by location | Depends on the hotel: Best Western lets each hotel decide. Where pets are accepted: up to 2 pets per room; up to 80 lb each; up to $40 per room per night. | Up to $40 per room per night | Up to 80 lb per pet | Up to 2 | October 26, 2026 |
* Brand policy: the chain's published rules, not yet confirmed by this hotel.
Beaches
| Place | Town | Dogs | Answer | Leash | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Creek Beach | No | No. Dogs are not allowed. | October 31, 2026 | ||
| Seacliff State Beach | Aptos | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Capitola Beach | Capitola | No | No. Dogs are not allowed. | November 1, 2026 | |
| New Brighton State Beach | Capitola | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Scott Creek Beach | Davenport | No | No. Dogs are not allowed on Scott Creek Beach. Santa Cruz County allows leashed dogs on its other beaches. | Dogs are not allowed on Scott Creek Beach. Santa Cruz County | October 27, 2026 |
| Cowell Beach | Santa Cruz | No | No. Dogs are not allowed on Cowell Beach. | Dogs are not allowed on Cowell Beach. | October 26, 2026 |
| Its Beach (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 28, 2026 |
| Lighthouse Field State Beach | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed on leash including the beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Main Beach (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | No | No. Dogs are not allowed on Main Beach or the Santa Cruz Wharf. | Dogs are not allowed on Main Beach or the Santa Cruz Wharf. | October 26, 2026 |
| Mitchell's Cove Beach | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs may be off leash before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. Beach access is by the stairway on West Cliff Drive at Sunset Avenue. | Off leash allowed at certain times or seasons | October 26, 2026 |
| Natural Bridges State Beach | Santa Cruz | No | No. except on pavement and in picnic area on leash. | except on pavement and in picnic area on leash | October 26, 2026 |
| Twin Lakes State Beach | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Manresa State Beach | Watsonville | Yes | Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Sunset State Beach | Watsonville | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Except on the beach. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
Parks
| Place | Town | Dogs | Answer | Leash | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chanticleer Avenue County Park Dog Park | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 | |
| Pinto Lake County Park Dog Park | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 | |
| Polo Grounds County Park Dog Park | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 | |
| The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park | Aptos | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed below Porter Picnic Area. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Big Basin Redwoods State Park (Incl. Little Basin State Park and Rancho del Oso) | Boulder Creek | No | No. Except in the former HQ parking lot and the first mile of North Escape Road. | Except in the former HQ parking lot and the first mile of No | October 26, 2026 |
| Esplanade Park (Capitola) | Capitola | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs are not permitted on the lawn areas. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Jade Street Park (Capitola) | Capitola | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs are not permitted on the lawn and tennis court areas. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Monterey Avenue Park (Capitola) | Capitola | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Noble Gulch Park (Capitola) | Capitola | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Ozzi Dog Park (McGregor Park) | Capitola | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | November 1, 2026 |
| Peery Park (Capitola) | Capitola | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Soquel Creek Park (Capitola) | Capitola | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park | Felton | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs allowed in some campsites, picnic areas, and select trails. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Castle Rock State Park | Los Gatos | No | No. Dogs are not allowed. | October 26, 2026 | |
| Arana Gulch (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Beach Flats Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Bethany Curve (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Branciforte Dog Park | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Chestnut Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| City Hall Gardens (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| DeLaveaga Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| DeLaveaga Park Sand Pit Off-Leash Area | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. Dogs may be off leash. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Depot Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Frederick Street Park Dog Park | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Garfield Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Grant Street Park Off-Leash Area | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. Dogs may be off leash. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Harvey West Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| John Franks Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| La Barranca (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Lighthouse Avenue Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Mimi De Marta Dog Park | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Mission Plaza Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Ocean View Park Off-Leash Area | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. Dogs may be off leash. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Pacheco Dog Park | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Poets Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Pogonip (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Riverside Gardens (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs not allowed in building. | Required | October 26, 2026 |
| Sergeant Derby Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Star of the Sea Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Trescony Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Tyrrell Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| University Terrace Park Dog Park | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | October 31, 2026 |
| Westlake Park (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Wilder Ranch State Park | Santa Cruz | No | No. Dogs are not allowed. | October 26, 2026 | |
| Hocus Pocus Park | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| MacDorsa Park | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Siltanen Park | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Skypark (Scotts Valley) | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Skypark Dog Park | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | November 1, 2026 |
| Callaghan Park (Watsonville) | Watsonville | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Franich Park (off-leash dog area) | Watsonville | Yes | Yes. This is an off-leash dog park. | Off leash allowed | November 1, 2026 |
| Marinovich Park (Watsonville) | Watsonville | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Rancho San Andres Castro Adobe Park Property | Watsonville | No | No. Dogs are not allowed. | October 26, 2026 |
Trails
| Place | Town | Dogs | Answer | Leash | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverwalk (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| West Cliff (Santa Cruz) | Santa Cruz | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Glenwood West Trail | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes. | The city lists this as a dog-friendly trail. Its page says d | November 1, 2026 |
| Linear Trail (Scotts Valley) | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes. | The city lists this as a dog-friendly trail. Its page says d | November 1, 2026 |
| Lodato Park Trail | Scotts Valley | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
| Watsonville Wetlands Trails (Nature Center) | Watsonville | Yes | Yes, on leash. | Required | November 1, 2026 |
Places to eat and drink
| Place | Town | Dogs | Answer | Leash | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beauregard Vineyards | Santa Cruz | No | No. The winery's house rules say no dogs. | The winery's house rules say no dogs. | November 1, 2026 |
| Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard | Santa Cruz | Yes, with restrictions | Yes, with restrictions. Dogs are welcome but must stay in the guest's tasting area. The page does not say whether a leash is required. | Dogs are welcome but must stay in the guest's tasting area. | November 1, 2026 |
| Discretion Brewing | Soquel | Yes | Yes, the beer garden. | The brewery's page welcomes dogs in its beer garden; it does | October 31, 2026 |