Huntington Beach Dog Beach

Public beach where dogs are permitted off leash

Pacific Coast Highway (between Golden West & Seapoint)
Huntington Beach, CA
Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

Amenities: Restrooms, parking, seasonal lifeguard service, 8.5 mile paved beach path for walking dogs, bikes, jogging, roller blading

Access the beach down a sand/mixed with rock path. Some must carry their ambulatory-disabled dogs but the visit is worth it. Dogs mix with surfers at this small section on the north end of Huntington City Beach separated from Bolsa Chica State Beach by a wetlands tributary. Dogs are only permitted on sidewalks in the rest of HB's beach areas. Parking is metered, coin op. Public restrooms available. Lifeguards are on duty seasonally.

Limited metered parking in 2 beach parking lots. If you can't find parking in the parking lot, you will need to drive south on Pacific Coast Highway and park at the metered parallel parking spots, then walk several blocks.

Huntington Dog Beach is located on the northern edge of Huntington City Beach, bordering Bolsa Chica State Beach.

Dog Beach is one of several such beaches in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. Another nearby beach where you may prefer to take your pet if the hillside incline is too steep at this beach you must descend with your pet, is Rosey's Dog Beach in Long Beach, which features flat sand access.

Huntington Dog Beach was created as a result of lobbying by local dog-owner residents who sought to share the beach experience with their four-legged friends and family members. It has been extremely popular. The beach is self-policed by the public and volunteers who sometimes ask pet owners to pick up their dogs' messes if left.

The beach is shared by surfers and the public... it is not roped off. A natural waterway that opens to Bolsa Chica wetlands separates Dog Beach from the state-run Bolsa Chica State Beach where dogs are NOT permitted on the sand.

In Santa Monica the public tried to get the State of California Parks department to ease up and let them create a dog beach, but State Parks said no to the request.

It is generally at municipalities that operate beaches where you will find dog beaches or pet friendly beach policies. Such beaches can be found in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach in Orange County to the south, or Long Beach in Los Angeles County to the north.