What better time of year to get out and about with your dog(s)? Summer means each new walk is a chance to sniff the blossoming surroundings, chase some squirrels and mosey on up to other dogs.
Lucky for us, Concord and the surrounding areas have a wealth of places for dogs and their owners to explore, from the laid-back and easygoing to the ambitious and challenging trails and parks.
Here’s a roundup of places to take your furry companion for some fresh air in and around Concord:
Dog-Friendly Parks and Trails
The Paw Patch at Newhall Community Park | 1351 Newhall Parkway, Concord
This gorgeous 126-acre park has ponds, picnic areas, athletic fields and the Paw Patch, where you can unleash your dog to run free and play, in one of two fenced areas depending on your dog’s size, small or large. Or slip your pal’s leash on, and you can explore the rest of the park together on its terrific walking trails. Be sure to bring water for you and your pet.
Baldwin Dog Park | Parkside Circle, Concord
This dog park is in 18-acre John F. Baldwin Park, which includes the Concord Senior Center, preschool classrooms, a childcare facility, dance studio, and sports facilities. It has fenced-in areas for small and big dogs, and was just recently reopened after a renovation.
Paso Nogal Park |501 Paso Nogal Road, Pleasant Hill
This big park has lots of trails and is a great place for you and your dog to get some exercise and meet other dogs and people. There’s over a two-acre fenced-in dog exercise area, cozy picnic areas and over 60 acres of scenic hiking trails.
The Iron Horse Regional Trail | East Bay Regional Parks District
Concord hosts an important piece among the 64 parks of the East Bay Regional Parks District – 108,000 acres and 1,200 miles of trails in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. The Iron Horse Regional Trail follows the course of an abandoned railroad track 32 miles from Highway 4 in Concord to Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton. It winds through business and residential areas as well as open fields and is a great place to spend some time with your dog and learn about the area. You’ll also see cyclists, horseback riders, joggers and hikers.
Briones Regional Park | 2537 Reliez Valley Rd., Martinez
Briones is close to Concord, as well as Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette and Martinez, where you can get magnificent views of wide open spaces from its peaks, including panoramic scenes of Mount Diablo and the Diablo Valley from Briones Peak, the park’s highest. Enjoy the hike with your dog, and drink in the scenery of this beautiful regional resource.
Beyond The Trails
After an invigorating day of hiking, playing in the park, and seeing the sights, there’s nothing like hanging out at a dog-friendly restaurant. A couple of options:
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar | 1961 Diamond Blvd., Willows Shopping Center, Concord
Any place named for a pooch snoozing by a fireplace at a ski lodge has to be dog-friendly. Great food and drinks, a warm and friendly atmosphere, and menu items especially for your pet make the Lazy Dog patio a great place for socializing and sipping.
Todos Santos Plaza | 2175 Willow Pass Rd, Concord, CA 94520
Although Concord’s downtown Todos Santos Plaza centerpiece shopping and dining district can’t allow dogs at Plaza events, some of its eating places have outdoor areas where dogs are welcome. Throughout Concord, about two dozen restaurants and food shops can accommodate dogs, so be sure to take your best buddy out for a treat soon!
