Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Getting to Pinnacles National Park can be a long drive no matter where you are coming from. And once you get there, you will notice that there are no roads going through the park. Therefore, if you want to go from one side of the park to the other, you either have to walk, which in many places you cannot go with your pup, or drive from one entrance to the other, which is a two-hour ride. So, teaching your pooch how to enjoy riding in the car is important no matter what. You don’t want Fido to be miserable the whole trip or barking and whining, which makes you miserable too. The best thing to do is to practice riding in the car with your canine kid before you take your trip to the park. The park is free, the trip is free (except for gas), and all you need to bring is water. Of course, when you go to the park, you will need to stock up on lots of stuff, depending on how long you are staying because the closest store is over 30 miles away.Â
Once you get to Pinnacles National Park and find your campsite, you should set up your tent and other stuff while letting Fido get used to the place. You know they are going to be fascinated by all of the new smells and critters so let your fur buddy walk around and get used to the place on a leash. You can walk your fur puppy around yourself or put them on a stationary leash where your pups can walk around on their own as long as they cannot go off your campsite. Never leave Fido unattended at the campsite and always be alert to what your pooch is doing. Once you get settled, try playing a few games with your dog like fetch, frisbee, and even hide and seek. Camping fees depend on what you need. Tent camping is $23, RV campsites are $36, and group campsites are available for $75 to $110.Â
Hiking with your pooch is a fun way to enjoy any park and Pinnacles National Park is a great place to do so. Your dog will love this trail, which is about two miles long and weaves in and around old farm homes. The Bacon family lived here from the 1860s until 1941, and they have a blacksmith, farmhouses, and old barns with informational signs for you to explore and learn about. The trail is easy to hike and costs nothing, so all you need to bring is some water. You’ll start out behind the visitor’s center and follow the gravel road onto a bridge over a creek bed. From there you will see Bacon Ranch where you and Fido can explore but don’t tell your furry friend that it is the Bacon Ranch, or they may spend the whole time looking for bacon. Afterward, follow the road along the creek and you’ll end up in the bottomlands where you can see the Bear Gulch area and High Peaks. The old Butterfield Homestead is next, and they have an old barn and windmill, which are some great places to get selfies for your Facebook.Â