Hite Cove Trail

Do you want to take your fur buddy on a get-away-from-it-all hike? Then check out the Hites Cove Trail which is near the town of El Portal in California. This mountain trail is a quiet hike for most of the year, and you won't encounter other people unless you go during the springtime. Then the stunning wildflowers which grow along this trail draw hikers in their hundreds. If you don't want to share your trail, don't hike this trail from February to the end of April.

You will find the trailhead for the Hites Cove Trail near Savages Trading Post on State Highway 140. The trailhead parking lot is across the street from the trading post, and there are public use restrooms there too. Hit the trail, and you and pup will be in some of the most scenic countryside in California. 

You and your fur buddy, who'll need to be on their leash, will trek along a compressed dirt path on the side of a mountain. The start of the trail has a few trees, but after that, there's very little shade. Take enough water to stave off yours and your pup's thirst, plus a picnic too. The only other hiking essential you'll need are a few clean up bags.

This path follows the winding course of the River Merced. Down below, you'll see rocky gorges with fast flowing water, ravines full of pine and eucalyptus and incredible mountain-scapes wherever you look. The trail can be very narrow in places, just room for one and with steep drops down, so keep your pup on a short leash to keep them safe from falling. 

When you reach the end of the trail at Hikes Cove, you'll find a spooky abandoned mining shack which could possibly inspire you to write a horror story. This is a seriously pawsome hike and one you'll probably want to repeat. Have a furrific time!