Book excerpt: CLICK HERE to download the sample hike to "Lafayette Ridge" from Best Hikes With Dogs: San Francisco Bay Area & Beyond (Provide us with a little information and we'll send your download directly to your inbox) * Handy trail-finder chart allows quick selection for hikes by difficulty, availability of water along the way, views, and more * Trails range from easy strolls to more challenging routes, all on terrain that's hazard-free and easy on the paws Northern California and the San Francisco Bay area offer amazing trails to explore with your canine companion—and veteran hiker and dog lover Jason Fator has explored 83 of the ones most likely to satisfy both dogs and their people. From the sun-kissed hills of Marin to the grassy knolls of the East Bay or wide open spaces of the South Bay, Best Hikes with Dogs: San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond, 2nd Edition, is your guide to the very best trails, most of which do not require leashes (except in parks as noted). More than two-thirds of the hikes are on lesser known trails where travel is light and where you're unlikely to meet horses, bicycles, or motorized vehicles. Beyond the Bay Area, you'll find additional dog friendly routes in the Sacramento area, the hills of Gold Country, in and around Tahoe, and in the Mount Shasta region.