Red Hills Recreational Management Area - Jamestown, CA
Red Hills Recreational Management Area – Dog-Friendly Hiking in Jamestown, California
If you’re looking for scenic dog-friendly hiking near Jamestown, California, the Red Hills Recreational Management Area offers a unique outdoor experience for pet owners. Renowned for its vibrant wildflowers in the spring and rolling, reddish foothills, this pet-friendly trail system welcomes dogs and their owners to explore miles of rugged beauty. While the trails can be rocky and mostly exposed to the sun, visitors are rewarded with stunning views, especially along the Overlook Loop. The vast open area with occasional shade from sparse pine trees provides a great environment for energetic pups who love exploring nature with their owners.
At Red Hills, you’ll find plenty of parking spots (including areas for horse trailers) and restrooms located by some trailheads. Although there are no water fountains or bowls for dogs, owners should bring plenty of water, especially during the hotter months. With an array of intersecting trails and some picnic tables by the parking areas, this dog park in Jamestown is a great destination for outdoor adventure—just remember to bring a trail map and be mindful of equestrian traffic on the paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the Red Hills Recreational Management Area features multiple dog-friendly and pet-friendly hiking trails.
- Are there restrooms available for owners? Yes, restrooms are available near some of the parking areas.
- Is there shade or shelter available? There is minimal shade along the trails, with occasional pine trees, but most paths are exposed to sunlight.
- Where is the best place to park? There are several parking areas available; some with restrooms and picnic tables.
- Is the park open year-round? Yes, the area is open year-round, though spring is an especially beautiful time to visit.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are several interconnecting trails varying in length and difficulty.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Picnic tables are available at some parking areas, but little to no seating along the trails.
Reviews
We had a pleasant hike here in early April. Trails are very rocky – it constantly feels like you are walking through a streambed!
There are plenty of wildflowers, but a little more subdued than in other locations. There are a few pine trees that provide occasional shade, but most of the walk is out in the open, so bring plenty of water.
Our favorite area was the Overlook Loop. You get a great 360-degree view of the entire surrounding area.
The trails are a little confusing. There are some markers, but it’s not that clear which trails are which. We just wandered around and ended up making a nice loop about 3 miles long. Another time we went the opposite direction and hiked 6 miles. It helps to have a tracking app if you don’t have a good sense of direction.
There are a couple of parking areas, one of which has a restroom and picnic tables. Plenty of room for horse trailers, too, so occasionally you may come across equestrians on the trails.
Beautiful place to spend a day hiking around! Spring time is the best to enjoy the weather and the wild flowers blooming!! Such an amazing place with alot of history behind it. There are restrooms available and plenty of places to park. Bring water no areas to get water from. It gets very hot in the summer time. Few places for shade but the rolling foothills and views are great!
There’s several trails to take a hike through. Most the trails are directly in the sunlight and not very shaded. Some trails are mostly used for horse riding and sometimes there’s several groups of horse riders taking up the trails. One trail has a nice creek with lots of flowers which is really pretty. Other trails are very plain. It’s a hot area. Rough walking with a lot of rocks and up hill routes. It’s very easy to spend several hours here.
Beautiful area, but the trails are a braided mess of random paths. Come prepared with a map and wayfinding skills. There’s some trail work going on, so conditions may change. Still one of my favorite spots!
This is a destination in April, when the wildflowers explode! As evident by the name, this is a hilly area with a multitude of seasonal streams and trails among them. In the spring, the streams’ banks get covered by vibrant yellow flowers, with many other wildflowers scattered around. While the smaller streams dry up pretty quickly, there are a few larger streams that keep going into the dry season and host unique fish. The soil is, indeed, reddish in color. The area gets very hot in the summer and early fall.