55A little piece of heaven for dogs and their people not far from the city. We took our four sighthounds there today and we can attest to the property being fully and securely fenced. All four dogs ran 'til they couldn't run any more, swam, and we got a nice walk in on the path surrounding the pond. Will definitely be returning soon.Lisa F.
Lisa F.
February 2023
A little piece of heaven for dogs and their people not far from the city. We took our four sighthounds there today and we can attest to the property being fully and securely fenced. All four dogs ran 'til they couldn't run any more, swam, and we got a nice walk in on the path surrounding the pond. Will definitely be returning soon.
55Second visit to Taylor's pond, and will definitely be coming again. So lovely and clean as always, and a great place to stroll around while the pups run free. I love that it's more of a nature walk than a manicured backyard space-- my 2 pups definitely prefer spaces like this so much more. Would give more than 5 stars if I could!Christine L.
Christine L.
February 2023
Second visit to Taylor's pond, and will definitely be coming again. So lovely and clean as always, and a great place to stroll around while the pups run free. I love that it's more of a nature walk than a manicured backyard space-- my 2 pups definitely prefer spaces like this so much more. Would give more than 5 stars if I could!
55So beautiful and peaceful. Lots for my pups to sniff and explore... nothing I could say that other people haven't already said :) I would definitely love to have a membership option because I can see myself frequenting here often!Christine L.
Christine L.
January 2023
So beautiful and peaceful. Lots for my pups to sniff and explore... nothing I could say that other people haven't already said :) I would definitely love to have a membership option because I can see myself frequenting here often!
55What fun! Met my SIL with our pups this afternoon for a playdate. We circled the pond 4-5 times catching up while the dogs ran after each other, swam after the ducks and had such fun.
Appreciated the available hose to rinse the dogs off at the end. Look forward to a return visit! Debbie B.
Debbie B.
February 2023
What fun! Met my SIL with our pups this afternoon for a playdate. We circled the pond 4-5 times catching up while the dogs ran after each other, swam after the ducks and had such fun.
Appreciated the available hose to rinse the dogs off at the end. Look forward to a return visit!
55My Aussie Molly and I visited Taylor Pond for the first time in two months. When we pulled onto the road leading up to the property, she started barking and whining with excitement! She had a fantastic time chasing the ducks, running around the pond, and exploring all the nooks and crannies. Such a fun place for both of us to exercise and enjoy the beauty of nature. Kim U.
Kim U.
February 2023
My Aussie Molly and I visited Taylor Pond for the first time in two months. When we pulled onto the road leading up to the property, she started barking and whining with excitement! She had a fantastic time chasing the ducks, running around the pond, and exploring all the nooks and crannies. Such a fun place for both of us to exercise and enjoy the beauty of nature.
55it was amazing, i have 3 dogs and one of them is a runner and we were a bit nervous at first but it was great! someone had a dog with them and it was out for a second and my dog is friendly thankfully but just wanted to tell! they did immediately put there dog back inside when they saw ours though which was nice and we will definitely be coming back soonJenna N.
Jenna N.
January 2023
it was amazing, i have 3 dogs and one of them is a runner and we were a bit nervous at first but it was great! someone had a dog with them and it was out for a second and my dog is friendly thankfully but just wanted to tell! they did immediately put there dog back inside when they saw ours though which was nice and we will definitely be coming back soon
55My pup loved just getting to run free and dip his paws in the pond! Great spot to get exercise for both humans and doggos. Very clean and easy access. Can’t wait to come back soon! Emily G.
Emily G.
February 2023
My pup loved just getting to run free and dip his paws in the pond! Great spot to get exercise for both humans and doggos. Very clean and easy access. Can’t wait to come back soon!
55This was our second visit to Taylor pond and we loved it just as much. There was a canoe this time and there is always different birds to watch on the pond. Our visits here are always nice and our water pup loves the pond.Rahima C.
Rahima C.
February 2023
This was our second visit to Taylor pond and we loved it just as much. There was a canoe this time and there is always different birds to watch on the pond. Our visits here are always nice and our water pup loves the pond.
55My dog enjoyed every moment here! She loved exploring, watching the birds and even went in the pond. She stayed busy the entire time and is home resting up.
We will definitely be back again!Carol B.
Carol B.
February 2023
My dog enjoyed every moment here! She loved exploring, watching the birds and even went in the pond. She stayed busy the entire time and is home resting up.
We will definitely be back again!
55Awesome! My dog was in heaven. Love the trail that goes all the way the pond for me to exercise too! Thanks so much, extra bonus to have a hose to rinse off and there were even towels(though we had brought our own) best spot ever! Jamilyn L.
Jamilyn L.
February 2023
Awesome! My dog was in heaven. Love the trail that goes all the way the pond for me to exercise too! Thanks so much, extra bonus to have a hose to rinse off and there were even towels(though we had brought our own) best spot ever!
55Our first Sniffspot visit and Taylor Pond sets a high bar. Our 10-month-old Lab had a blast running, exploring, swimming and retrieving. A flat path around the pond made walking easy. We’ll be back for sure. Thanks David!Terry M.
Terry M.
February 2023
Our first Sniffspot visit and Taylor Pond sets a high bar. Our 10-month-old Lab had a blast running, exploring, swimming and retrieving. A flat path around the pond made walking easy. We’ll be back for sure. Thanks David!
55This is just the perfect spot for our dogs. We were able to walk laps around the pond with the dogs. Plenty of places for the dogs to explore and run. Will be making this a weekly thing. Heather D.
Heather D.
March 2023
This is just the perfect spot for our dogs. We were able to walk laps around the pond with the dogs. Plenty of places for the dogs to explore and run. Will be making this a weekly thing.
55It’s like dog Disneyland, perfect place to let my border collie run out his energy and swim in the pond! Check in is super easy, host is really friendly. 10/10! Kaitlyn S.
Kaitlyn S.
March 2023
It’s like dog Disneyland, perfect place to let my border collie run out his energy and swim in the pond! Check in is super easy, host is really friendly. 10/10!
55Our two goldendoodles had an absolutely wonderful time. The just ran and ran. Lots of wonderful smells and different sounding birds that caught their attention. Lots of room to explore. They are completely worn out. We’ll be back. Heidi M.
Heidi M.
March 2023
Our two goldendoodles had an absolutely wonderful time. The just ran and ran. Lots of wonderful smells and different sounding birds that caught their attention. Lots of room to explore. They are completely worn out. We’ll be back.
55We had a great time visiting Taylor Pond. Our two dogs ran freely in the entirely fenced property. The dogs were curious about the ducks in the pond and enjoyed going on the two docks. Looking forward to another visit in the future.Susan I.
Susan I.
March 2023
We had a great time visiting Taylor Pond. Our two dogs ran freely in the entirely fenced property. The dogs were curious about the ducks in the pond and enjoyed going on the two docks. Looking forward to another visit in the future.
How do El Cajon's private dog hiking trails work?
Private rentals by the hour
Our hosts are locals that are renting their yards and private land to dog owners
Trust and safety first
Spots are designed for safety and both hosts and guests are reviewed after each visit
Designed for private play
Only the people and dogs in your booking are allowed in the spot during your visit
Reactive dogs welcome
Many of the spots we list are designed with sensitive dogs in mind
Become a Sniffpass holder!
Get discounts on all bookings at all spots by buying monthly credits! Learn more!
FAQ about our El Cajon dog hiking trails
Are dog hiking trails safe?
While public dog parks have a number of safety issues, such as aggressive dogs, inattentive owners, disease transmission and general cleanliness, Sniffspot dog parks are much safer than a city or county park. With a Sniffspot off-leash area all bookings are private for just you and dogs you bring with you and we require all dogs to be vaccinated (or have equivalent titers). All Sniffspot locations are vetted and reviewed by guests so you can find the perfect place for you and your dog. 93% of reviews on Sniffspot visits are 5 stars. Our hiking trails tend to be outside the city, which lends to more privacy, but it is also important to follow typical hiking safety precautions, such as potentially having trail maps.
How can I find dog hiking trails in El Cajon?
There are 6 dog hiking trails in the El Cajon area. The most popular dog hiking trail is Taylor pond. You can browse all of our dog hiking trails here.
How do I know if a dog hiking trail works for my dog?
Sniffspot provides the tools to find the ideal spot. Start by applying basic filters, such as fencing 6 feet tall and distractions, to find a dog park with trails that works for your dog. You can also filter by size if you are looking for a certain acre park, an expansive off-leash dog park. If your dog doesn't have good recall, you can visit one of our fully fenced dog hiking trails. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, you can visit one of our dog hiking trails where there are no dogs audible or visible nearby. Since you are looking for trails, make sure to check photos to see if it the spot has flat trails or gnarly trails. You can also browse by specific amenities, if you are looking for a view or a beach, for instance, or other activities or fun features. You can check whether the spot has off or on street parking, the regular park hours, whether it has paved trails or a modern restroom.
What are the requirements to bring my dog to a Sniffspot dog hiking trail?
In order to hike the trails, we require that all dogs have basic vaccinations or equivalent titers. We do not permit dogs with a bite history. We require that guests sign our waiver and agree to follow our safety rules.
Will there be other dogs at the Sniffspot hiking trail at the same time as me?
Sniffspot only allows one booking at a time and any host dogs are required to be kept away from the spot during visits. We also enforce 30 min time buffers between bookings.