There’s one word sure to get a pup excited: W-a-l-k . Luckily San Diego boasts plenty of places for you to take your fur babies , from small neighborhood parks to the most, uh, pup -ular spots across the county. Here’s a deep-dive list of all the—sincere apologies—paws -sible places your dog will want to roam.
San Diego Dog Beaches
O.B. Dog Beach
Where: Ocean Beach Bike Path, Ocean Beach
Hours: 4 a.m.-2 a.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, beach
Coronado Beach Dog Park
Where: 100 Ocean Boulevard, Coronado
Hours: 5 a.m.-11 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, beach
Del Mar North Beach
Where: 3200 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
Hours: 24 hours
Amenities: Designated off-leash hours during certain seasons
Fiesta Island Dog Park
Where: 1750 Fiesta Island Road, Fiesta Island
Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash; fenced-in meadows, beach
San Diego Dog Parks
Nobel Leash-Free Park
Where: 8820 Judicial Drive, La Jolla
Hours: Open 24 hours
*Closed Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, small and large dog separation pens
Doyle Dog Park
Where: 8100 Cargill Avenue, La Jolla
Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, small and large dog separation pens
Kearny Mesa Dog Park
Where: 3170 Armstrong Street, Kearny Mesa
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, drinking fountains, water bowls
Grape Street Dog Park
Where: Grape and 28th Street, Balboa Park
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, water fountains
Maggie Houlihan Memorial Dog Park
Where: 425 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas
Hours: 8 a.m.-Sunset
*Closed for maintenance Thursdays, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, small and large dog separation pens, drinking fountains
Rancho Bernardo Dog Park
Where: 18448 West Bernardo Drive, Rancho Bernardo
Hours: Dawn-Dusk
*Closed Thursday mornings, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, water bowls, large and small dog separation pens, ball fields
Nate’s Point Dog Park
Where: 2500 Balboa Drive, Balboa Park
Hours: Open 24 hours
Amenities: Off-leash, fenced in, dog drinking fountains
Alga Norte Dog Park
Where: 6565 Alicante Road, Carlsbad
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, small, medium, and large dog separation pens, agility course
Canine Corners Dog Park
Where: 9550 Milden St., La Mesa
Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, water bowls, small, medium, and large dog separation pens
Mayflower Dog Park
Where: 3420 Valley Center Road, Escondido
Hours: 6 a.m.-9p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, small and large dog separation pens
El Toyon Dog Park
Where: 2005 East Fourth St., National City
Hours: Open 24 hours
Amenities: Off-leash, small and large dog separation pens
Courtesy of Balboa Park San Diego’s Dog-Friendly Neighborhood Parks
Rancho Penasquitos Park, Rancho Penasquitos
Where: Salmon River Road at Fairgrove Lane
Hours: Unknown
Amenities: Off-leash area, small and large dog separation areas
Capehart Park
Where: Corner of Soledad Mountain Road and Felspar Street, Pacific Beach
Hours: Open 24 hours
Amenities: Off-leash, drinking fountains
Maddox Neighborhood Park
Where: 7825 Flanders Drive, Mira Mesa
Hours: 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash area, playground
Orpheus Park
Where: 482 Orpheus Ave., Encinitas
Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Designated off-leash hours, ocean view, playground
Encinitas Viewpoint Park
Where: 505 South Vulcan Ave., Encinitas
Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Designated off-leash hours, playground, water fountains, ocean view
Sun Vista Park
Where: 2011 Avenida La Posta, Encinitas
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, 6 a.m.-9 a.m. and 3 p.m.-8 p.m. (East side of park only)
Amenities: Designated off-leash hours, beer and wine allowed, playground
Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park
Where: 3905 Adams Ave., Normal Heights
Hours: Dawn-Dusk
Amenities: Off-leash area, playground
Dusty Rhodes Neighborhood Park
Where: 2469 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., Point Loma
Hours: Open 24 hours
Amenities: Off-leash, fully fenced, water for dogs, playground
Charles L Lewis III Memorial Park
Where: 4750 Home Ave., City Heights
Hours: Open 24 hours
Amenities: Off-leash dog area, playground, basketball court
Allied Gardens Off Leash Dog Park
Where: 6707 Glenroy St, Allied Gardens
Amenities: Off leash area, agility training course, dog drinking fountains, separate small and large dog areas
Wells Park Dog Run
Where: 1153 East Madison Ave., El Cajon
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, small and large dog separation pens
Woodglen Vista Park
Where: 10250 Woodglen Vista Drive, Santee
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Amenities: Off-leash dog area, basketball court, ball field, playground, skate park, tennis court
Big Rock Park
Where: 8125 Arlette St., Santee
Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, playground, creek, basketball court
Hollandia Park
Where: 12 Mission Hills Court, San Marcos
Hours: Sunrise-10 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash area, horse shoes, ball field, playground, skate park
Montiel Park
Where: 2290 Montiel Road, San Marcos
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
*Wednesday mornings, park opens at 9 a.m.
Amenities: Off-leash dog area, half-court basketball, disc golf
Ann D. L’Heureux Memorial Dog Park
Where: 2700 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad
Hours: 8 a.m.-Sunset
Amenities: Off-leash, dog drinking fountain, hiking trails
Trail Segment 72 (Mountain Vista Trail)
Where: 1679 Mountain Vista Drive
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Amenities: Off-leash, hiking trail
Morley Field Dog Park
Where: 2225 Morley Field Drive, Balboa Park
Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, hiking trails
South Buena Vista Park
Where: 1602 Mountain Pass Circle, Vista
Hours: 7 a.m.-10 a.m. and 3 p.m.-Dusk
Amenities: Off-leash area, playground, hiking trails
San Elijo Park
Where: 1105 Elfin Forest Road, San Marcos
Hours: Open 24 hours
Amenities: Off-leash dog area, hiking trails, splashpad, playground, ball field
Torrey Highlands Park
Where: Lansdale Drive off Del Mar Heights Road
Hours: 24 hours
Amenities: Off-leash area, playground, hiking trails
Mount San Miguel Park
Where: 2335 Paseo Veracruz
Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m.
Amenities: Playground, hiking trails, ball fields
Montevalle Recreation Center
Where: 840 Duncan Ranch Road, Chula Vista
Hours: Monday, Wednesday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., 2 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday closed
Amenities: Off-leash area, playground, drinking fountains, hiking trails
San Diego’s Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails
Mission Trails Regional Park
Where: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Carlos
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Amenities: Hiking trails, wildlife, visitor center, camping
Tecolote Canyon Natural Park
Where: 5180 Tecolote Road, Morena
Hours: Visitor center, Monday closed,
Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Amenities: Hiking trails, creeks, visitor center
San Elijo Lagoon Trail
Where: 2710 Manchester Ave., Encinitas
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Amenities: Hiking trails, wildlife, lagoon, visitor center
Iron Mountain Trail
Where: Junction of Poway Road and Highway 67, Poway
Hours: Sunrise-Sunset
Amenities: Hiking trails, wildlife
Other Popular Dog Spots
Cadman Recreation Center
Where: 4280 Avati Drive, Clairemont
Hours: Fall, winter, and spring, 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
Summer, 7 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash, playground, ball fields
Otay Ranch Town Center
Where: 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Amenities: Off-leash area, shopping, fenced-in dog area
