San Diego has many dog parks throughout the county. Many of them are completely fenced for your pup’s protection and there are usually water facilities and poop bags available. Our dog parks not only give our canines a place to romp, but give San Diegans a place to socialize in the perfect year-round weather. For more information you can visit the San Diego Parks and Recreation dog information website for all leash free parks and beaches.
Nate’s Point in world famous Balboa Park is on Balboa Drive at El Prado, on the south side of the Cabrillo Bridge. A large, completely fenced grassy area with a gentle slope and shade trees is a great place to play fetch and to socialize. There is a water fountain and a table to sit at. Open 24 hours.
Morley Field is on the north side of Balboa Park, and convenient to the North Park neighborhood. This grassy park, located northwest of the tennis courts, is not fenced. Open 24 hours.
Grape Street Park is on the east side of Balboa Park at Grape and 28th Street. It is 5 unfenced acres and is open Monday thru Friday: 7:30am to 9:00pm, Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays: 9:00am to 9:00pm. Since it is unfenced dogs here tend to be better trained than some of the fenced parks.
Rancho Bernardo Park is located at 18448 West Bernardo Drive in Rancho Bernardo. The 2.5 acre park offers leash free space adjacent to Rancho Bernardo Community Park and has plenty of parking.
Poway Dog Park is a 1.75 acre fenced off-leash area inside Poway Community Park. Open from sunrise to 9:30 p.m. with lighting inside off-leash area after dark. 13094 Bowron Road, Poway
Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa is a neighborhood park with an acre designated for off-leash dogs. The park has designated fenced areas for large and small dogs. 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa.
Wells Park in El Cajon is a 1.4 acre off-leash dog park within El Cajon’s Wells Park. It has gravel and grassy areas and drinking fountains (for pets and their owners). Located in the southwest part of Wells Park at 1153 E. Madison Ave, the off-leash area is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is lighted at night.
Poway Dog Park is a 1.75 acre fenced-in dog park within the City of Poway’s Community Park. Poway Community Park is open from sunrise to sunset daily, but the dog park is lighted until 9:30 pm. 13094 Bowron Road, Poway.
Capehart Park in Pacific Beach/La Jolla is located at the corner of Felspar and Soledad Mountain Road. It is a one acre park with two fenced areas: one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs. It has a water fountain, picnic tables/benches and parking. Open 24 hours.
Kearny Mesa Community Park in the Mesa College area is located at 3170 Armstrong Street. It is a 1 acre dog park near lit playing fields which allows for nightime use. Parking can be tricky during the day as dog owners compete with college students.
Cadman Park in Clairemont is located at 4280 Avati Drive. Look for rules at the park, but off-leash hours are Fall / Winter / Spring – 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Summer – 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and no leash free hours on Fourth of July and on Saturday mornings during Little League season.
Doyle Community Park is located at 8175 Regents Road, situated behind Doyle Recreation Center. It offers two fenced turfed areas, one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs. It is open 24 hours, but is not lit.
Dusty Rhodes Neighborhood Park is located on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard between Nimitz and West Point Loma. It is a one acre dog park.
Maddox Neighborhood Park is located at 7815 Flanders Street. It is a small .65 acre turfed area with a drinking fountain.
Nobel Park is located at 8820 Judicial Drive, just east of the North University Community Branch Library building, near the Nobel Athletic Fields and Recreation Center. It has parking and separate sections for large and small dogs.
Rancho Peñasquitos Park is located on Salmon River Road at Fairgrove Lane across the street from the Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library. It is a one acre park with two fenced, double-gated, turfed areas; one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs, benches, and a street parking area. Open 24 hours.
Torrey Highlands Park is located on Lansdale Drive off Del Mar Heights Road, this one acre park offers a turfed and mulched area.
Ann D. L’Heureux Memorial Dog Park in Carlsbad is a small but fully fenced area with wood chips on the ground and a small parking lot on site. Carlsbad Village drive, near El Camino Real.
Orpheus Park in Encinitas is an unfenced neighborhood park with designated off-leash hours Monday, Wednesday and Fridays 6-7:30 am and 3-8 pm; Sunday 6-9 am and 3-8 pm. There is plenty of grass for the dogs to enjoy, but they are not welcome in the playground area. 482 Orpheus Ave.
Encinitas Viewpoint Park is a grassy unfenced neighborhood park with ocean views. Off-leash hours are limited to Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday 6-9 am and 3-8 pm. Cornish and D Streets.
Cricket’s Corner in Encinitas is owned and operated by the Rancho Coastal Humane Society. It is grassy and fenced with a separate area for puppies and small dogs. Hours are limited to Tuesday 11:30 am – 5 pm; Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. 389 Requeza St.
Mayflower Park in Escondido is a large park divided into three fenced areas. The park offers seating and water. 3420 Valley Center Rd.
For more details please visit San Diego Approved Leash Free Locations.
