Level up your walkies at these dog parks, San Francisco

Take a stroll around one of the off-leashdog parks San Francisco has to offer and you might realize why it’s the closest thing to the golden gates of heaven for four-legged friends living in the city. Pooch pals get to feel the sun on their fur, the wind through their ears, and of course, meet other wagging tails. But not all doggy play areas are in the same ballpark. Our choice of the best dog parks in San Francisco all have ample space for zoomies, at least one off-leash play area, and often the odd tennis ball thrown in there, too. Level up your daily walkies or send this list to your San Francisco pet sitter to make their visit to this beautiful city a walk in the park.

The best dog parks, San Francisco, CA

Golden Gate Park: 6335 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94121

This popular park has no less than four off-leash play areas of doggy delight. Navigate your way to one or all of the following dog play areas:

• On the Southeastern side between Lincoln Way, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and 5th and 7th avenues
• In the Northeast corner of the park between Stanyan Street and Grove Street
• In the South-central area between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Middle Drive, and 34th and 38th avenues
• On the Northwestern side at 38th Avenue and Fulton (this area is set up for dog training, but all pooch pals are welcome!)

Phew! All sandy off-leash areas are fenced in and some have tree stumps and logs which serve as training and play equipment for added fun on four legs.

Lafayette Park Dog Play Area: Lafayette Park, San Francisco, CA 94109

Pay a visit to Lafayette Park for views of the city and the bay, and of course, plenty of pups for doggy playtime. As it’s fenced in on three sides, this isn’t the best spot for your pooch pal if they’re prone to bolting, but the artificial grass means Fido won’t end up bringing half the park back with him (which will be music to a dog owner’s ears on a rainy day!). 

Fort Funston: Fort Funston Rd, San Francisco, CA 94132

While we don’t want to throw any shade at dog parks, San Francisco actually has its very own doggy beach on the Southwest corner of Fort Funston National Park. Follow the trails along the clifftops to reach the dunes as they open out onto a long flat beach, where numerous sandy paw prints are evidence of time well spent, whether it’s during the dog days of summer or chasing away the winter blues. There’s loads of space for adventures on land or in the sea here, and this beach is super popular with pet parents, dog lovers, and pooch pals of all shapes and sizes. It’s an absolute must if you’re pet sitting in San Francisco because, as they say, a good beach day keeps the vet away (or something along those lines). 

Duboce Park: Duboce Park, Duboce St, Scott St, San Francisco, CA 94114 

This neighborhood park is so popular with pooch pals that a special area for “humans only” had to be established (leashes are optional). It has a luscious grassy area for playing off-leash but it’s not the place for your furry friend if they’re a flight risk as the park is unfenced. Day to day it’s a great spot to have a chat with other pet parents over a coffee from the nearby cafe, but visit in April and you might be lucky enough to coincide with the community celebration known as DogFest, which involves contests for pups, activities for children, and food and drink for all. 

Upper Douglass Dog Play Area: 800-898 27th St, San Francisco, CA 94131

Hike around the edge of this former baseball field before letting your pooch pal off the leash in one of the best fully-fenced dog parks San Francisco has. With a huge expanse of grass for dog friends to do some socializing and picnic benches with a view of downtown San Fran for the pet parents, everyone will be happy to spend a good few hours here. Take note that this doggy paw-ground is closed between November and March to allow the grass to recover, and on Wednesdays, it’s closed for maintenance.

McLaren Park: McLaren Park, San Francisco, CA 94134

There are two play areas for pups within this 315-acre park; the Field of Dogs near the amphitheater and McLaren Park Geneva Dog Play Area. The 60-acre Field of Dogs is the perfect place to let your pooch run wild (but only if they’re under good voice control, as the area is huge!). The play area near the community gardens is much smaller, but it’s still a great place for Fido to stretch his legs. Note that users have reported coyote sightings so keep an eye on your furry friends at all times. 

Bernal Heights Dog Park: 1000 Bernal Heights Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94110

Situated high above the rest of the city, Bernal Heights has some of the best views in the area. Over 35 acres of steep trails (with benches for pup stops) are waiting to be explored by you and your pooch pal, and you’ll be rewarded at the top with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, San Bruno Mountain, and the hills of the East Bay.

Pine Lake Park Dog Play Area: 100 Vale Ave, San Francisco, CA 94132

Keep Fido on the leash for a ramble around Pine Lake, then let them off the hook in this dog off-leash play area. A huge grassy meadow is surrounded by tall trees - we just hope your furry friend is good at bringing back the ball (otherwise it could be a tiring outing for all)!

St Mary’s Dog Park: 221 Justin Dr, San Francisco, CA 94112

They say the grass is always greener on the other side, but this grassy dog area looks pretty well-kept to us! This enclosed area for pups is located at the bottom of a hill and is surrounded by a paved path with benches to rest tired legs. Please note this park also closes its gates for the winter months, so it’s worth keeping up to date with their opening times via their website. 

We hope you’ve found these dog friendly parks in San Francisco to be a breath of fresh air. It’s important that pooch pals and pet parents remember their manners when visiting these parks - the following guidance helps keep San Francisco dog parks clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.

• Pick up doggy do-do.
• Leave pups at home if they’re unwell.
• Leash dogs unless you’re in an area designated for off-leash doggies.
• Keep an eye on Fido at all times.
• Keep vaccinations and licenses up to date.
• Aggressive behavior will not be tolerated (from pups or their pet parents)