Best Dog Parks & Walks
san francisco bay area

Here are some of the best dog parks and dog walks in the San Francisco Bay area. You'll enjoy the fabulous out-of-doors on these walks almost as much as your best friend Fido will enjoy the sniffing :).

The details below including leash rules often change so plan to be flexible. For more current rules see Golden Gate National Recreational Area, San Francisco Parks, and San Mateo Parks. San Francisco's Health Code requires that dogs be on-leash unless explicitly specified, usually by signage.

Fort Funston

(Fort Funston Road/Skyline Blvd just south of Ocean Beach, Lake Merced, SF. Size about 35+ acres. Plenty of parking. Dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control.)

This is the best "dog" park in San Francisco! The rugged scenery consists of high bluffs, ocean views, and large sand dunes such as once covered the western half of San Francisco. You can enjoy a nice interesting historical walk yourself while watching your dog run free with playmates around the big dunes or letting him swim at the beach.

Typically steady 10-13 knot westerly winds and/or thermals combine with sheer bluffs to make Fort Funston one of the best "hang-three" intermediate level hang gliding spots in the nation. It is a thrill to watch those gliders up close & personal from the observation deck.

Historically, Fort Funston's Battery Davis was one of the earliest artillery structures designed to withstand aircraft bombing. Built in 1938 in preparation for WWII and technologically obsolete by 1948, Battery Davis contained two 16 inch 146 ton battleship guns with a range of over 26 miles. It is still hidden among the dunes, largely underground protected by concrete & earth. More recently, Fort Funston's Site SF-59L (deactivated 1963) was used as a Nike missile battery site complete with 12 missile launchers and 30 nuclear-capable multi-stage missiles.

The Presidio

(Visitor Center, Arguello Blvd & Moraga Ave, Presidio, SF. 1,491 acres with over 11 miles of trails. Most trails are open to dogs on-leash. Off-leash dogs are allowed at a few places such as Lands End, Bakers Beach, & Crissey Field Beach.)

If you want beautiful ocean views or pleasant uncrowded hikes through small wooded areas this an excellent park to visit.

Try the Environmental Trail loop to Inspiration Point, Crissey Field, Baker Beach, or even Golden Gate Bridge if you want to deal with a lot of people. See the Presidio for more details.

Glen Canyon Park

(Bosworth St/Elk St, Glen Park, SF. Or, enter from behind Diamond Heights Shopping Center, Diamond Heights Blvd/South of Duncan St. Approximately 70 acres, much of which is steep hills. Dogs are allowed on-leash.)

This hidden natural gem has trails, often surrounded by tall blue gum trees, along its deep canyon. There are also a few trails higher up among the giant boulders. It is not a long walk, about a mile one way if you don't take a side trip. Used primarily by local dog walkers so the trail is not too crowded.

Mount Davidson Park

(Dalewood Way & Myra Way, Mt Davidson. Approximately 40 acres with a few nice trails. Dogs are allowed on-leash.)

The views here are some of the best in the city. Mt Davidson is the highest natural point in SF at 928 feet and features a 103 ft cement cross at the top.

This small mountain is mostly covered by a eucalyptus forest and is generally undeveloped. There is one easy fire road up and a few slightly steeper trails going to the top from various points around the base. Besides excellent views on clear days the area is also beautiful on foggy summer days when the city disappears from sight.

Alta Plaza Park

(Steiner St/Clay St, Pacific Heights, SF. Size about 12 acres. A big square block with 5 stairways and some flatter space at the top. Very dog friendly park with off-leash areas.)

Official off-leash area has plenty of dogs and nice people. Site of "The Original Pug Sunday" held approximately 2 pm the first Sunday of each month. Spectacular city views. Very nice tennis courts and children's playground. Not that crowded when we lived a block away years ago but we hear it is getting busier. Fillmore St is just a block east if you want some coffee, food, or shopping.

Golden Gate Park

(Stanyan St/Fulton St east to the Great Highway. 1017 acres. Dogs on-leash except for four off-leash areas.)

Largest man-made park in the world which is generally open to dogs on-leash. There is plenty to see and do while walking with your dog. Check out Golden Gate Park or Google Maps for more details.

There are also four off-leash dog runs in Golden Gate Park but we have not been impressed. On Ocean Beach, directly to the west of the park, dogs are allowed off-leash under voice control. Your dog will find a lot of room to run there :).

Lands End

(Merrie Way/Point Lobos Ave aka Geary, Outer Richmond, SF. Approximately 3 miles round trip. Dogs are allowed leash free under voice control here but the terrain is rugged. Dogs, and people, have fallen down the cliffs so leashes are recommended.)

Lands End trail is regarded by many the most beautiful area in San Francisco due to its rugged terrain and spectacular ocean views. Over the past 10 years generous donors have funded many improvements making the area much more accessible. So, now, the main trail is usually very smooth with a few steeper dips; however, if you venture on side trails towards the ocean it gets much more hazardous.

Start Lands End trail at the north end of the Merrie Way parking lot above Sutro Baths. Then follow the trail north about 1.5 miles to where it eventually exits, just past Eagles Point, on El Camino Del Mar a little west of 32d Ave. Return by walking west back on El Camino Del Mar and continue, on the north side of the California Palace Legion of Honor, on to the El Camino Del Mar trail which ends at the USS San Francisco Memorial. At the north side of parking lot where the Memorial is located you can overlook the Lands End trail near where you started. Go down the steps to get back on Lands End trail and then west to your starting point on Merrie Way.

Side trip #1 Sutro Baths
Another side trip from the Merrie Way parking lot is Sutro Baths. You can walk westward down to the Baths from the parking lot. In 1896 seven swimming pools were opened making Sutro Baths the world's largest swimming establishment capable of handling 25,000 people. However, it was not a financial success and eventually closed. A fire burned down the buildings in 1966 leaving the current ruins.

Side trip #2 Sutro Heights Park
South across El Camino Del Mar from the Merrie Way parking lot is another parking lot. From the parking lot you can take stair steps up to Sutro Heights Park. This quiet beautiful spot was once the garden grounds of SF's 24th Mayor (1894), Adolf Sutro. He owned almost 10% of San Francisco lands after making his money from projects like the Sutro Tunnel which drained the Comstock Silver Lode, Virginia City. Sutro Heights Park now features a fantastic ocean beach view from a castle-like turret and large park like lawns. Dogs are allowed on-leash.

Shores Dog Park

(End of Radio Rd, Redwood Shores. Take the Holly exit east off Hwy 101, continue east which becomes Redwood Shores Parkway, turn right at Radio Road, continue to the dog park at the end on the right hand side)

This nice dog park is located adjacent beautiful marshes. During the spring and fall migratory seasons you can see large flocks of birds in the air or enjoying the marshes. Nearby and all along the Redwood Shores peninsula are interesting shoreline walks to walk your dog or ride your bike.

Pillar Point Beach, Cliff & Marsh

(Near Mavericks, Princeton-by-the Sea. From Hwy 1/Capistrano Rd continue west to Prospect Way, take roads paralleling the shoreline to West Point Ave, take W. Point Ave west to the Pillar Point Marsh parking lot at the end. Dogs are allowed on-leash.)

This is a beautiful natural area which used to be relatively unknown but, due to the Mavericks surfing contest publicity, is now somewhat crowded on weekends.

• South: From the end of the parking lot you can walk 1.2 miles round trip south on the beach under the bluffs. Dogs are allowed on-leash).
• West: Or, head west up the road to the fenced radar station. At the top of the road turn right and take the trail northwest along the bluffs which overlook Mavericks surfing waves. This trail goes all the way to Moss Beach.
• East: Pillar Point Marsh, part of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, is immediately to the north. It is small unimpressive area but birds love it here where a fresh water marsh and a brackish salt water marsh come together. Over 151 species of birds have been spotted nearby. Dogs are not allowed on the Reserve itself.

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We hope you and your dog enjoy these dog parks and beautiful dog walks. Below are some other places you might try plus a few useful tips to know when taking your dog for a hike.

Also Rans

Most of the following doggie park "also rans" are also good ... just not the best we've found.

• Alamo Square Park, Steiner St/Hayes St, Western Addition, SF
  This city park is not fenced but has a good sized off-leash area. It has nice views for humans too. In particular see the famous "Painted Ladies" Victorian Houses the tourists will be gawking at along the park's east side. You've seen them on San Francisco post cards.
• Foster City lagoon, E Hillsdale Blvd/Shell Blvd, Foster City
  This is a nice suburban walk around parts of a manmade lagoon. A dog leash is definitely needed. More or less follow the cement or board walks as close to the lagoon edge as reasonable.
• Foster City Dog Park, 600 Foster City Blvd/ Bounty Dr near the Foster City Blvd bridge.
  This is a good place to stop on your lagoon walk. It has two fairly clean play areas, one for small dogs and one for large dogs, which have been recently renovated with Astroturf.
• Seal Point dog park, 1701 J Hart Clinton Dr. (Take Hwy 101 to 3rd St Exit, then go east. After the road bends right at the stop light you will see Ryder Park for kiddies on your left. The marked entrance to Seal Point dog park is about a half mile further on, the next entrance to your left.)
  There is a big enclosed park for big dogs and a smaller enclosed park for small dogs. Three acres total. Pros: Big, very doggy which your dog will like. Cons: almost all dirt, more poop than most dog parks, not so beautiful to humans, sometimes windy, some of the other dogs may be a bit aggressive.
  What we enjoy most is that this dog park is part of San Mateo Shoreline Park. You can walk your dog up the hill behind the park and along the paved shoreline trail in both directions. If you are energetic walk northwest all the way up to Coyote Point and walk around that human park as well.
• Pulgas Ridge Off-leash Dog Trail, Edmonds Rd, Redwood City (from 280/Edgewood Rd go east to Crestview Dr, turn north/left on Crestview Dr, quickly turn left/west on Edmonds, bear left to Preserve parking lot)
  Part of the Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve consisting of 366 acres with 6 miles of trails. Check maps provided at the parking lot to help you find the 17 acre off-leash area. If you miss it you may be in for a little longer walk than expected.

Tips & Rules for dog hikes

• Always carry a leash. Cars, vicious animals, skateboarders, etc., can be hazardous to your dog and vice versa.
• Watch out for overheating. Dogs are much more heat sensitive than are humans and may die surprisingly easily if left alone in a hot car. Water frequently. Rest & shade at any early signs of potential overheating. You aren't the only one who is out of shape.
• Clean up after your dog and yourself. Bring baggies. Why destroy the beauty for others.
• Check afterwards for ticks and foxtails (often hidden deep in paws where they will get more deeply imbedded over time) afterwards. Also ask your vet for recommendations to reduce tick & flea problems. Lyme disease is a potential hazard in the Bay area which can be reduced by avoiding contact with woody/ bushy areas or high grass. Also, we've read that ticks don't usually spread the disease until they've been attached at least 36 hours. In other words, avoid brushing against a lot of vegetation and remove ticks quickly.
• To summarize, please use common sense. Excited city dogs can easily get into trouble in the woods so you should watch them carefully. :)

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