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Dog parks in Seattle

Seattle lets dogs run free only in its official off-leash areas, led by Magnuson Park and Westcrest Park. Find every area by neighborhood, what each one offers and the rules to know.

A woman walks two small dogs along the fenced off-leash trail at Magnuson Park in Seattle, with poplar trees and hills behind

All 16 dog parks

You can let your dog off leash in Seattle only inside the city's designated off-leash areas, and the two biggest are Warren G. Magnuson Park in Sand Point, with 8.6 fenced acres and swimming access to Lake Washington, and Westcrest Park in West Seattle, at about 8.4 acres. Seattle Parks and Recreation's off-leash areas page describes 16 of them, from Blue Dog Pond and Genesee Park in the south end to Golden Gardens, Woodland Park and Northacres Park up north, plus small fenced lots in downtown neighborhoods.

Everywhere else in the park system your dog stays on a leash, and a few places, beaches among them, are off limits to dogs entirely. Use the list below to pick an area by neighborhood and by what your dog loves most, whether that is a long run, a swim or a quiet corner for small and shy dogs.

Seattle's off-leash areas at a glance

  • Warren G. Magnuson Park (Sand Point): 8.6 acres, fully fenced, Lake Washington water access, small and shy dog area.
  • Westcrest Park (Highland Park, West Seattle): about 8.4 acres, fenced, drinking fountain, small and shy dog area.
  • Dr. Jose Rizal Park (North Beacon Hill): 4 acres, fenced, compacted gravel trail.
  • Genesee Park and Playfield (Rainier Valley): 2.7 acres, completely fenced, small and shy dog area.
  • Blue Dog Pond (I-90 Lid, Central Area): about 1.7 acres, fully fenced, running water.
  • Northacres Park (Haller Lake): 1.6 acres.
  • Golden Gardens (Sunset Hill, Ballard): one acre with a wood chip surface.
  • Woodland Park (Phinney Ridge): one sloped acre, small and shy dog area.
  • Georgetown Flume (Georgetown): 0.83 acre, water station, small and shy dog area.
  • I-5 Colonnade (Eastlake): 0.5 acre of crushed gravel under the freeway.
  • Magnolia Manor Park (Magnolia): 21,000 square feet with a "chuck it" game zone.
  • Regrade Park (Belltown): 0.3 acre, 5-foot fence, double gates.
  • Plymouth Pillars Park (Capitol Hill edge, 1050 Pike St): about 0.2 acre of crushed rock.
  • South Park Playground (South Park): 0.2 acre, separate areas for small and large dogs.
  • Kinnear Park (Queen Anne): 5,400 square feet, fenced, wood chips.
  • Denny Park (South Lake Union): 0.105 acre, fenced with double gates, wheelchair accessible.

Sizes and features come from the city's off-leash list, which also names three planned areas that have not opened yet: West Seattle Stadium, Othello Playground and Smith Cove. Check the official page and map before you go, since conditions and projects change.

Read the full guide

Big parks with room to run

Warren G. Magnuson Park, Sand Point

Head to Magnuson Park, at 7400 Sand Point Way NE, when your dog needs real space, because its 8.6 fully fenced acres make it the largest off-leash area in the city. A path of mostly compact gravel winds down to the shore of Lake Washington, where dogs can get into the water, and a separate small and shy dog area gives quieter pups a break. Keep your dog leashed in the rest of the park, as the city requires. See our Magnuson Park dog park guide.

Westcrest Park, West Seattle

Stroll the trails of Westcrest Park, at 9000 8th Ave SW, where about 8.4 acres of fenced off-leash space include a doggie drinking fountain and a separate small and shy dog area. Leash up on the trails and on the walk between the off-leash area and the parking lot, which the city also requires. Our Westcrest Park guide covers what is nearby.

Dr. Jose Rizal Park, North Beacon Hill

Wander the 4 fenced acres at Dr. Jose Rizal Park, 1007 12th Ave S, where a compacted gravel trail links into the bicycle trail for ADA access. Read more in our North Beacon Hill guide.

South end favorites

Genesee Park and Playfield

Bring a ball to Genesee Park, 4316 S Genesee St, where 2.7 completely fenced acres have two double-gated entrances, a gravel center, a doggie drinking fountain and a small and shy dog area. The park sits in the Rainier Valley, close to the Lake Washington shoreline.

Blue Dog Pond

Find Blue Dog Pond at 1520 26th Ave S, on the I-90 Lid between the Central Area and Mount Baker. Its roughly 1.7 fully fenced acres have running water, and the city warns that the ground can get muddy in the rainy season, so bring a towel for the car ride home.

Georgetown Flume and South Park Playground

Try the newer Georgetown Flume area at 1035 S Myrtle St, with a water station, a separate small and shy dog area and an accessible entry plaza. Farther south, South Park Playground at 738 S Sullivan St has fenced space split for small and large dogs, double gates and a drinking fountain, with restrooms nearby.

North end and waterfront picks

Golden Gardens, Ballard

Combine a dog run with a sunset at Golden Gardens, 8498 Seaview Pl NW, where the off-leash area covers about an acre with a wood chip surface. Remember that the sandy beach below is not part of the off-leash area, since dogs are not allowed on Seattle beaches. Our Golden Gardens dog area guide has more.

Woodland Park, Phinney Ridge

Settle onto the benches at the Woodland Park off-leash area, 1000 N 50th St, a sloped acre with a doggie drinking fountain and a small and shy dog area. See our Woodland Park off-leash guide.

Northacres Park, Haller Lake

Head to Northacres Park, 12718 1st Ave NE, for 1.6 acres of off-leash space in north Seattle, a handy option if you live near Northgate or Haller Lake. Our Northacres guide covers the trails around it.

Magnolia Manor Park

Play fetch at Magnolia Manor Park, 3500 28th Ave W, where 21,000 square feet sit inside chain link fencing around the reservoir, with a dog drinking fountain and a "chuck it" game zone.

Small fenced spots downtown and nearby

  • I-5 Colonnade, 1701 Lakeview Blvd E: half an acre of crushed gravel beneath the freeway in Eastlake, with potable water at the north entrance.
  • Kinnear Park, 899 W Olympic Pl: a 5,400-square-foot area on Queen Anne with a 4-foot fence and wood chips; leash up on the trails. See our Kinnear Park guide.
  • Regrade Park, 2251 3rd Ave: 0.3 acre in Belltown with a 5-foot fence, double "airlock" gates and running water.
  • Plymouth Pillars Park, 1050 Pike St: about 0.2 acre of crushed rock with a drinking fountain for people and dogs. See our Plymouth Pillars guide.
  • Denny Park, 100 Dexter Ave N: a 0.105-acre fenced area with double gates in South Lake Union. See our Denny Park guide.

Leash rules and where dogs are not allowed

Keep your dog on a leash at all times in Seattle parks unless you are inside the boundaries of an official off-leash area, according to Seattle Parks and Recreation's rules and regulations. The same rules spell out the places dogs may not go at all, even on a leash:

  • Beaches: dogs are not allowed on beaches in Seattle parks.
  • Organized athletic fields: keep dogs off the fields.
  • Children's play areas: dogs are not allowed in playgrounds.

Inside an off-leash area

  • Your dog must be licensed and vaccinated, and you must carry a leash for each dog.
  • Stay with your dog; unattended dogs are not allowed.
  • Leave puppies under four months old and female dogs in heat at home.
  • Remove pinch or choke collars before you go in.
  • Clean up after your dog, put the waste in the containers on site and keep scoop equipment visible.

Seattle requires dogs to be licensed under the Municipal Code, and you can buy or renew a license online through the Seattle Animal Shelter. Off-leash dogs outside these areas can be reported to Seattle Animal Control, whose officers work seven days a week.

Frequently asked questions

Only inside Seattle Parks and Recreation's designated off-leash areas. The largest are Warren G. Magnuson Park in Sand Point and Westcrest Park in West Seattle, and the city's list also includes Blue Dog Pond, Genesee Park, Golden Gardens, Woodland Park and Dr. Jose Rizal Park.

Seattle Parks and Recreation's off-leash page describes 16 areas, with three more planned at West Seattle Stadium, Othello Playground and Smith Cove. Check the official page for the current list and map.

Warren G. Magnuson Park is the off-leash area with water access, along the shore of Lake Washington. Other areas, such as Blue Dog Pond and Regrade Park, have running water or drinking fountains rather than a place to swim.

No. Seattle Parks rules do not allow dogs on beaches, organized athletic fields or children's play areas, even on a leash.

Yes. Magnuson Park, Westcrest Park, Genesee Park, Woodland Park and Georgetown Flume have separate small and shy dog areas, and South Park Playground splits its space for small and large dogs.

Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, owners must stay with their dogs and carry a leash for each one, and you must clean up after your dog. Puppies under four months, females in heat and pinch or choke collars are not allowed.