Dog Parks

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Approved Leash Free Locations

Map of Leash-Free ParksMap of Leash-Free Locations (PDF: 53K) Balboa Park, 24 hours a day at:

Nate’s Point – Balboa Dr. at El Prado, south side of Cabrillo Bridge.

Morley Field northwest of tennis courts.

  • Cadman Community Park, Cadman Park in Clairemont is located at 4280 Avati Drive. For hours and boundary information, please visit our Cadman Park Leash Free page.
  • Capehart Park, Located at the corner of Felspar and Soledad Mountain Road, this one acre park offers the following amenities: two fenced pens, on turfed areas: one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs, areas to provide water for dogs, a drinking fountain, picnic tables and benches, and a parking area. It is open 24 hours.
  • Dog Beach, Located in Ocean Beach at the foot of Voltaire Street, this site offers 24 hour access to the beach and ocean.
  • Doyal Community Park, Located at 8175 Regents Road, this park is situated behind Doyle Recreation Center and offers two fenced turfed areas, one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs. It is open 24 hours however it is not lighted.
  • Dusty Rhodes Neighborhood Park, Located on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard between Nimitz and West Point Loma, this one acre park offers one area for all dogs. There is discussion about adding water stations for dogs and fountains for people, and expanding this site to five acres.
  • Fiesta Island, Located in Mission Bay Park, Fiesta Island offers a 5.2 mile asphalt path around the island for dogs walkers. Hours are from 6:00 a.m. – 10 p.m. everyday.
  • Grape Street Park
  • Kerney Mesa Community Park

  • Kearny Mesa Recreation Center offers one area for all dogs. The site is now lighted which allows for evening use. Hours are from 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. everyday. There is a water station for dogs and fountains for people. Parking can be a challenge during the day as the closest parking lot is used by students attending Mesa College.
  • Maddox Neighborhood Park
    Located at 7815 Flanders Street, this .65 acre park offers one turfed area with a walkway and drinking fountain.
  • Nobel Park
    Located at 8820 Judicial Drive, just east of the North University Community Branch Library building, (map)

    Nobel Athletic Fields and Recreation Center, this area offers adjacent parking and separate sections for large and small dogs.

  • Rancho Bernardo Park
    Located at 18448 West Bernardo Drive, this 2.66 acre park offers leash free space adjacent to Rancho Bernardo Community Park, and includes additional parking for dog park users.
  • Rancho Penasquitos Park, Located on Salmon River Road at Fairgrove Lane across the street from the Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library, this one acre park offers two fenced, double-gated, turfed areas; one for small dogs and one for large or all dogs, benches, and a street parking area. It is open 24 hours.
  • Torrey Highlands Park
    Located on Lansdale Drive off Del Mar Heights Road, this one acre park offers a turfed and mulched.

    General Information

Beaches and Mission Bay

Beach Time for You and Your dog

These restrictions do not apply to service animals, as defined by the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.

General Guidelines for Dog Owners

In general, dogs are allowed on beaches after 6 p.m. from April 1st to October 31st or after 4:00 p.m. from November 1st to March 31st. Legally licensed dogs are allowed on the beach, and on sidewalks and park areas near the beach, during the night and early morning hours until 9 a.m., but they must be leashed.

Whenever you take your dog to the beach you must be prepared to pick up after your pet. You must clean up after your dog at leashed or unleashed areas. It is unlawful to leave refuse of any type on our beaches.

It is unlawful to allow a dog to defecate on public property, and municipal Code, Sec 44.0304.1 requires a person to immediately remove any feces to a proper trash receptacle. Failure to do this is a violation of the law. Only unsighted people with guide dogs are exempt from this code section.

Along the beach shoreline and Mission Bay, the City of San Diego has two designated Leash Free exercise areas for dogs. Dogs are allowed at Dog Beach and on Fiesta Island. Dogs are restricted at other beach and bay locations.

Our beaches are fragile, and keeping them unspoiled is everybody’s job. Doing your part keeps our beaches clean and beautiful, the way you and others like them and ensures a pleasant visit again and again.