Dog parks are a wonderful way to give your dog the opportunity to stretch its legs, especially if you don’t have a yard or access to other open space in which your dog can play. Some dog parks can be questionable, mostly because of the people not the dogs. But we have put together a list of the top 5 dog parks in the US. If you find yourself, along with your pooch, near any of these parks, you should certainly take the time to visit.
Hugh Rogers Wag Park – Whitefish, MT
wagparks.org
Located near Glacier National park, the Hugh Rogers Wag Park in Whitefish, Montana is one of the best dog parks in the country. It offers breathtaking scenery, as well as huge spaces for dogs to run and play. Of course, the park also offers perennial favorites like an obstacle course, a ball catapult, and water fountains. The park is the result of a public and private collaboration which has taken years, but it is certainly worth it!
Huntington Dog Beach – Huntington Beach, CA
dogbeach.org
Located along the Pacific Coast Highway, in the city of Huntington Beach, California, the Huntington Dog Beach is a 1.5-mile stretch of Southern California coastline dedicated to dogs (their owners are allowed to play too). The park is free to the public, and offers a wonderful opportunity for dogs and their human companions to enjoy the sunny Southern California weather. The park also offers public restrooms, parking, and picnic tables in a grassy area. They even have doggy waste bags if you happen to forget your supply.
Hawaii Kai Dog Park – Honolulu, HI
hui-ilio.org/TheHawaiiKaiDogPark.php
The Hawaii Kai Dog Park is a fully fences area with a double-gate entrance to prevent accidental escapes. The park is located near the beach, so it offers wonderful scenery. There is plenty of space in which the dogs can run around, and it has amenities such as water fountains (for dogs and people), and poop bags. A bit of trivia for dog lovers: Hawaii is the only state in the Union without rabies!
Twin Lakes Recreation Area – Columbia, MO
como.gov/ParksandRec/Parks_and_Facilities/dogrunningareas.php
Twin Lakes is basically three dog parks in one! It is divided into three distinct dog parks (areas). The Lakeside area is bordered off by a fence on three sides and a lake on the fourth, while the Paw Pond is set aside for smaller dogs and puppies. And, there is a third area, the Off-Season Dog Park is designed to keep dogs away from the frozen lake during winter months.
Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park – Iowa City, Iowa
jcdogpac.org/thornberry/
At 12 acres the Thornberry Off-Leash Dog Park is by far the largest on this list. Like most parks it has a fenced in area for smaller dogs and puppies, but there is so much more! Water-loving pooches can take a dip or jump right into the pond. There are poop bags which are biodegradable, which can be deposited into poops shoots that deposit the collection into poop tanks where the bag and their contents biodegrade when they come into contact with water. There is a modest fee of $35 per year associated with the use of the park, but it is well worth it.
Note: Do you have a dog park in your neighborhood that you think should be on our list? Send us an email with the name of the park and some information and we’ll consider adding it to this collection.