If you are looking for a city in California to visit that is known for being the first, Monterey was the first at numerous things. It had the first public school, public library, brick house, and the first theater. Also, it was the first to use the printing press, which printed the state’s first newspaper, The Californian. Located on the central coastline of Monterey Bay, this city is just four miles from Carmel and about an hour from Santa Cruz.
Monterey is estimated to have around 4,300 dogs in the city of almost 28,000 people. With that many fur babies, you better believe that you can find a plethora of fun things to do and see in town! We found more than 50 pup-friendly restaurants, 55 hotels and other rental properties that allow pets, and several awesome off-leash beaches where your pooch can swim. Here are our picks for our top 15 popular dog parks in Monterey, California.
El Estero Dog Park
- Address: 852 Pearl St, Monterey, CA 93940
- Open Hours: 6am – 10pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Less than a mile from downtown Monterey, El Estero Dog Park can be found in the northwest corner of El Estero Community Park. It is the perfect place to let your canine companion off the leash for a while to play with other pooches. If there are no other pups there (which is rare), you can just let him run all the zoomies out or get up and play a game of fetch or frisbee with your furry pal.
The dog park is fully fenced and has a separate area for little and shy dogs. Both sections have plenty of seating for pup parents, lots of shade, water fountains, and waste stations with poop baggies. However, it does not hurt to bring your own water and baggies, just in case. It is mostly mulch and gets a little muddy after it rains. You can also put your dog’s leash back on and take a walk down to the lake.
Veterans Memorial Park
- Address: 1200 Veterans Dr, Monterey, CA 93940
- Open Hours: 24 hours
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: No
Just over two miles from Monterey city center, Veterans Memorial Park boasts 50 acres of fun space for playing sports, hiking, biking, and even camping. Your dog is welcome to join you there as long as you keep him on a leash less than six feet long at all times. Also, remember to bring doggie bags to pick up after your pooch. There are a few places your pup cannot go, like on the ball fields and courts as well as on the playgrounds.
This is a great place to pitch a tent or park an RV for a few days to get to know the natural space in Monterey. There are several awesome trails, like the Wild Boar Trail, where you can see lots of wildlife, and the Presidio View Trail, where you can get some incredible views of the city. There are several picnic areas as well, so bring a lunch.
Laguna Grande Regional Park
- Address: 401 Virgin Ave, Monterey, CA 93940
- Open Hours: 6am – 930pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: No
Less than three miles from Monterey, you will find Laguna Grande Regional Park. It is actually split half in Monterey and half in Seaside, but together, it is the largest park in the area. Although they do not have a dog park yet, your furry friend is welcome to join you in the park as long as he is on a leash at all times. But you have to bring your own doggie bags to pick up anything he puts down.
Right in the middle of the park, Laguna Del Rey is a huge natural lagoon with a variety of wildlife, including various turtles, snakes, and lizards, as well as waterfowl. There is a trail that goes around it where you can learn more about the native flora and fauna. There are also picnic tables for over 400 people, playgrounds, soccer fields, and lots of open space. On Sundays, they have a farmers’ market too!
Rip Van Winkle Dog Park
- Address: 1072 Congress Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
- Open Hours: 7am – 8pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Rip Van Winkle Dog Park is three miles from Monterey downtown, just south of The Links at Spanish Bay Golf Course, and is the largest off-leash park in the city with just over 20 acres. The long and narrow park is 400 feet wide and 220,000 feet long, giving your pretty pooch lots of space to run and play. Perfect for playing fetch with a ball or doggie disc. However, it is a pretty rugged terrain with lots of trees.
This gorgeous forested area is not a fenced dog park, though, so if your dog does not have excellent recall, you may want to keep him on a leash. Most people come here to walk their pups or do some jogging in the “wilderness” on the 1.2-mile loop trail that goes around the perimeter. Of course, there is no small dog area, and you will need to bring your own cleanup bags and water.
Pacchetti Dog Park
- Address: Kimball Ave &, Noche Buena St, Seaside, CA 93955
- Open Hours: 7am – 8pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
In eastern Monterey, about four miles from the city center, you can find Pacchetti Dog Park on the corner of Kimball and Noche Buena. The large pup playground features a small and large section split between 1.7 acres of fully fenced fun space. Of course, the larger dogs have a bigger section because they need more room. The park was named after William Pacchetti, who was the first Fire Chief in Seaside and remained as chief until he retired 28 years later.
The park has water fountains, benches, and picnic tables in the shade as well as waste stations with poop bags and trash receptacles. You will need to make sure your cuddly buddy is licensed and vaccinated, and remember that children under five years old are not allowed. Also, if your dog does not have a good recall or you have trouble keeping him under control, keep a leash on him.
Del Rey Oaks Dog Park
- Address: 999 Angelus Way, Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940
- Open Hours: 6am – 10pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Four miles from Monterey, Del Rey Oaks Park has a spacious fenced area just for pooches in the southeastern corner between the ball field and the east side picnic area. The park is right across the street from the city hall and down the street from the police station. Although it is a free park, you do have to register your dog at the city hall to play there, and your canine companion must have a license and all his shots.
If you have a small or timid pup, you do not have to worry because they have a special area for the little and shy dogs. It is mostly grass with some dirt and gravel, and they have a paved path you can walk on as well. Put the leash back on, and you can visit the rest of the park, where they have playgrounds for the kiddos, picnic areas with barbecue grills, basketball, volleyball, and ball fields.
Schoonover Dog Park
- Address: Schoonover / White, Marina, CA 93933
- Open Hours: Sunrise – sunset
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
You only have to go about 11 miles to get to Schoonover Dog Park, which is one of the favorites for local pup parents. The best thing about this pup play area is the agility and play equipment. Your cuddly canine companion can practice jumping through hoops and tires, sailing over the bone jumpover, and running through tunnels. They even have a fire hydrant for pups to pee on and a variety of rocks and other natural things to climb on.
The small dog section is for pooches 25 pounds and under, but little dogs are also welcome in the “all dog” section. The park is also known as Marina Dog Park because it is in the community of Marina. They make cleaning up after your pup easy, too, providing pooper scoopers, Mutt Mits, and trash receptacles. Another great feature is that most of the terrain is sand, so those dogs that love to dig can dig until they are worn out.
Garrapata State Park
- Address: 34500 CA-1, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
- Open Hours: 7am – 6pm
- Price: $10
- Off-Leash: No
Approximately 12 miles south of Monterey in Carmel, Garrapata State Park has over 2,900 acres along the Santa Lucia Mountains with two miles of shoreline. If you want to take your pooch for a swim, dogs are allowed at the Gate 19 beach on the southern end of the park. The other beaches are not for dogs, so keep that in mind. But the rest of the park is almost all pup popular except the Soberanes Canyon Trail.
The other trails include the Garrapata Coastal Trail, which is about 1.25 miles along the canyon. You should be careful to keep your pooch on a short leash because there are some steep dropoffs here. Also, if you do decide to play on the beach, swimming is not recommended here because of the rough tide. Keep your eyes open for rattlesnakes and mountain lions, too and bring plenty of dog poo bags and water.
For more information on dog-friendly beaches in and around Monterey, including Garrapata State Park, check out our dog-friendly beaches in Monterey, California Guide. This guide is an excellent resource for finding the best beaches to enjoy with your dog in the Monterey area.
Toro Park
- Address: 501 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68, Salinas, CA 93908
- Open Hours: 8am – 7pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: No
Just under 14 miles from downtown Monterey, Toro Park in Salinas has 4,756 acres of trails, playgrounds, and other activities. As long as your cuddle buddy is on a leash at all times, he is welcome to join you here so you can both get closer to nature. You can trek on some of the 20 miles of wooded trails, where you will likely see some wildlife, such as coyotes, deer, mountain lions, and bobcats. You should also watch out for snakes and bears, but they are not seen often.
Just past the entrance on Highway 68, you will find a bunch of picnic areas with dozens of tables and barbecue pits as well as a volleyball court, basketball court, and softball field as well as playgrounds and restrooms. The middle of the park is vehicle-free, so if you want to get to the trails, you have to walk from one of the parking lots. Bring plenty of extra water and doggie bags.
Natividad Dog Park
- Address: 1395 Nogal Dr, Salinas, CA 93905
- Open Hours: Dawn to dusk
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
In Salinas, about 26 miles northeast of downtown Monterey, Natividad Park has a pretty awesome dog park right in the middle of it off Freedom Parkway. There are separate areas for big and small dogs, but the small dog section is also for old or shy dogs over 25 pounds. However, there is not a lot of room in the small dog area, so keep that in mind. There is not much grass, mostly mulch, and dirt, so it gets muddy after rain.
Although there are no agility stations or play equipment, there is tons of space for a game of fetch with his favorite ball or frisbee if you bring a doggie disc. If you want to explore the rest of the 54-acre park, put your canine compadre’s leash back on, and he is welcome to join you. There is a skate park, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and a huge disc golf course. They even have a community garden with a variety of flora.
Franich Dog Park
- Address: 017 551-20, Watsonville, CA 95076
- Open Hours: 7am – 8pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Franich Dog Park is a terrific place to take your fur baby in Watsonville, just 27 miles north of Monterey in the southeastern section of Franich Community Park. Located between the baseball fields and the basketball and tennis courts, the pooch play space is fully fenced and has a small dog section for pooches under 25 pounds. It is mostly sand, which the pups love to dig in, but there are dirt patches that get muddy after rain.
Pet parents will have lots of seating to choose from in each area as well as doggie bag dispensers, water fountains, and shade. The rest of the park has about 14 acres you and Fido can explore once you put his leash back on. There is a nice trail that you can enjoy, several playgrounds for the kiddos, picnic tables with BBQ pits, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and baseball. Just remember to bring bags with you if you plan to enjoy the park outside the fence.
Ramsay Park Dog Park
- Address: 1301 Main St, Watsonville, CA 95076
- Open Hours: 24 hours
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Located in Watsonville, about 28 miles north of downtown Monterey, 26-acre-Ramsay Park has a nice fenced area for unleashed dogs to play. It does not have a separate section for small pups, so if your small dog has large dog anxiety or vice versa, you may want to try a different park. Right off Highway 152 by the Overlook Shopping Center, the park is in a good spot for getting a bite to eat. Just grab some grub, and you can eat it in the picnic area.
The rest of the park includes a bicycle pump track, baseball fields, tennis courts, a skate park, a soccer field, and volleyball courts. There are also two playgrounds. One is a tot lot where dogs are not allowed, but the other is for older kids and has a bunch of slides, swings, and interactive activities. There is also a nature center and family center, but dogs are not allowed inside.
Polo Grounds Dog Park
- Address: 2255 Huntington Dr, Aptos, CA 95003
- Open Hours: 6am – 830pm
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Polo Grounds Dog Park is located right next to the polo grounds about 29 miles north of Monterey in Aptos. It is right across from the Polo Grounds dirt jump track and next to a large expanse of land that is under some kind of reconstruction. On one side of the park, it is thick woods, but the rest of the place is a large open area with wood chips and plenty of room to run around.
You can bring a ball and play fetch, but even if you forget, they have a bucket of balls ready for any of the dogs to play with. The smaller section is for fur babies weighing 25 pounds and under, so you can relax if your little one is anxious around the big boys. The rest of the county park has some fun, too, but you will have to put your dog’s leash back on to enjoy the trail, picnic areas, and public art.
Frederick Street Dog Park
- Address: 168 Frederick St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
- Open Hours: 8am – 7pm M-F and 8am – 5pm on weekends
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Just across Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz, Frederick Street Dog Park is a large pup playground in the local community park. With about one acre in total, there are two sections. One is about ¾ of an acre for the big dogs, and the other is about ¼ of an acre for the little and shy pooches. There is lots of green grass and trees with shade structures and seating for pup parents. There are also waste stations with doggie bags and water fountains.
The rest of Frederick Street Park is also dog-friendly for dogs that are on a leash six feet or shorter. There are some fantastic picnic areas with shade and barbecue grills, as well as restrooms and water fountains. If you have any little humans with you, there are several playgrounds with lots of activities, from swinging and sliding to climbing and spinning. Be sure to grab extra baggies for your visit.
University Terrace Dog Park
- Address: Meder St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Open Hours: 24 hours
- Price: Free
- Off-Leash: Yes
Just a few miles west of Frederick Street Dog Park is University Terrace Dog Park in Santa Cruz. This is a huge park with separate sections for large and small dogs. There are dozens of picnic tables, benches, and chairs for pup parents to choose from either in the shade or out in the sunshine. The upper level of the dog park has several dirt trails with lots of trees, but it can be muddy after it rains.
One thing to note about this park is that they do not supply doggie bags, so you have to bring your own to pick up after your fur buddy. They do have a special container for used baggies, though. You will often find errant tennis balls from the tennis courts nearby, so you do not even have to bring your own ball. However, you should bring your own water because there are only a few water fountains and they are not inside the park.
The Final Woof
With so many great dog parks in Monterey, you and your furry pal will certainly be able to find your perfect spot to play. But if you want to do something new, why not take Fido out onto the water to see the whales? Monterey Bay Whale Watch is dog-friendly for leashed dogs. Or you can take your pooch to enjoy an adult beverage at the Dust Bowl Brewing Company, where your pooch can join you on the patio. There are also several dog-friendly tours, including a ghost tour, a Monterey walking tour, and the fantastic Magical Monterey Scavenger Hunt.
To discover even more dog-friendly activities, eateries, and tours in Monterey, make sure to check our comprehensive dog-friendly Monterey tour guide. This guide is an invaluable resource for finding the best dog-friendly experiences in Monterey, ensuring a fun and memorable trip for both you and your canine companion.
