Seattle is a well-known city on the west coast between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, just 100 miles from the Canadian border. It was home to Native Americans for more than 4,000 years before European settlers moved in. It was the Denny Party, named for Arthur Denny, who settled there in 1851, and then it was moved to Elliott Bay and named Seattle to honor Chief Si’ahl of the local Suquamish and Duwamish tribes.
Although the city was known for logging at first, it developed into more of a tech center in the 1980s when Microsoft came to town with Bill Gates. But the one thing Seattle is really known for is its recreational activities. The city has more than 485 parks, and many of them are dog-friendly. In fact, Seattle has more dogs (153,000) than children (107,000)! Being dog-friendly, the city also has its share of dog parks. Here are our top 15 choices for dog parks in Seattle to bring your pup to.
Amazon Dog Parks
The Amazon Company really loves their dogs. In fact, they encourage their employees to bring them to work with them. They even have two dog parks nearby for their workers as well as the public. Right in Seattle, about one mile north of downtown in The Spheres, the Amazon Nitro Dog Park is small but mighty with its varied turf, poop bag dispenser, and water spigot. It is just outside the Amazon building on 8th Avenue and is mostly pavement with a patch of turf for your pooch.
Besides running space, sniffing spots, and room to roam, there are also some large boulders to sit or climb on, several concrete benches, a water fountain for pet parents, and another fountain for pups. The other park, known only as Amazon Day 1 Dog Park, is a little smaller than Nitro and has just a patch of turf and concrete with a doggie bag dispenser and seating for pup parents. It is about two blocks from Nitro Dog Park on 6th Avenue.
Blue Dog Pond Park
Less than three miles southeast of downtown Seattle, Blue Dog Pond Park is not what it sounds like. There is no pond here. However, if you come here during the spring, you are likely going to see a huge muddy puddle because this is a retention pond. The 1.7-acre space is a large indention in the ground to catch the area’s runoff when it rains. In fact, there is even a platform with interpretive signs telling you about it.
If you do not mind your pooch getting muddy, go ahead and bring him here after a rain. All dogs love to play in the mud! And there are some cute sculptures and signs like the big blue dog out front, the red bouncing ball sign, and several poles for measuring floodwaters. It is fully fenced and has running water to fill dog bowls or clean up your pup after a romp in the mud. Bring your own doggie bags, though.
Doctor Jose Rizal Dog Park
Located in downtown Seattle at the Interstate 5 and Interstate 90 interchange, Dr. Jose Rizal Dog Park is just off the bridge that is also named after the Filipino patriot. You can find this four-acre pup play space in the northern section of Dr. Jose Rizal Community Park. Besides having lots of room to run around and play, the park also has some stunning views of the Puget Sound and the skyline. It also has water for the pups to drink and benches for pup parents.
With so much open space, you should bring a ball to play fetch or a doggie disc for a game of frisbee with your best buddy. The fully fenced area can be reached by going down the steps at the north end of the park or using the bicycle trail for ADA access. In fact, the compacted gravel trail runs right through the dog park area, so you and Fido can take a hike.
Dog Yard Bar
Is it a dog park or a bar? Well, why can’t it be both? Dog Yard Bar is one of the most pup popular dog park bars in Seattle. It has both an indoor and outdoor play area, so you and your fur baby can enjoy some fun even if the weather is not cooperating. Whether you choose to play inside or out, the staff offers Bark Rangers, who keep the peace while you relax and enjoy a cold adult beverage.
You will have to make a pooch profile and supply vaccination records before you can bring your canine compadre for a visit, though. The fees are minimal and well worth it when you see the place! They have heated floors and a fireplace inside for when it is cold and a spray pad and pools shaped like bones for the summer. They serve beer, hard liquor, wine, and on Sundays they have bottomless mimosas as well as snacks for the pups.
Dogwood Play Park
Dogwood Play Park is another dog park bar in Seattle just nine miles north of downtown. For this pup playground, you do not have to have a membership, but you will save money if you do. There is a fee for drop-ins, but your pooch will still have to have rabies and vaccine records, and all dogs over a year old must be spayed or neutered. The fee is definitely worth it to know that your fur puppy is playing with healthy dogs.
There are 8,000 square feet outside and another 8,000 square feet inside for pooches to play, with a special area for timid and small dogs to play. You can have a cold beer or another beverage with other pet parents while your cuddle buddy hangs out with his furry pals. The bar does have snacks as well as non-alcoholic beverages including items just for dogs. Crew members are also on staff to help watch what goes on.
Edmonds Marina Beach Dog Park
Less than 20 minutes north of downtown Seattle, Edmonds Marina Beach Dog Park is in the southern half of the Edmonds Marina Beach Park right on the Puget Sound. You and your fur pup can play in the surf, dig in the sand, or play frisbee on the beach all day long here off the leash! But be sure to bring your own water and doggie bags to pick up after your dog. Nobody wants to step in that!
Since it is on the water, the fence does not completely surround the dog area, so if your canine companion does not have excellent recall, I would keep him on a leash anyway. Also, there are no separations between large and small pups, so they all play together here. But you get some sensational views of the Kitsap Peninsula and the Olympic Mountains, and the sunset is amazing. Also, there is a hose so you can clean the salt water and sand off your pooch before leaving.
Genesee Dog Park
In southeast Seattle, about five miles from downtown, the Genesee Dog Park boasts almost three acres of fenced play space for your pooch to enjoy without his leash. There are two double-gated entrances for safety, and you can watch your pooch everywhere he goes in the flat space. In the middle of the park, it is gravel for a mud-free play area, and there is a grassy perimeter for your pup to roll around in.
The wide-open space is perfect for playing a game of fetch or frisbee or just watching your fur buddy run around with the other pooches. But that is not all! There are some agility stations too for those energetic dogs that want to get some exercise. They can run through the tunnel, jump over the pole jumps, swerve through the weave poles, and take a walk on the dog walk. The park has doggie bags and water, but it is a good idea to bring your own anyway.
Golden Gardens Dog Park
On Shilshole Bay between Discovery Park and Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens has a one-acre off-leash playspace for pups in the northern section of the park. Less than 10 miles north of Seattle proper, this great city park is right on the water and provides easy access to the water as long as you do not take him on the designated swimming beach. That is a no-dog zone. And to go to the water, you have to put his leash back on.
But the pooch park is deep in the woods, giving it plenty of shade and a nice rugged atmosphere with all sorts of agility equipment. There are several jump-overs, an A-frame, pedestal steps, weave poles, a hoop to jump through, and a tunnel to zip through. There are also some natural agility items like large logs and rocks to climb on. Pup parents have plenty of seating, water fountains, and poop bag dispensers to make cleanup easier.
Growlerz Seattle
Another place where you and your cuddly canine companion can hang out while you enjoy a beer, Growlers Seattle is only six miles southeast of downtown Seattle. This pup popular place gives you the peace of mind you can only get knowing that all dogs have to be vaccinated and have a temperament test before being allowed to play with the others. You and your pooch can play in the 7,000-square-foot beer garden with awesome turf or enjoy the covered play area when it rains.
For humans, Growlers lauds eight different kinds of craft beer on tap, as well as a cooler full of other drinks. During the summer, there are kiddie pools for the pups to cool off in, and when it gets chilly out, they fire up the fireplace and turn on the heat. The park provides tennis balls and doggie bags as well as water for your pup. There is a small fee per day, or you can get a membership. They even have doggie daycare!
Kinnear Park Dog Park
If you and your fur baby like to hike, you may want to check out Kinnear Park Dog Park. The fenced area is only about 5,400 square feet, but it is situated at the base of an awesome trail that will take you on a nice walk. The pooch play area is fully fenced with a double-gated entry and an emergency exit. The terrain is all wood chips and dirt, and it is filled with native trees and plants for a natural look and feel.
He can also climb on the logs and rocks in the corral for some exercise and agility training. Put your pupster’s leach back on, and you can take the trail to the upper area of Kinnear Park, where you can get some panoramic shots of Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. The rest of the 14 acres has picnic areas, playgrounds, and tennis courts. Be sure to pack extra poop bags and water.
Magnolia Manor Dog Park
Magnolia Manor Dog Park opened in 2012, about five miles northwest of Seattle. It is not the largest pooch playground in the city, but it has a half acre with plenty of room for a game of fetch. The park is maintained by neighborhood volunteers and pup parents, so it is almost always clean and stocked with doggie bags. Also, there is a separate space for small and shy pooches that do not feel comfortable around big dogs.
Half of the ground cover is bark mulch, and the other is gravel with a perimeter of grass around the outside so your cuddle buddy can enjoy a variety of surfaces. There are also several logs for the pooches to climb on and a tunnel made out of a fallen tree that is truly awesome. The park also has a doggie water fountain, as well so your pups can get a drink whenever they want.
Marrymoor Dog Park
Pack your dog’s leash, doggie bags, and some water, and jump in the car for a trip to Marrymoor Dog Park, which is approximately 16 miles east of downtown Seattle on Lake Sammamish. The locals call it Disneyland for Dogs, and it has about 40 acres of off-leash space for pups to play, run, roll around, dig, and do whatever dogs do! The lake is perfect for a game of water fetch if your pup can swim, and you even have access to the Sammamish River.
The park also offers six miles of trails over dirt paths, gravel walkways, pavement, and bridges. You will find five different beach areas for pooches to play in the water if it is warm enough. There is a fee of one dollar for parking, and you do have to keep your cuddly canine’s leash on until you get into the off-leash area. Also, bring water and extra poop bags in case they run out.
Voff Dog Park
Four miles northeast of Golden Gardens Park, Voff Dog Park is a dog park bar about eight miles north of Seattle. Created by beer-loving pooch parents, this place is the perfect spot to enjoy an evening with your buddies while your little buddy plays with his fur buddies. They offer more than 30 types of beer and cider, cocktails, and wine as well as non-alcoholic beverages like soft drinks, juices, coffee, and tea. You can either pay $12 for one visit or get a membership for just $65 per month.
All dogs must be at least four months old and have all their vaccinations, including rabies. Males must be neutered, and females cannot be in heat when they visit. You have to be 21 to enter, so do not bring the kids with you. The outdoor turf area is off-leash, but indoors and under the covered area, your pup needs to be on a leash.
Warren Magnuson Park Dog Park
Located on the shore of Lake Washington in northern Seattle, Warren G. Magnuson Park has a beach as well as a huge off-leash dog park with almost nine acres. There are four miles of hiking paths as well, taking you and your canine compadre through the woods, meadows, and along the banks of Lake Washington. It is a fun place to spend the day with your fur buddy, where he can run around off his leash.
If you have a small dog with big dog anxiety, this park is perfect for you. There is a special area for little and shy fur babies just south of the main entrance on 74th Street. The beach is a popular spot with many dog parents. When it is warm, your pup can swim and play in the water and when it is cold, he can sniff the water’s edge to find new scents. They have a lot of doggie bag dispensers, but you can bring your own anyway.
Westcrest Park Dog Park
Westcrest Park Dog Park can be found less than eight miles south of Seattle at Westcrest Park. The first thing you will notice about this 8.5-acre pup play area is the view. Being up on a hill, you will have some stunning views of the area, including Elliott Bay, Puget Sound, and Lake Washington. Then, you will see how much space there really is here for your pooch to play. It is a vast open area with level ground to see everything your pup does.
There is a small pup area where little and shy dogs can play without worry as well. In another section, there is an agility area with a wooden A-frame to run up, down, over, and under, a dog walk, and six tunnels for your dog to enjoy. There are several poop bag dispensers and water fountains, but bring your own because it is a big place and very popular.
The Final Woof
Once you have visited all the dog parks in Seattle, why not try something different with your cuddly canine companion? For example, you and your leashed pup can take an Ice Cream Cruise on Lake Union with Seattle Water Tours. The 45-minute cruise includes free ice cream and a commentary about the attractions along the way. If you want to see the city from a bird’s eye view, Kenmore Air allows well-behaved leashed dogs to join you on a fun sightseeing flight. And if you like scary ghost stories, take Fido on a haunted trip with Seattle Terrors. From the Suquamish Burial Grounds to the corpse elevator, you and your pup can learn some frightening history on this trip.
