There are numerous dog parks in Washington state but when was the last time you wanted to find reviews and learn ahead of time about a dog park and couldn’t find any first-hand reviews online? Allow me to share my experiences about the dog parks I have been to in the Seattle area.
Let’s start with Issaquah Highlands. I love this park because I live nearby, the park is securely gated, and there is a small dog park and a big dog park. There is a breed ban in Issaquah Highlands, so pit bulls, some other similar breeds and their look-alikes are banned, unless they have been grandfathered in. All the other dog parks I have seen in Seattle and around allow pit bulls. The big dog park here is moderately spacious, and if you would like your dog to go up and down hilly terrain, this is it. The park is understandably unpopular with pit bull lovers.
The Beaver Lake dog park in Sammamish also has a small dog section, and the big dog section has natural vegetation, which I like. There are trees and a trail and bushes, and dogs just love it there.
If you are looking for a park with some sand and a beach and water access, the Mercer Island park is a great one to go to. Do know that the lake isn’t exactly shallow, so keep an eye on your pooch! You’d want to take a towel with you – who wants water and sand in their car!
Perhaps one of the best known parks in the area is the Marymoor park in Bellevue. It’s huge, with trails, creeks, tall and short grass, many different sections, and a doggy wash area. The only issue with this park is that the creek water is bad, and I have heard numerous reports of dogs falling sick from drinking water from the creek. This park gets real busy on weekends.
Last but not the least, I have also been many times to the Warren Magnuson park in Seattle. They have a small dog park, a medium one and big dog park. All breeds are welcome, the parks are big enough that your dog has enough space to chase the ball and it’s close to the city. The dog parks are not right by the water but the lake is right there by rest of the park!