Meet Maggie.
The happiest dog in the world.
She is a trusted part of the Rain or Shine team and gives a valuable perspective to our research. Questions like, "How do the trees smell?" and "How roll-able is this patch of dirt?" can be answered with certainty. When it comes to dog parks she is our expert so we defer to her to a recent question: "What are the best dog parks in the city?"
Northacres Off Leash Dog Park
Northacres is just shy of one acre and has lots of trails to explore. More importantly, there are ample tree trunks to sniff and lots of dirt to roll around in. The park is always well-kept and can get busy on nice days. Feel free to bring the kiddos on a warm day to enjoy the spray park (Adults: no official age limit at spray park, so if you don't mind getting some sideways looks feel free to run through the fountains as well, it is oddly liberating).
North Acres dog park is full of trees and trails.
Magnuson Park Off Leash Dog Park
Magnuson is huge for an in-city dog park, sitting pretty at around nine acres. Best part? Water feature! Magnuson butts up against Lake Washington so dogs get to cool off after romping around the property (and sometimes rolling in questionable piles in the woods -- Maggie we're looking at you). Magnuson also has a shy dog area for our furry friends who aren't feeling as outgoing.
Magnuson Dog Park ends at Lake Washington giving all pups a chance to swim and cool off.
Dogwood Play Park
When we first visited Dogwood we both looked at each other thinking, "Wow, why didn't we think of this?" It is an indoor/outdoor dog park with a bar, light snacks, and a few TVs. When it's rainy and you just can't stand the thought of being outside you can now bring the pooch to Dogwood, watch the football game, and have a beer while throwing a ball around the large indoor space. Short of tennis balls? No worries, they have them for sale in a vending machine!
You do need to bring your vaccination records the first time and entry is $10 (you can also do a monthly fee, which can be worth it in the winter).
Dogwood is an indoor dog park making it perfect for those rainy and cold days.
Honorable Mention: Shoreline Community College
This one isn't technically in Seattle, but we thought it deserved a mention. If you go out the back of the property you can find a bunch of trails that are pretty hidden and secluded. It can be a lot of fun to explore them with your four-legged friend.
In addition to seeking out the best dog parks in the city, we also rely on some trusted sites for top pet information. Check out Animal Authority, which provides helpful articles on how to take care of your dog (and cat!). We also use My Pet Needs That for reviews on gear and helpful tips! Check them out!
