March 23, 2017

Vancouver is known for its beautiful scenery – its beaches, mountains and parks.  Whenever possible, Vancouverites love to explore the outdoors with their pets.

Sometimes it can be frustrating to find an off-leash park for your best friend to run free. In Vancouver there are 36 off-leash areas in the city, but that is only a small fraction of the total parks and it can be difficult to find one that meets your criteria. To optimize your off-leash experience Vancouver Parks Boards has conveniently mapped out all the parks including off-leash areas here

Vancouver, despite the lack of dog parks, is a very dog friendly city. In fact, for every dog there are six Vancouverites.  

Here are some of Vancouver’s best off lease parks.   

Spanish Banks Dog Park – For epic views of downtown Vancouver and Howe Sound the Spanish Banks dog park is great place to visit for both your pet and owner. When the tide goes way out, the space to run and play nearly doubles the size of the off-leash area.

New Brighton Park – Located on the shores of Burrard Inlet, tucked in behind the Hastings Race Course is New Brighton Park. Like Fraser River and Spanish Banks, this park is large and allows for some great games of Frisbee. There’s a tiny, log dotted beach on the northern edge of the park that dogs love to clamber around on before they plunge into the cold Pacific.

Ambleside Beach – With 3.5 hectares of beach, grassy areas and trails, this dog-friendly park is a perfect weekend destination for North Shore and Vancouver dog owners alike. Ample space for swimming and exploring and playing with dogs of all sizes. Lovely views of the Lion’s Gate Bridge and Stanley Park.

Fraser River Dog Park – If you love the mighty Fraser River, boardwalks and tugboats this is the dog park for you. The off-leash area is large and allows for spacious canine interaction and a swim in the river.

Crab Park at Portside – Crab Park is one of the best kept park secrets in the Downtown Eastside. Located near the very northern tip of Main Street, Crab Park’s has two off-leash zones. There’s beach access at this park as well as ample benches and logs to sit on while

Mcdonald Beach – On the banks of the Fraser River, and just a skip away from YVR, lies the best place to take your pet in Richmond. The stretch of dog-friendly beach stretches for several kilometres and expands at low tide! There’s also a network of wooded trails to explore and a large field to play fetch.

Stanley Park Dog Park – Tucked behind the Stanley Park Tennis Club courts, this petite dog park is fenced in. A former tennis court converted into a gravelled, landscape area is perfect for letting your dog socialize and rip around with other hounds. It’s a pretty social little park with benches and a regular following of locals who congregate to chat while pooches play.

Let us know what you think of this list and if we’ve missed your favourite dog park off the list. Give us a call at 604-734-2500