San Francisco Recreation and Parks maintains 38 official Dog Play Areas (DPAs) in 34 parks, covering about 50 acres in total. They range from a hilltop of nearly 14 acres at Bernal Heights to fenced pocket parks the size of a living room. Outside a DPA, dogs in city parks must be leashed.
In this guide
The acreage in this guide comes straight from the city's own measurements of each Dog Play Area, so you can compare them before you drive across town. We also cover the federal lands along the coast — Fort Funston and Crissy Field — which follow different rules.
The biggest Dog Play Areas in San Francisco
Size varies enormously in San Francisco, so it's the first thing worth knowing. These are the largest DPAs by the city's own measurement:
| Park | DPA size | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|
| Bernal Heights Park | 13.97 acres | Bernal Heights |
| Alamo Square | 6.21 acres | Hayes Valley / Western Addition |
| Golden Gate Park (Section 5, two areas) | 4.88 + 1.22 acres | Golden Gate Park |
| Pine Lake Park | 3.52 acres | Sunset / Parkside |
| Jefferson Square | 2.38 acres | Western Addition |
| John McLaren Park | 2.05 acres | McLaren Park / Excelsior |
| Crocker Amazon Playground | 1.76 acres | Excelsior |
| McKinley Square | 1.75 acres | Potrero Hill |
| Douglass Playground | 1.61 acres | Noe Valley |
| Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove | 1.60 acres | Sunset / Parkside |
Bernal Heights: the one with the view
At almost 14 acres, the DPA at Bernal Heights Park is more than twice the size of any other in the city. It covers the open hilltop off Bernal Heights Boulevard, with some of the best panoramic views in San Francisco. Expect wind, steep paths and plenty of other dogs — this is the city's best-known off-leash spot. It's open ground rather than a fenced yard, so it suits dogs with reliable recall.
Alamo Square: off leash in front of the Painted Ladies
Alamo Square's 6.2-acre DPA makes it the second-largest in the city — and probably the only dog park in the world where the backdrop is a postcard. Tourists and dogs share the hill, so keep an eye on your dog around picnic blankets.
Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park has several DPAs across Sections 1, 5 and 7, the largest nearly 5 acres in Section 5. They're spread out in a very big park, so check the Rec and Park map for the exact boundaries before you let your dog loose — the rest of Golden Gate Park is leash-only.
Every official Dog Play Area, by neighborhood
From San Francisco Recreation and Parks' facility data. Sizes are the city's measurements, rounded to two decimal places.
Central neighborhoods (Haight, Castro, Hayes Valley, Western Addition, Noe Valley)
| Park | Address | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Alamo Square | 1081 Fulton St | 6.21 acres |
| Jefferson Square | Western Addition | 2.38 acres |
| Douglass Playground | 1098 Douglass St | 1.61 acres |
| Duboce Park | 50 Scott St | 1.12 acres |
| Corona Heights Park | 199 Museum Way | 0.44 acres |
| Upper Noe Rec Center | 295 Day St | 0.24 acres |
| Buena Vista Park | 1293 Haight St | 0.23 acres |
| Eureka Valley Rec Center | 100 Collingwood St | 0.22 acres |
| Mission Dolores Park | 646 Dolores St | small area |
Bernal, Glen Park, Excelsior and the southeast
| Park | Address | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Bernal Heights Park | Bernal Heights Blvd | 13.97 acres |
| John McLaren Park | McLaren Park | 2.05 acres (plus a small second area) |
| Crocker Amazon Playground | 799 Moscow St | 1.76 acres |
| St. Mary's Rec Center | 95 Justin Dr | 0.77 acres |
| Balboa Park | 51 Havelock St | 0.57 acres |
| Head & Brotherhood Mini Park | 300 Head St | 0.52 acres |
| Walter Haas Playground | 300 Addison St | 0.24 acres |
| Merced Heights Playground | 801 Shields St | 0.09 acres |
Potrero Hill, Mission Bay and SoMa
| Park | Address | Size |
|---|---|---|
| McKinley Square | 2311 20th St | 1.75 acres |
| Potrero Hill Rec Center | 801 Arkansas St | 0.36 acres |
| Mission Creek Park | 290 Channel St | 0.33 acres |
| Esprit Park | 700 Minnesota St | 0.23 acres |
| Mission Bay Park | Mission Bay | 0.12 acres |
| SOMA West Dog Park | SoMa | 0.11 acres |
| UN Plaza (Civic Center) | Civic Center / Tenderloin | 0.09 acres |
North side: Pacific Heights, Marina, Russian Hill, Richmond
| Park | Address | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Alta Plaza Park | 2501 Jackson St | 0.59 acres |
| Mountain Lake Park | 1 11th Ave | 0.34 acres |
| Lafayette Park | 2101 Washington St | 0.32 acres |
| Moscone Rec Center | 1800 Chestnut St | 0.22 acres |
| Francisco Park | 2745 Larkin St | 0.22 acres |
Sunset, Parkside and Golden Gate Park
| Park | Address | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Gate Park, Section 5 | 501 Stanyan St | 4.88 + 1.22 acres |
| Pine Lake Park | 2899 19th Ave | 3.52 acres |
| Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove | 2899 19th Ave | 1.60 acres |
| Golden Gate Park, Section 7 | Golden Gate Park | 1.41 + 0.26 acres |
| Golden Gate Park, Section 1 | Golden Gate Park | small area |
Treasure Island also has The Rocks Dog Park, a hardscape dog area listed in the city's data.
How to read the sizes
A quarter acre — the size of many neighborhood DPAs here — is roughly the footprint of a tennis court and a half. That's enough for fetch and a social visit, but not for a dog that needs to really run. For running room, the realistic choices are Bernal Heights, Alamo Square, Golden Gate Park, Pine Lake and Stern Grove, plus the federal coastal lands below.
Stern Grove and Pine Lake are listed at the same address (2899 19th Ave) because they sit side by side in the same green corridor in the Sunset — which makes the pair one of the largest combined off-leash options on the west side.
Fort Funston, Crissy Field and the coast
Some of the most famous places to walk a dog in San Francisco aren't city parks at all. Fort Funston, Crissy Field and parts of Ocean Beach are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, run by the National Park Service.
- Different rules apply. Federal pet rules for these areas specify where dogs may be off leash under voice control, where they must be leashed, and where they aren't allowed at all — and the zones differ from beach to beach.
- Wildlife closures happen. Parts of Ocean Beach and Crissy Field protect the western snowy plover, a threatened shorebird, and seasonal restrictions can apply.
- Check the NPS page for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's pet rules before you go. The sign at each trailhead is the final word.
San Francisco weather and your dog
- Wind and fog: hilltop DPAs like Bernal Heights and Corona Heights are exposed. Short-coated and small dogs can get cold fast, even in summer, when fog rolls in.
- Microclimates: the Mission and Potrero Hill are often sunny while the Sunset and Richmond are fogged in. If one neighborhood is gray, a DPA across town may be warm.
- Hills: many of the best DPAs are on slopes. Older dogs may do better at flatter sites like Duboce Park or Douglass Playground.
Frequently asked questions
How many dog parks are there in San Francisco?
San Francisco Recreation and Parks maintains 38 Dog Play Areas in 34 parks, about 50 acres in total.
What is the largest dog park in San Francisco?
Bernal Heights Park, whose Dog Play Area covers about 14 acres. Alamo Square is second, at about 6.2 acres.
Are San Francisco Dog Play Areas fenced?
Some are and some aren't. Large hillside areas like Bernal Heights are open ground, while many small neighborhood DPAs are enclosed. Check the specific site before visiting with a dog that doesn't have solid recall.
Can my dog be off leash at Fort Funston?
Fort Funston is federal land in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with its own pet rules and zones. Check the National Park Service's current rules for the area before you go.
Can dogs be off leash anywhere in San Francisco parks?
No. In city parks, dogs may be off leash only inside designated Dog Play Areas.
Sources: San Francisco Recreation and Parks facility data (Dog Play Areas, via DataSF); National Park Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Boundaries and rules change — check the sign at the park.
