Very clean. Clean water. Poop bags. Benches. Shaded areas. The only problem is the little dog park smells like urine. However, the big dog park smells fine. The big dog park was empty so a few of us with "little" went in. It is also clean, with some shaded areas, and poop bags. NO SMELLS!! read more

I have never feared for my dogs life before today. I've brought my pup here many times and only today did I see the lady that is ruining everyone's experience here. There were 5 large dogs in the small dog side and when I asked why it was because "they grew up playing together " but every little dog was getting tormented by her big dogs. Mind you the big dog section was completely empty. This lady in the blue shirt and brown boots had an aggressive big dog (bent down and hiding behind the bench on the left) that tried attacking my 10lb Maltipoo today. I picked her up in time, but if nothing is done about this behavior they will hurt someone, which is going to be completely her fault. There are private parks for more aggressive dogs, so I don't understand why taking over a public small dog park is the choice for this group. They laughed after the interaction as if this was fun to watch and as if this happens a lot. If this dog is actively aggressive with every dog, you clearly don't care about anyone's safety or about the consequences that would happen to your dog. I pity the large dog for having a negligent owner, and for having to deal with the consequences later on, but this has completely ruined the barker dog park for me. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - 5 big dogs in the small dog area. - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Small dog and big dog sides but seems like a lot of people take their big dogs to the small side. What's up with that? "You're killing me Bigs" All artificial turf, hosed down regularly so it's not stinky. Nice shade canopies. Easy to keep your eye on the dogs because it's basically a big square shape. read more

Very clean and my dog loved it! He got to have his own area since he's a small dog and wasn't intimidated.

I really like this park. There's a big and small dog side. The park has fake grass which is nice because my dog has allergies. They clean it everyday and I've been kicked out for cleaning a few times. I've never had any issues with it not being clean though! Sometimes the water fountains gets clogged. They have poop bags to use if needed. There is ample seating and shade. Very good park in my opinion. read more

I love this dog park, but they desperately need better lighting for night time. They're open til 8, but everyone leaves around 5 pm because it gets so dark. read more

While it's not the best dog park or the most exciting dog park or the biggest dog park... wait, I swear I was going somewhere with this! Haha it may not be a lot of things but I've always seen a clean turf, no stray poop laying around, plenty of dogs playing and having fun, and people socializing with each other. This park is sort of a hidden gem. The best part is probably that it's small enough that you can easily socialize with other people in the park and everyone seems quite friendly and easygoing! The dogs also seem to have a great time although they can easily gang up and bully the most submissive dog, so you need to watch them like a hawk (unlike other dog parks where you might just let your dog roam freely without having to worry so much about him or her getting picked on). Since it's a small park, it's also hard for one dog to get away from another that might be chasing him. There are two benches to hide behind and people but aside from that, they are pretty much out in the open which could make some dogs scared and uncomfortable. I would not recommend this dog park (large dog side) to people who don't have much experience going to dog parks or to people with timid and shy dogs or puppies (who haven't spent much time at dog parks). Puppies might be better off on the small dog side. This park is definitely for dogs who are more social & can stand their ground, at least from my experience in the large dog area. It can be fun when you're prepared and okay with what you're walking into. Think black diamond level. read more

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This park is nice. It's turf field with water fountain, shade, and benches. There is an area for small and large dogs. For the most part it's clean and they provide trash can and doggy bags. The lower review is more due to aggressive and irresponsible dog owners who frequent here. You have to watch your dog closely when coming here. Today was the final straw for me and my dog coming here. I have been coming here since my dog was a puppy (she is now 4) and have witnessed multiple fights between dog owners. One time the police had to get involved because a man on the big dog side was screaming at other dogs and hitting/shoving other people's dogs. 2 weeks ago there was a screaming match on the small dog side because a older woman brought her small dog and was upset that other dogs were approaching her dog(it's a dog park! That's what they do). This lady was seen chasing other people's dogs while her dog was snarling and attempting to bite other dogs. Multiple times I have come to the big dog side where small dog owners bring their small dog in and get upset when their dog is getting "trampled" during peak time with 20 large dogs running around and having a good time. Today I brought my dog in. And a couple brought their large labordoodle puppies in. Their puppies were larger side and were barking all the way from parking lot and at the gate entering. My dog was chewing on her own ball and one of them sprinted from behind my dog and attempted to take ball out of my dog's mouth. My dog barked once (non-aggressively, no snarling, growling, etc). I immediately took the ball away because I didn't want her getting territorial and barking at the puppies (if you are an experienced dog owner, you know sometimes the older dogs just like show the pups "who's boss" or tease them).But the woman immediately started screaming hysterically ( I don't understand why). Then the husband approached my dog aggressively screaming and marched at her while yelling at her with his hands balled up. He stood over my dog following her aggressively. I left immediately after this. And I won't be coming back. Looking at the other reviews, it seems like I'm not the only one who has had to deal with or witness altercations with other dog owners. read more

I love this dog park. It's a lot smaller but it does the job. It's easier to keep an eye on your pup and so much cleaner. I know some people might be put off by having astroturf in a dog park but the maintenance here is pretty on point. There IS sometimes a stench in the air but it doesn't bother me. I enjoy coming on weekday mornings as it is a totally different vibe on a weekend day. Could've been a one off thing but a dog fight almost broke out and I hurried to get my puppy outta there. No such thing as bad dogs, only bad owners... but so far, this has been one of the better dog parks we've been to. Parking has never been an issue and there are waste bags available if you forget yours. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Astroturf! - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Well maintained and has artificial turf. Decent parking. Lots on dogs on Sunday afternoons. Lots

It's a private location well maintained. Small dog park is small. Large dog park seems small as well. Perfect for a puppy. Grass fake. Water fountain is amazing. It was empty when we went. View outside is very nice. My only issue is the health factor of plastic grass for dogs. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

If you love your dog, and your dog is not an aggressive maniac, don't bring them here The dogs are aggressive and for the most part seem to be dogs that are locked up all day. Most of the owners have little or no control over their dogs and when their little darlings come over and bark constantly in your dog's face they have no concept of controlling it. Obviously, they don't know squat about dogs; their own or others. We go to other dog barks but few are open on Wednesdays. Thats the only reason we tried this one. Never, ever again. read more

Have visited this park a few times. Always busy. The lady referenced in other reviews is still present with an ill-socialized Boston terrier who humps all dogs. Your dog barks at this dog? "Why is your dog so mean?" Comment on the dogs behavior? "It's just dogs being dogs". Nope, its your dog obsessively humping any dog it can with no intervention from you to correct behavior since youre talking on speakerphone. His behavior has forced us to leave early a number of times. Small, so can't really do much unless youre good with the chances of your dog getting hurt playing with other regular attendees who are too busy in their folding chairs to watch their dogs harassing other dogs. Have seen a few fights break out in big dog park from aggressive breeds attacking people walking in. Those owners did not leave after that. Only time I've ever WANTED a 2nd round with covid - then I wouldn't have to smell that dog piss smell... ugh. You can smell it from the street. read more

Barker Ranch is Probably my favorite dog park in the area. My dog loves to play here. Extremely cleaned and well-maintained. Great people and great environment. Small park but it's perfect to keep track of your dog (with a bigger park it's hard). This is a fake grass dog park- - this actually makes it feel cleaner than the dirt or grass parks. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

*Update again: Balding middle eastern man with dog named Daisy yelling at his do the whole time and spraying her with water from his spray bottle. Insane! *Update: Middle aged, middle eastern man with a poodle named Daisy pushed me! His dog was the only one at the park on day and it attacked my dog upon entering the park. His dog scratched my arm so bad the fire dept had to come to clean up the blood. He pushed me as well after getting his dog away from us. He kept yelling "stupid lady" and "stupid woman". It was sexist and disgusting. I asked the police to arrest him and file a restraining order but they said they can't do anything without video or witness. Unbelievable! Police said they get called to that park all the time and there is nothing they can do unless a dog bites a human. This park is no longer safe as we were told by others of other aggressive men pushing women around there. Older pos I finally saw the awful lady everyone is talking about on reviews!!! She is a middle/older lady with half gray medium length hair who sits at the furtherest bench in the back right. She is rude to dog owners who bring puppies that are about 7 months! Her dog sits on the bench with her and doesn't play with other dogs and gets mad when other dogs want to play! WHY ARE YOU EVEN AT THE PARK LADY?!!! Such bad vibes and was rudely talking about my dog when I was standing close by! Who does that?! I'm def gonna let her have it if she is rude next time!!! Other than that everyone is nice and it mostly clean but small. I am just happy there is a park near my home. read more

Clean, accessible, and a good size park for smaller pups. There is a big dog area as well that looked a bit tight for more than 3 larger dogs. The park is right next to a Public Storage with curbside parking, probably enough for 15 or so cars so come early or on a weekday if you can. Plenty of seating and shade plus a water fountain right in the middle. Surprisingly for an all-turf park it isn't too smelly. There were a lot of bugs though, which I blame more on the recent warm weather than anything else. Spacious enough to allow for social distancing - at the moment masks are still required for entry as indicated by signage at the park entrance, but based on my visit that guidance is followed very loosely (as in, probably no one else will be wearing a mask even if they have a cough lol...ugh). read more

Love this dog park. There are two sections - one for small dogs, the other for large dogs. Owners are very respectful of each other's fur babies. The areas are kept clean and there's sufficient amount of space for the e pups. Only reason why I'm giving this place a 4 star instead of 5 stars is because it does have a very slight scent of urine from the turf grass... however, it is expected since this is indeed... a dog park, not a human park. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We don't normally come all the way over here but our local park was closed for the day. This was the perfect substitute! Hope to come again. read more

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A nice new dog park situated oddly by a storage facility. Nevertheless, the dog park is pretty new. Parking is a bit weird (probably because of the storage facility), but it's a nice small dog park. With two different sizes for different size dogs (big, small), it's a nice little area for dogs to play with each other. There's also doggie poop bags and a water fountain for the dogs in the park. The grass is fake, but it's not really a big deal. Everyone around seems very friendly and they were very good about dealing with their dogs. Some of the dogs would bark at each other but most of the time it seemed like they were all just too busy sniffing butts or catching balls. Not a bad place at all and if you live nearby, it's much closer than driving to Mission Viejo or Irvine. read more

I really enjoy bringing my dog to Barker Ranch. It's a smaller sized park, but my pup is super small and doesn't mind at all (though I could see it being tight on a busy day on the large dog size). For me personally, the size makes it overall easier to keep an eye on him while I'm there. Generally, it's pretty clean here but there are certain days where it does smell quite a bit like pee (I believe their sign says they clean every afternoon, so not sure why the variation). I've never had trouble with parking and I enjoy getting to know all the regulars there. In my experience, the owners seem to keep a pretty good eye on their dogs and generally are pretty respectful. read more

Situated within Lake Forest's Baker Ranch housing community, Barker Ranch is a brand spanking new dog park. Officially open only a few days ago. On the small side compared to other dog parks in Orange County. But they do have 2 separate areas, one for big dogs and one for small dogs, therefore feel to bring any of your furry canine family members. The bars on the gates however need to be a little more narrow. 2 of my 3 skinny mini chihuahuas (all under 4 pounds) kept sneaking out or over to the big dog side. Set up is simple and clean. There are several cement benches on each side with only partial shade coverage unfortunately. I imagine it could be pretty hot during the summer. There are fountains on the ground for the dogs although they didn't seem to be working when we went. In an effort to be green, the ground is covered with artificial turf instead of grass. There's street parking off Monarch or you can park within the cul-de-sac off Baffin Bay next to Extra Storage Space. Fun fact: Barker Ranch is also the name of the infamous final hiding place of Charles Manson and his "family". read more

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It's a very nice place where my puppy loved it a lot. People there are extremely nice, I probably enjoy visiting this park more than my dog I definitely recommend it. read more

Nice dog park close to home in Lake Forest. 2 separate areas w/ fake grass - 1 for large dogs and 1 for small dogs. The people and dogs I have encountered here have been friendly. I actually like the fake grass. Barker Ranch also has poop bags and a water fountain, benches and trash cans. Overall enjoyable place to take my 2 labs to socialize and get some exercise! read more

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A small, fake grass poop carpet does not a dog park make. My 6 month old chocolate lab puppy was actually bored after 5 minutes and just sat down. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Bored puppy. - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

It's amazing. Clean place, plenty of bags and great smell. The dog I brought met some friends and was extremely happy. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

nice option to have to let your pup go off leash. Park is on the smaller side. Artificial turf has strong urine smell that takes away from your experience. I would have expected more being connected to baker ranch. read more

Love this dog park! Bentley has allergies to real grass,so he tends to run around as if he's in a dog race. He enjoys his friends each and every time he goes. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Me. Bentley - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Super clean. During the week very empty, which for my 3lb puppy it's super nice. It's overall a great park. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place is nice. It does smell a little at the end of the night because it is synthetic grass. We come here so often and the dogs there are soo friendly. However there has been some instances where owners with small dogs go to the large dog park because " its too full" I had to leave because my dog wanted to say hello and the owner said "he's too big and scares him" ( my dog is very friendly btw) read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Atticus and his friend Dakota - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Nestled behind a storage facility in a nondescript cul-de-sac, it's a nice place to take your beloved dog for some safe exercise. Parking is free and located along the street, and there's also several marked stalls by the storage facility. The dog park itself is fairly small, but there's enough room for even the largest dogs to burn off all their energy. The park is divided into 2 areas, one for smaller dogs and one for larger breeds. Each area is secured by a double gate to minimize the chances of an excited unleashed dog running away. The smaller size of the park makes it easier to keep an eye out on your dog. The surface is synthetic turf instead of natural grass, dirt or wood chips. This has both its advantages and disadvantages. It'll keep your dog from getting overly dirty, but they won't be able to fully enjoy rolling around on it. With artificial turf, cleaning the surface after the dogs relieve themselves is important, so I hope the city is keeping up with that. There's a foot activated water dispensing bowl to keep your canine friend well hydrated. Bags for picking up after your dog is also provided. Seating and shade is limited and can be hard to come by on hot and crowded days. Overall, it's a nice addition to the community and a good place to take your dog to run around, chase some balls and meet some new friends. read more

TLDR: I go here in the crowded evenings because the regulars are responsible and friendly (big dog side at least). Not a good dog park if you want somewhere for your dog to explore. I bring my pup for socialization and this is the place to do it. We can explore elsewhere when we go on our walks. Full review: I've been here a few times and when I went during the busy time (after 6pm) the owners on the big dog side have all been friendly and attentive to what their dogs are doing. I have a puppy so I watch for what the dogs and owners are doing and I feel comfortable that the owners correct their dogs if they're making mine feel uncomfortable. Mine doesn't like playing with dogs that are much bigger because he's not used to them yet. Sometimes he gets followed but the owners will redirect their dogs. There was one aggressive German Shepherd that we met. It attacked my puppy for no obvious reason (mine is timid and tries not to get in the way of other dogs). It tackled mine to the floor and my pup screamed loudly, luckily he didn't appear hurt. The owner said that his dog probably thought my pup had his dog's ball but mine didn't have it and that's not an appropriate reaction for a dog at all to attack another one for any reason. This was after 7:30 and after all the responsible owners had left. I knew something was off right away when my pup ran up to greet the owner and the owner ignored him completely. I don't get a good feeling from someone who doesn't even smile in passing to a puppy. The owner was also not friendly when I tried to be friendly ask him about his dog. I will only go during the busy evening when there are a good number of dog owners there because I now recognize them and their dogs. They're pretty familiar with each other too and will let another owner know if their dog pooped somewhere. The park does have a slight smell because of the urine soaked fake turf but it's not super noticeable. At least when a dog poops on fake turf it's more obvious rather than the poop being hidden in real grass. Also I don't mind that the park is smaller because it's easier for me to monitor and reach my pup if I need to. I think the small size actually deters owners with aggressive dogs. read more

Good park, BUT do have some irresponsible owners and dogs. We brought our 5 month Old English sheep puppy to the park and he got bitten right on his eye, we took him to the vet immediately, the bit was a 1-inch long open deep wound! But luckily didn't get into his eyeball. Now we are taking him over to the overnight hospital to have the doctor perform the procedure to close the wound. I'm just heart broken... I get it, he's a puppy, still running and learning how to play with big dogs, but if your dog is aggressive enough to seriously bite other dogs, take him away! Be more responsible for other dogs in the park! After the incident I went to the owner and asked if any incidents like that happened before, she denied, Wasn't gonna bargain for money, we have our puppy insured at the first place, just want to make sure ppl are aware it's a public space, you gotta be more considerate to other people and dogs too! She has the electric collar on her bulldog as well! She said she clicked it when she realized the situation, wtf!? What's the fcking point of having an aggressive dog that bites other dogs in the park and punish him/her after he/she bites?! For your reference, it was a older lady possibly brown/dark brown hair with a brown'ish bull dog. I don't know whether it was the same lady that other ppl were discussing in the reviews, just, be careful. And avoid bring your puppies here... or at least avoid when you spot dogs that don't play well with other dogs. You never know when these irresponsible ppl are around. read more

Take my dog here every chance I get! I live in Tustin and the 20 minutes are worth my pup having a great time. It's pretty small but the people and dogs are super nice! Only downside is that there's not enough shade when it's super hot and not enough seats but it's perfect other than that! read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I wish my dog liked this park more than he does. I'm not sure if it's the artificial turf, or the small size that doesn't give him room to be a wallflower. We will continue to go and hope whatever it is fades away, as the people and dogs are friendly, and the park itself is clean. read more

This is a fabulous dog park! Everyone is really nice and all of the dogs get along so well! The park is clean and well maintained. I also love that they provide poopy bags for you (sometimes I forget). Parking is a little awkward, but there is plenty of it! Also, having too separate pins, for the large and smaller dogs, settles my fears a little of my baby being bullied! I highly recommend this for dog lovers and I will continue to use this park! read more

Open from dusk until dawn....what's the point? I won't be able to take my dog during the week as it closes around 5 everyday. This park purposely has no evening lights for that same reason. Only walk way lights are on. The Irvine dog park has more consistent hours (6 am to 10pm) that work for people that actually have day jobs. read more

Nice small dog park that has the fake grass and water fountain. Bring a bowl though since fountain drains right away if your dog drinks slow. I'm unfortunately unable to use it because my 10 lb dog can fit through the doors and ran out to the street :( hopefully they'll add mesh to it since the location is very convenient. read more

Very tiny dog park, probably the smallest in OC. Would have been 1 star but I liked the fake grass look. Went on a Tuesday morning, there were some small dogs but no large dogs, besides the time probably also due to the fact that large dogs don't have much space to run around here. read more

Barker Ranch Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Lake Forest, California

When this place opened up, I was so glad to learn that there was a new dog park so close to my place. I finally made it over here during the weekend, and I came back home with a tired but happy pup. I guess I was expecting a bigger dog park when I heard of Barker Ranch Dog Park, but it was smaller than expected. It's located next to a storage place, and at the end of the cul-de-sac. Bigger dogs (above 25 lbs) and smaller dogs (below 25 lbs) are separated between two caged park areas. I was thankful for this because I noticed bigger dogs tend to team up and bully my 15 lb dog. However, on the day I was there, there were no other small dogs so my pup had to run around the small dog area by himself and occasionally stare through the fence at the large dogs having fun on the other side. Don't feel sad for him - he still had so much fun. There are bags provided for you and there's a neat little dog drinking fountain right at the center of the park. They even leave in a couple of tennis balls to play fetch with. The only bummer about this park is that the grass is fake. Womp womp. It just doesn't feel right to let your dog roam around a small caged area that is made with fake grass. Overall, a nice little area to take your furry little pet to. read more

I like this park it's not super big but it's always clean for the most park. It has fake grass that they water and a doggy water fountain. It's the dog owners that ruin the experience. Unfortunately a lot of the owners who go in the big dog section don't monitor their dogs. I have a puppy who is 7 months who is still learning how to play with the big dogs and on two separate occasions I have had to pull another dog off of my dog because their owners weren't present. I was almost bit one of the times. I typically go to the OC Bark Park and I never ever have issues! I don't know why it's always like this, maybe it's the area? Make sure you monitor your dog when you go! read more