We've been to dog beach many times. There's always some owner out there with a dog who is dangerous or that the owner cannot control. You usually can spot those people out and stay away from them, but yesterday was Sunday and it was busy and some guy with a huge pitbull that he could not control, allowed his dog to attack and go after our one year-old golden retriever. Cooper now has to have surgery on his ear tomorrow. BEWARE not everyone out there, along with their animal is safe. Go at your own risk. read more

Dog Beach Park - Sweet Cooper - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

Enough reviews to explain how to get there. Prepare for bugs on shore near mangos. My dog had a blast the two times we went and so did i. Beautiful shallow water for splashing and playing . Please bring doggie bag from home or get a bag(s) at dispenser BEFORE you come in. I did see several dog wastes not cleaned up. read more

Dog Beach Park - Dog beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

This dog beach is amazing. I only stayed an hour because I want to avoid my dog swallowing too much salt water. Parking is by the street and there are porter pottiea. Then you walk your way through the puddles and bushes to the beach. It's amazing however be careful, the connection to the further part has very strong current and it was hard to get back, it's not that safe. Besides that I will be back for sure because we had a blast!! read more

See all

A bit of a hike but nice location and the dogs loved it. The water was easily accessible and very clean. The dog people are friendly and accommodating. read more

Pretty sweet dog park. Lucky it's on the Gulf side because the water was super chill. Took our dogs on the Atlantic side and it wasn't as conducive for swimming. If you have a young pup new to water i would bring them here first to build skills and confidence. Pull over on the side of the road. Leash up and walk in. I think technically they are supposed to be on leash all the time but everyone was well behaved and getting along. Easy to walk into the water. Splash around and play fetch. I didn't see any poop bag stations so be sure to bring your own. Pick up any trash you see, even if it's not your own. This is a really nice spot to it would be a real shame to see it disappear. On our visit a family pulled up in a boat and began to BBQ. Well worth a visit even if you are without a dog. As you leave that have a rinse station for your sand and pup. "Don't forget your bring a towel!" read more

Dog Beach Park - Rules! - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

See all

We had a great time visiting with our dog this week while on the Gulf Coast. We checked out the site the day of our arrival to our hotel in Bonita Springs, and were glad to have done so, as we would have waaaay overpacked and lugged too, too much. The next morning, we brought the basics, and spent two hours - the earlier the better, too, before too many folks show up. We were in by 9am and out by 11am, just as more folks were showing up with umbrellas and chairs to enjoy the afternoon. With a few more visits, we would have done the same thing, but as newbies, we were just happy our visit ended on a positive note:-) The owners were all very friendly and very responsible for their animals. We have been to other dog parks in Broward with owners who were not as "committed" to supervising their dogs, which is when problems can start:-( The little doggie shower station was great, too. read more

See all

I'm noticing now that there seems to be two different Yelp pages for what could possibly be the same thing... the other one is called Bonita Springs Dog Beach with no address, so I'm writing the review on this one, which is the address that we went to. I wish I had done a little more research before going, so I'm going to include the Top 10 things I wish I had known prior to visiting: 1) Parking is free. There is no lot per se, but a gravel area outside the entrance where you just pull up and park with no demarcated lines. 2) We arrived around 10:30 am and I guess it must have been high tide. We did not expect having to wade through water to get to the sandy beach part. It was still that way when we left around noonish. I'm short, so there were times that the water was almost up to my waist, but I guess for normal size people it would be knee deep. 3) It is kind of a long walk from the entrance to the sandy beach part. Maybe also because when you're wading through water with a dog who has no idea what water is, or how to swim, the time multiplies. 4) The sandy beach part itself is really small. Some families had come and set up tents, umbrellas and brought coolers, etc. but we just had a blanket and a reasonable amount of personal space. But it was still a little tight/cramped. 5) No one wears masks. 6) This is really like a giant sandbar. You can kind of tell from the pictures that there is no view of the open ocean. This is really great for dogs because there are no waves whatsoever and you can walk out really far before it becomes too deep to stand. 7) It was very clean. From reading some of the other reviews I kind of expected to see floating turds or other garbage strewn about. I don't know if it's because fewer people are visiting now, therefore causing less debris, or I just happened to be here on a good day. But I was impressed by how serene it was. 8) There is a foot shower for humans and a hose for dogs, at the exit. This was very convenient! 9) No bathroom facilities. 10) No fresh water access once you're on the beach, so bring plenty of water for you and your pup to drink! This was probably not the ideal way to introduce my rescue dog to water, but we had a pretty good time once we got to the beach part and he was able to run and play with other dogs, beg all the humans for food and petting, and stick his nose into other people's coolers and bags! read more

so much fun! sunday funday here hits different. if I could spend every sunday here I would! everyone on the beach was so kind, and I've never seen so many happy pups having the time of their lives! such a sweet experience. read more

Dog Beach Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

Our Trip to Bonita Springs WOW! This is a great park to bring the dogs and let them interact with others; and, just have fun in the water. I only wish we could have had our Great Pyrenees/Golden Retriever Mix with us. We stopped by after seeing the park from our hotel water taxi; and, we were on our way to Ft Myers Beach. We stopped in just before sunset; and, most of the dogs were gone. The few people that were out seemed friendly enough, with a "hi" and we got to see their dogs splashing around. read more

See all

Just needs to be cleaned up a bit more and people need better control of their dogs. Some dogs are not trained well enough to be off leash.

Beautiful beach to let your dog run around and have some fun. Just make sure you prepare yourself to have a stress free time and enjoy as much as possible. 1-Check the tide, it has to be at its lowest (otherwise water level goes up to parking lot). 2-Prepare a cooler for you and your dog. 3-Bring a towel to dry your dog, and a bowl to give him water. 4-Bring toys that are water friendly. Valuable info: 1-Free parking 2-No restrooms or water fountain. 3-There is 1 shower in the entrance, by the parking lot, that you can clean up and wash your dog (use a water bowl to help rinse) 4-If you have a smaller dog, make sure to bring a long leash, you may not feel comfortable letting your dog run around larger dogs. read more

See all

Parking can be busy depending on the time of day you go but I have never had a problem finding a spot no matter what time of day I have gone during the weekend. The parking lot area is technically a leashed area for dogs (for obvious reasons given that the busy road is right there next to the parking area). There is a rinse off station in the parking lot for after enjoying the beach. Once you get into the park a little bit, you see a sign saying something to the effect of "you are now entering a leash free zone" and the pups are free to run around as they please (at the discretion of their family). Depending on the tide when you are walking to the beach area, you and your dogs may have to wade (or swim if you have shorter dogs) through the water. I would think this is an obvious thing but don't wear shoes you care about to this beach. I actually heard someone complaining that they had just ruined their $200 shoes at this beach and again, I think it's common sense to either go barefoot once you reach water or leave the good shoes in the car. Once you actually get to the beach part of the park, there is usually a decent amount of free space to set your stuff up. People are generally nice and most people have good control of their dogs. The few times I have seen dogs that were struggling with their behavior, their families removed them from the situation/beach in a timely fashion. Since this is basically a dog park without fences, dogs will use the bathroom wherever they want so I have noticed people tend to store their bags/belongings on tree limbs, I assume either to protect them from wandering hands or curious pups. There can be a lot of boats in the area, especially since there is a little beach kiddy corner to this beach that boats can beach on. Boats also anchor their boats close to the dog beach so that they can hop off and bring their dogs to shore. Overall, this is a great spot to spend time at the beach with your dogs and I plan on visiting as often as I can with my dog. read more

See all

The dogs love the beach but have shown signs of sickness a day after our visits, to include myself. This has happened on 3 out of 3 visits. Just found out that private testing shows levels of bacteria, however Lee County says it is "acceptable" levels. I would advise against taking my pets to ANY beaches in Lee County as no level of bacteria is acceptable due to the unknowns of a specific pets health. Drove an hour and half north. Venice Florida, Broward Bark Park is beautiful. Well maintained and levels are tested and made public to all visitors. read more

Dog Beach Park - Dogs walking to the dog beach. Quite a ways, and depending on the rides will determine if small dogs need to swim in or walk in. - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

This location is great for taking your pets out for a run and splash, but is a great local hot spot for Kayaking and fishing. It's located just south of Big Hickory Pass and there is enough parking on either side of the road. This spot is a wonderful place you can fish on the shoreline, bridge, boat or kayak. I've caught shark, snapper, sheepshead, catfish and giant Jack Crevalle's here. You can also find good size snook swimming around the mangroves and sea wall and there is Tarpon that passes through. Today was an eventful one as I started the morning off watching two manatees play around the sea wall. I caught tons of catfish and Jacks and landed a 15-20lb Crevalle that gave an amazing fight! I also caught a fishing pole on my fishing pole which was a first and saw FWC and Coast Guard patrolling the area. This place is perfect for fishing, kayaking and taking your pets out for a swim. People are friendly and the view is gorgeous! read more

See all

A bit rough to get to but the boy enjoyed the shallow warm water. Unfortunately, this looks to be an anchoring spot for people on boats who look to party and act stupid. And you have to watch out for the people who don't control their own dogs and are under the impression that every dog wants to "play" with other dogs. read more

Doggy heaven on a beach! Seriously! So upon going on a quick getaway with my hubby, we definitely had to bring our furry son. What a no brainer! Unfortunately we couldn't find many dog friendly beaches around until we stumbled upon this gem. Its a puppy paradise. I'm honestly not sure who was more excited my child or me but as soon as we came in here it was time to let loose. By let loose I don't mean your dog (don't let him loose even if he's good! Especially if it's a little one like ours). I did have one tiny almost heart attack with one of the Rottweilers here. It totally wasn't her fault but she definitely nibbled my dog's neck and by nibbled I mean there was a bite especially from a dog that size compared to my little chi. I tried not to panic she let go of him and everyone was fine. She must of just been having a territorial day or something or she probably doesn't like to date shorties. Either way, I don't blame her. She's a dog not a robot. You can control what you can but at times everything isn't controllable so don't be surprised if the pups get out of line sometimes. Bottom line, be prepared for surprises (hopefully no doggy doo doo's as you're supposed to pick up after yourself.) I truly had a great time at this beach, water was pretty clean and everything around it. It's nice to know you can go somewhere where your furry friends are welcome (and their owners too!). Pack a snack for you and your pack. Bring drinks too! They'll get thirsty running around and swimming. Cool spot, can't wait to be back! read more

See all

Beware of crazy lady with Great Dane!! Honestly, besides this encounter, the beach was fantastic! Admittedly, walk in was a bit mucky and gross but worth it. Every other dog and their dog owner was very well mannered and friendly! I have a Golden Retriever 6-month old baby boy. He's very shy as he hasn't been around other dogs and me and my Mom took him to the beach for the very first time. At first he absolutely loved it. However, this Great Dane harassed him, attacked him, chased HIM, and was BITING AT HIM. All the while he was crying, drowning in the water as he was trying to scramble away. Owner sat there and watched, never apologized or even ACKNOWLEDGED what happened. Extremely wrong. Also note that this Great Dane did the same to other dogs, and their owners were very disturbed. When we first walked in the Great Dane started harassing him and when our dog started crying and trying to hide between our legs, this lady had the audacity to say "just let them play". They're not playing, your dog is bullying ours. We left maybe 30 minutes after getting there. Very disappointing considering we've had two other dogs we've brought here before without issues. Hopefully this won't happen again. Beware though, this lady will watch her Great Dane bully and harass your dog without doing a thing to stop it. read more

Dog Beach Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

Private beach for dogs Shallow at low tide. Safe to let off leash because it's surrounded by trees I love that there's shade to sit I bring lunch, a chair and water to spend several hours My dogs love it read more

We almost lost our 9 month old Springer today. The current at the far end is very dangerous. There is a huge drop off and an incredible current. It was surrounded by razor sharp tree branches. Someone threw a Frisbee and he went after it. Please be very careful. read more

Our first time bringing our dog with us to Florida. We found this dog park and we appreciated the set up as the large and small dogs had their own area. read more

Great leash-off, low-wave dog beach. Bring water and dog bowl, which becomes communal. Bring beach chairs, umbrella, cooler, book and towels for a fun day. Shower for dogs and port-a-poddies at entrance. Free parking. Wear shoes that won't get sucked into mud: you will need to wade through mud and water to get to the beach. read more

See all

I've been here multiple times around 2012-2014 and my pup had a great time. Now, we went back in 2019 and it is disgusting. So many inconsiderate people. Not cleaning up, even if the dog goes in the SAND. Ridiculous. My pup got attacked multiple times and people just didn't even care to watch their dogs. Not returning. read more

Pretty cool place with lots of dogs everywhere off their leashes. If your dog doesn't get along with other dogs then don't go. Dogs will grab each others toys but it's all in fun. read more

Nothing short of spectacular, Dog Beach Park is an official Lee County off leash park with sun, sand and ocean. It seems dangerously close to the the main road, but after you walk down a wide path, ahhh, you know you've come to the right place. During low tide in the mellow late afternoon sunlight, all you see is water, sand and a bunch of very, very happy dogs. This is where Cynthia forgot she was a boxer and learned her labradorian passion for swimming, except for that firm-foot-on-the-frisbee, "that's mine" thing, which her new friends didn't really get (or appreciate). And we never seemed to encounter a mean dog or owner. To my fellow dog-lovers, imagine relaxing on a a sunlit white sandy beach with sounds of lapping waves, ecstatic barking in the faraway distance interrupted only by the intermittent checking-in of your canine friend with a sloppy kiss or two to let you know how much she loves you for giving her a glimpse of paradise. read more

Dog Beach Park - Aaaahhh... - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

They should rename this place "mosquito park"! When we visited the water was up, so we walked thru some mangroves to get to the beach. We were attacked by the largest number of mosquito's I ever done did see and I'm from SC! We had over 50 bites. They followed us like a Bunch of politicians Sucking us dry till we had to leave. Somehow they were in the car and they about made me wreck. Other than that it was a great experience. NOT! I think We will skip the dog park with skeeters big enough to tote Hillary Clinton's ego off next time! read more

This is a one of a kind beach in the area where dogs are off lead and kickin' it! Weekends may have more people than a weekday, especially during tourist season. Tides determine how much beach there is for dogs to romps so check tides to make sure it isn't high tide when you get there. My little minpin, Dillon, loves dog beach. We usually paddle up on the standup paddleboard, play a while and then paddle thru Lover's Key. This beach is accessible both by car (free parking) and by boat. You can pull up with your boat and let your dog out for a spell to blow off some steam! read more

See all

My favorite place to spend the day with my big guy! I drive over from the Pompano Beach (Broward County) any chance I get. It's a quick drive and well worth the drive-time for me. Picture an endless sandbar, small boats, kayaks, small little islands in the distance and a bunch of dogs running around and into the water ... it's great. - Plenty of white sand to spread out ***BE CAREFULwith chairs and umbrellas though... the dogs will thank you by lifting their leg on either ;) - The area is well-enclosed by wooded area with a good distance between the road-- I've yet to see a dog care to wonder out with all that is going on in the water or sand. - Hot dog stand with water and soft drinks at the open area entrance along with a small wash station so you don't have to bring the beach home with you. **bring your own jug of water for the dogs- there is no water station. That's the only draw-back I've found. Side note: There is also a tour guide that is relatively close by that offers tours with your dog, if you think your dog could handle that kind of thing. read more

See all

Seriously an amazing place to hang with your dog! People are nice, the dogs are cool, the beach is clean. What a threat to have to in your town. read more

Dog Beach Park - Doggie beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

See all

Not only is this is an amazing off-leash dog beach, it's an amazing beach period. You feel like you're on a deserted island on a secluded Caribbean island! It's very picturesque and in a sheltered bay so it is very calm with no waves and very shallow water, so it's perfect for dogs of all sizes! All of the dogs played well together and the owners were friendly and responsible. A great place! read more

Dog Beach Park - Romping in the water - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

See all

It's still a gorgeous beach that's relaxing, however it's not like it used to be. Either this place got kicked up bad by the hurricane last year or it's super low tide, but it's kind of gross. There's so much sandbar exposed that the dogs go to the bathroom on it. It's all understandable and I don't have any recommendations on how to beach-potty-train a dog, that's a bit unrealistic. Also, there's no trash cans around, which is also understandable since It's a beach you have to hike to. I don't understand why but there's dead fish all over the place now. 30+ easily that seemed fresh from that day, so I'm just assuming this is a new daily routine. There were a couple groups of 5, one of at least a dozen, and some scattered about. I don't know the biological patterns or how their habitat changed, and to be honest it's irrelevant because they're still there. They stink, it's unpleasant to look at, and yup, the dog actually picked one up today. It's really a disgusting place. Lastly, since the "swimming zone" is pushed 50 feet back since the hurricane, there seems to be many more sharp rocks than there were before, that or I just have bad luck and found them all today. While we "swam" in under 5 feet of water, I managed to step on a dozen sharp rocks one of which left a 1.5" gash down my heel, blood and all. Now trekking through dead fish and poo on the way out is really unpleasant when you have an open wound on your foot. All that said, yes we do come here at least a few times a year from the Fort Lauderdale area just for this beach. We'd still probably come despite the above, but since it's a 2 hour drive that we make just for the dog, and she didn't really enjoy herself this time, I doubt we'll be back. I still think this is an "A OK" place. It's free, it's gorgeous, it's relaxing and fun to watch dogs have fun. Just leave your germaphobe friends at home and wear some foot protection if you plan on swimming. read more

Great spot to have your dog play with friends and get some energy out! Our dog had an unbelievably amazing time!!!

Great place to let your dog run off leash, socialize, swim and play with other dogs. It is best at low tide when there is plenty of room to run. At high tide, there is little dry sandy beach but the water is shallow enough for dogs to run. Generally the dogs and people are well behaved. There are occasional dog-to-dog disagreements but most responsible owners will remove their dog if it consistently misbehaving. The dog owners are overall very friendly, sociable and well behaved. Although some (very few) slobs leave full poop bags and litter thrown on the beach, in the mangroves or on the path leading to the parking area (even though trash cans are provided at the lot). Doggie poop bag dispenser, trash and a fresh water rinse station are located near the beach path in the parking area (all FREE). The wide path from the lot to the beach floods at high tide and always has a least some water to cross. It is shallow but your feet may get wet (stop whining, it's a beach,..). At the end of the wide path, the Dog Beach is to the right: at high tide you can wade (calf deep) to the dry sand or follow a narrow path through the mangrove trees immediately along the beach. (I posted a Satellite view that shows the main path and parking area). Weekends (especially "in season") can be very busy. Parking if free and plentiful. The number of cars indicate how busy the beach will be. Weekday mornings are the most quiet. It is fun to boat to the beach (it is located on the north side of "New Pass"). Well socialized, medium to large sized dogs tend to do well. I wouldn't recommend bringing puppies or small dogs(or cats or cat-like dogs). All dogs can be walked on leash on Fort Myers Beach (5 miles north). Aggressive dogs are not welcome. It call be overwhelming when it is busy but the dogs tend to find their group: running and chasing, chasing balls and frisbees, swimming, mellow out on the sand,... I wouldn't recommend bringing a picnic lunch. You will attract a lot of attention from the dogs while eating. Unattended food will be vigorously investigated (and likely devoured) by hungry dogs. It is entertaining to watch some dumb-ass chasing a pack of dogs running away with his McDonalds bag. It adds to the show when the dumb-ass then pitches a fit (Hey dumb-ass, it's a dog beach and dogs love people food). BEWARE: 1. Across the deep channel is the part of the State Park where dogs are banned. I have heard of park rangers writing citations/fines for violators. 2. When the tide is running, the current can be very strong in the channel. The shallows are fine but be aware of the current. 3. Estero Blvd/Route 865 is very busy and has a 50mph speed limit. Be careful pulling in and out of parking area. If your dog is a runner be cautious. There is a good distance (200 yards?) from the beach to the lot/road. read more

See all

Great park. Not as if there are many choices within 100 miles though. heh. Lots of poop. People need to pick up their dogs crap. Maybe put some poop bins closer to the beach. TIP: Don't go at high tide. I did and it was very flooded. You have to wade though a lot of water to get to the tiny amount of beach left at the end of the trail. read more

See all

The Bonita Dog Beach seems like a great idea. But most often it is overrun with absent minded dog owners who seem to think that their dogs can run free with no supervision whatsoever. Yes, your dogs can be off-leash, but they should still be supervised. Don't plan on bringing any food with you unless you intend on holding the bag the entire time. If you put it on the ground to go off and play with your dog, it will surely either be rummaged through by several dogs or peed on by several unattended dogs. Although we've gone on several occasions, one of my dogs became very sick after going there one time. She ended up in the er vet after vomiting yellow foam and blood. She was having kidney failure or something. She got through it though. The vet informed us that the dog beach is loaded with nasty bacteria because of the dogs peeing and pooping in the water and on just about every inch of sand there. (WEAR SANDALS AT ALL TIMES).... Also, many dog owners DO NOT pick up after their dogs there. We always brought our own poo bags because the one or two complimentary stations were empty. However, many people that go there DO NOT pick up after their dogs and would just leave mounds of dog poo all over the place. It was a fun place the first or second time until we found out just how nasty it was. The novelty wore off after a few visits. Better to just go to the dog park. At least the big dogs are separate form the little dogs and the people seem more apt to keep an eye on their pets. read more

This is a nice little dog island . The parking is free. Depending on the time of day it literally is a dog island. there are sand bars that you may have to walk through water to get through, not bad like shin deep when we went. It's pretty nice here, and there were no problems with the dogs. But always watch your dog, you just never know. read more

Took my companion dog there for his birthday and I was in awe of the beautiful area. Weekends will most likely be packed if you're not early though - too packed . I love the whole set up be prepared to walk in some water to get there read more

Dog Beach: Clearly Kodi's favorite thing about Ft. Myers. If relaxing and lying on the beach trying to catch some rays while listening to gentle sounds of the water is what you are after, this is not the ideal spot. However, if you are like us and take your dog everywhere with you, Dog Beach is the place to be. It is an off leash dog beach where your best friend can enjoy the beach just as much as you. Having two of us there worked pretty well because one of us could go throw the frisbee for Kodi in the water and supervise his new friendships, and the other could relax on the beach and sip a nice cold beverage and watch our stuff. On one trip to dog beach Kodi caught sight of a dolphin out in the cove and tried to swim after the dolphin. After swimming for a few minutes I think he realized it was a little too far away and came back. The water does rise significantly when it rains and leaves almost no dry land to sit on, just something to keep in mind. visit our blog for more reviews in the area: https://travelptswithacraftbeerprob.wordpress.com read more

Dog Beach Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

We were visiting from upstate and it was so much fun. My dog loved it! I know a lot of the negative reviews are because the dogs are not 'well-behaved' but, come on, they're dogs, they're having a good time and lets face it, you can't control them 100% of the time. It's all in good fun. One warning, however! My dog got sick with 'beach diarrhea' (I didn't even know this was a thing until it happened) from drinking too much sea water. Fortunately she was fine within the hour, but it can be life threatening for some dogs, so be careful! I sure learned my lesson. read more

Unfortunately there aren't many places to take your dog on a beach in Collier or Lee county so this is a great beach to bring your dog and get some great photos during sunset. Just make sure you bring lots of water for your dog, check the tides and bring bug spray! read more

See all

Small cove off of gulf. Water doesn't seem to flush, so I would be worried about bacteria from feces and standing water. Having said that the dogs run around like crazy. I'm hoping my dog doesn't get sick. Go in with an open eye. read more