Great space- lots of shade and usually really good dog owners too. Needs another water station in the lower area for the smaller dogs

All dirt and dust and there is no beach access as the photos seem to imply. I'd give this a miss as there are other better parks around

A lot of the complaints I see here (holes in the ground, misbehaving dogs, dogs stealing toys, etc.) are really complaints I would have to imagine any dog park would face since there are... you know dogs there. The park is great! Very big with a small agility course and plenty of benches. The park does have some wear and tear from the dogs that come through but that's to be expected. I have had a few interactions where dogs were being ignored while they were misbehaving but usually if you can flag down the owner and ask them nicely to get the dog to stop then they will. You can't fault the dog park for the people that go there or the dogs that are there. There is defjnately uneven ground in the park (dogs dig there/natural landscape) I haven't been in the winter but I am sure it would get muddy as others are saying! read more

Complaints about the mud in the lower section here seem comical in comparison to some dog parks on the Eastside which get some intense mud all over, like the DP at Beaver Lake. Sandy dirt and pretty large. Entire area fenced in with chain link and double gates at both entrances. Minus one star due to small parking lot which holds maybe 40 vehicles so it's hard to find parking on nice weekend days. read more

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One of Seattle's smaller off leash dog parks, but good atmosphere and plenty of room to roam! This, like "North Acres" is not a place for a walk. (Unless of course you walk the nice wooded trails ON-leash... which I won't do unless I am accompanied by my husband!) My only complaint about this park, they don't supply any "pick up mitts" . I usually come prepared, but on a few occasions I pulled out the last bag, and Knoxx decided to do double dooooty. Luckily people are pretty friendly there, and lend a bag. Not such snooty dog owners as some of the Magneson Park goers, which is a plus. read more

There are definitely nicer dog parks. I used to really like this one and came every other day or so last summer. During the daytime there is a bit of the boom-and-bust effect with dog walkers coming and going so the crowd will really vary. During the week, the dog walker situation makes or breaks the vibe. There's one particular dog walker lady with a pack of rowdy out-of-control dogs who likes to come around 3pm. There's an early morning dog walker woman with a pack that is pretty tight, but very nice. There is also a guy dog walker with a well-behaved group of dogs that will play with your dog. If you can avoid the screechy blonde dog walker lady who comes later in the day with her rowdy dogs, you'll be fine. Just my 2. Weekends are better because there is a more casual and fun crowd and a higher dog-to-human ratio which seems to equal better behavior. People are friendly (sometimes too friendly) and will talk to you. You might encounter a few oddball dogs or dog owners not to your liking. Yeah, some dogs may be out of control here. I've heard this from others. Not sure what it is--I've been to other dog parks where people seem to have better control. It's crap shoot at this park. Do not wear nice shoes! You will encounter fairly deep mud or heavy dust around your legs depending on the weather. You may even want to bring an extra pair. Do your part to volunteer and pick up any poo you can. It will come back to you in ways you might expect... =) read more

Randomly having found myself in this part of town, I have to say this dog park was alright. *Just* alright. Olive the pug had tons of fun, but there was only one garbage in the entire park. Really, one? For the whole thing? Having to roam around like a fool with a filled poop bag in my hand isn't a favorite past-time of mine. Though, there were what I assume employees in the park the entire time I was there, repairing things, doing landscaping and what-not. Keep up of any dog park is an absolute must, and to see it done is great. That earned another star. About the dirty water bowls, I didn't see any in the park. Anywhere, actually. All in all, I would revisit this park (that is, if I'm ever up north!). read more

Golden Gardens Off-Leash Area - Happy pug - Dog Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This dog park is a good little space with beautiful tall trees for shade and an amazing view out to the Sound and Olympics. There are additional paths around the dog park that are great for that away-from-the-city fresh feeling. If you walk on the right path, you can go under the train tracks and make your way over to Golden Gardens, with Fido on leash, of course. The middle of the park appears to be a muddy sinkhole right now, probably as a consequence of rain and gravity. I share other Yelpers' suggestion that wood chips could be a helpful way to cut back on the mud factor in the middle of the park. This will probably be a non-issue in the summer. In the meantime, your pup can still get a good workout running around the perimeter of the park. And when all else fails, bring a towel. I was disappointed that I couldn't find any trash cans other than the one by the main gate entrance. I'd rather not carry a bag of poop around when surrounded by charging dogs. Unfortunately, there was a dog fight while we were there. The majority of the owners seemed to have good voice control over their dogs, who appeared to be well-socialized. Hopefully this is an anomaly. I'll give this place another try after we've had a dry spell. Between the park and the shore, it's a beautiful location for a sunny afternoon. read more

Here's the deal. My dog and I come here a lot. He has a blast running around until he can't move his little Corgi legs anymore. The problem lies in the amount of mud and disgusting water sprinkled about the property. My little puppy has been diagnosed with Giardia twice since frequenting this dogpark. It really sucks because he doesn't know NOT to drink the nasty, infected water! Now we can't go back. The risks outweigh the benefits. It really sucks because if this property was maintained better, he'd still be running around having the time of his life. read more

A lovely tucked-away off-leash dog park, where if you walk up the hill you can have Caffe Fiore americanos and if you drive back toward Ballard you can stop at Paseo. Just sayin'.... This park is a large rectangle filled with cedar chips, a few benches, and usually several large and friendly dogs. There is a small-dog area at the top, and some informal trails wending their ways throughout the woods, both down toward the surf and up toward Sunset Hill. True, not a lot of aesthetic excitement, but every time I've shown up here with my canine companion in tow, he's gotten major exercise running and playing. The cedar chips help cut down on the mud factor (even at its worst, this is nothing like the mud pit at Magnuson - you know where I'm talking about!), and since there aren't many obstructions in the way, it's great for circle running. Plus, right now you have nice views of the Sound and the Olympics. Standing there watching happy dogs play, seeing the waves and the white-capped mountains, I'm grateful to have such a lovely spot to visit. read more

I'm new to the whole dog park scene and have learned a few lessons after my Golden Gardens visit. 1. Don't go if Seattle has been wet the past few days. Otherwise, you're in for a very muddy doggy. 2. Keep close to your dog. Other dogs might not be as friendly and their owners not as watchful as they should be. 3. Mesh harnesses are a No-No. Other dogs will grab onto the harness as leverage. I guess these tips apply to all outdoor dog parks. Koji and I can't wait for summer again so that we can have more outdoor play! Apparently dogs don't like rain either. :p read more

This seems like the perfect place to run around in circles. If I were a dog, that is. The off-leash area is a nice fenced area about one tier up the hill from the main Golden Gates Park. There's a parking lot and a short trail to the entrance. As stated, this area is covered by cedar chips which tends to keep this area cleaner. There's a decent sized area for dogs to run around in the lower level with a number of benches while you wait for him/her to tire themselves out. read more

Wow, this place is muddy in the spring. Like, excessively so. My boyfriend and I took his sister's dog out to play for an afternoon and after about 20 minutes, her legs and underbelly were covered in mud. Unfortunately, there wasn't much in the way of a good hose to clean her off with. One of the hoses had bite marks in it that caused it to have difficulties working correctly. It might be nice if they were to redo the landscaping in here with something that would become a little less muddy during the spring. The wood chips in part of the park are fine; maybe the entire place should be covered in those instead. The other dog owners seemed pretty responsible and I didn't witness any altercations between dogs, which is awesome. Anyway, the location is great. Right near Golden Gardens, tucked away in the woods. It's a beautiful little area. I'm sure it's fantastic in the summer! read more

This is by far the best dog pound in town. Tons of free, house-trained dogs in one big bin. And don't buy into this "Hey, that's MY dog". It gets pretty competitive there. You just have to be quick. Real quick. read more

This used to be Tess and I's favorite dog park. There are trails that run around the park and have beautiful views. You can usually let your dogs off leash and it's no biggie. Recently however, the dog cops have been brutal. The last 3 times I've been there - so have they. Although my dog is licensed and vaccinated we don't always bring our tags because I like to change her into different fashionable collars everyday. Anyway, they have been laying down the law and there's no off - leash capabilities on the trails. The fenced in area is ok but very muddy in the middle and is sort of the WWF of dog parks. I hope people stop bringing their aggressive dogs and/or people with dog's who have been bit stop complaining so we can have our cop free park back. read more

This large doggie corral provides a nice combo for the seasoned off-leasher. First, the set of lonnnggg stairs down to the shore near the upper parking lot offers the perfect primer to entering the park since an over-excited dog is a fight magnet. One trip up (or down and back up) with your high energy Labradoodle type and you're ready for some social time! Second, the area here is large enough to provide adequate movement but not so big or forested that you can't keep an eye on the pooch's activities while in the park. It was ridiculously - no, insanely - muddy the day I visited so "swamp" accurately applies if it's been raining at all. Useful tip: If you've not visited before, travel the shoreline road and go right at the stop sign. Continue up the hill. You'll pass one parking lot mid hill (it was closed the day I was there) and continue on up. The dog park lot is near the top, on your left. You'll see dogs. Lots of them. read more

I do not like this dog park at all. THE GOOD - uh ... it is a fenced area where your dog can run free?! THE BAD - Small filled with woodchips gets disgustingly muddy when it rains. Smells (yeah I know it is a dog park and dog parks smell but this place...gross). and i have encountered more than my fair share of unfriendly dogs at this place with owners who seem a little too nonchalant for my taste. Too crowded on nice days and no where to walk. So if you want to sit and just stare at your dog while it tries to entertain itself I guess this is the place if you want to walk with your dog off leash go somewhere else. read more

Our dog enjoyed this park... we thought it had a beautiful setting and there was a good-sized open space for a good romp. There was also a hose to wash down my muddy dog and plenty of dishes for water. Our biggest issue is the mud. We saw wood chips in the parking lot so we hope that the city is planning to put more down but when we went it was just one giant mud puddle. Also, There can always be problems with other irresponsible dog owners (who don't pick up poo, leash their dogs inside the park [causing a "fight or flight" reaction - ask any dog trainer], or bring dogs that aren't social into the park) but that happens at any park. Just make sure you're a responsible owner and you watch your dog (and the others around you) closely! read more

It may be a pretty place with a nice view in the summers but as the previous reviewer mentioned, it is a mud pit when it has been wet. We went there on a Sunday morning, there were a handful of dogs, they all pretty much stuck to their owners and did not want to chase around and play. My dog was pretty bummed. But what made the visit really unpleasant was there were a bunch of people sitting around on the benches and discussing sports and they weren't paying attention to their dogs. I had 3 dogs jump up on me simultaneously (I had no treats in my pocket) and I had mud dredged on me both front and back on my jeans and jacket and no one really seemed bothered. If you want to be an irresponsible dog owner, don't bring your dogs to the park. Please avoid Sunday mornings since these people seemed like regulars and you know they are not going to pay attention to their dogs..... Northacres is much better, a much pleasant conscientious crowd. read more

This dog park is one of the major reasons why I chose to move to Ballard when I relocated. If you're coming from the top of Sunset Hill, it's a great hike for both you and your pooch (so long as your dog isn't an old timer), and after your K-9's romp, it's always fun to head down to the beach; this park could not be situated in a more naturally beautiful place. I'll agree with the mud-factor, but I've pretty much succumbed to this fact and dress accordingly (having a damp towel waiting for cleanup when we get home always helps too). read more

An off-leash park virgin, I took my mutt Rosie for our first foray into the big bad world of Seattle off-leash parks. And, as this was the only one I ever visited with a friend and her dog, it seemed natural. First off, a short description of the park. It is a huge circle with an uphill rectangle encircled by trees -- very lovely. At the far end of the uphill area, there are two plastic swimming pools for water-dogs to dip in which is sweet. There are benches along the yard for people and a picnic table in the shady hill beside the water dish. (I do notice a lot of folks bringing their own water and I have heard that common water dishes like this are a haven for doggie diseases). However, the circle area of the park is dusty, dirty. And aggressive! I have been there several times because of proximity and every single time there has been an aggressive dog or two that either gets into a fight with others or aggressively "roughhouse" smaller dogs (like my dog who is the sweetest girl). It has a rep for aggressive dogs which means I check it out before going in. There are lovely trails nearby and they are a decent consolation prize. Also, although I have only been here in the summer, in the rainy season it is a swamp which seems about right considering the topography of it. So while I will still go, it is not a place to hang out and read a book while your dog runs around. You have to be on point and aware of the dynamic out there. Rosie does seem to like it, though, and I will go there when the weather is dry. read more

I think that the park stuart needs to lighten up. Theres a community board there but someone always takes down whatever gets posted on there. Its kinda a cool park but it very small and gets muddy quite easily. It seems like all the dog owners go there to socialize and bullshit but nobody plays attention to there dog. Play with your dog not sip coffee and yack someones ear off. read more

How can we get to the parking lot? I couldn't get to the park so I had to park near a coffee shop and walk down many steep stairs down (and then up) with my dog. I guess we got some cardio exercises today. Anyway, it was a misty day so the park was somewhat muddy. (White dog plus mud- sigh but I know it comes with the territory of owning a dog!). This park was pretty small but open- without anything interesting like a hill or trees bunched together to give it a woodsy feel. Well- there were benches, picnic table and a little shelter area. People were a-ok. read more

I agree with the other yelpers...this place is a mud fest. It's a fenced in area on a giant hill--so if you have a dog that loves to chase a ball (like mine does), the only flat spot to stand on is on the low end of the hill---where all the mud happens to be. I have a yellow lab, and after a few rounds of chase, I suddenly had a black lab, so I decided to go to the top of the hill/ dog park to play ball instead. Suddenly I found myself running to chase the ball after every time she'd drop it--because it would just roll down the stupid hill! Then I was also dodging balls and dogs that were running at me full speed from the bottom of the hill (because you can't see them from the top of the hill). Not my favorite park. However, you can put your dog back on-leash and follow the hiking trails that go from the dog park--she and I liked that MUCH better. read more

Be prepared to give your dog a bath after this park--very dusty! Go on a dry day if you don't want muddy paws. There is a water hose in the center with large metal bowls for drinking water. I wouldn't advise letting your dog drink from it--I saw crows using the same bowl to stand in and drink from. Overall, it's a nice smaller place to let your dog run and be able to keep an eye on him or her. Good for dogs that don't come when called. read more

We had a similar experience as other Yelpers. We have been there several times over the past 2 years and the experience is much "cleaner" when the wood chips are fresh. There is plenty of open space, and large dogs often get a good head of steam chasing each other around. Take care if you have small children or elderly pets. read more

The off leash area is a nice place to let your dog run around and play before a nice long stroll or jog all throughout the park. Golden Gardens is beautiful. Great place to take a walk or a jog with your pooch! Check out the pics! read more

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We took the puppy here yesterday to play. It had been raining a bit the past few days, but it wasn't super muddy...not if you go up to the top section. The lower section looked super muddy and I'm thankful that the puppy opted against running around there. There's enough room for him to run around and tire himself out. It's not the best dog park out there, but it's definitely big enough for him to enjoy himself. I think with the division of the upper and lower portion, even when it's crowded it should still give the pups enough room to roam. read more

I came here on a sunny winter day. It had stopped raining for about 2 days and this dog park was still pretty muddy. It wasn't a very wet muddy, but more like a thick type of mud, so my dog didn't get as dirty as he could've but his paws were completely caked with mud. The entire off leash area is all dirt, no mulch, grass, cement, etc. So when it is wet, it is muddy, when it is dry, it is pretty dusty. Also the off leash area is on top of a small hill, so I'd imagine that the bottom of the off leash area can get quite muddy. A frequent vister of this off leash park told me that the bottom of the area was blocked off for a long period of time last winter because it had turned into a swamp (apparently it smelled like one too) until she got a bunch of people together to get it fixed. The size of the dog park is bigger than genesee off leash and about the same size as woodland park off leash. There were benches for people to sit on and water hose and bowls for the dogs. There were no rinse off areas for the dogs, unless you rinse them off where the water bowls are, but that seems counter intuitive since the exit is on the other side of the park, so you're dog is going to have to walk through all that mud again anyways. Also, there is no water access for the dogs, which was dissapointing since golden gardens is a beach park. Overall, I'd probably wouldn't visit here again. There wasn't anything particularly attractive with this dog park and It is really out of the way for me. read more

Golden Gardens Off-Leash Area - Dog Parks Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It's a pretty good off leash area. It only has one section, it is not separated by smaller dog area and larger dog area like some other parks. It's nice that it has some benches, a great shady area and the gates are very secure. Area is limited on parking, maybe less than 30 cars. It leads to some nice trails to the beach area though. read more

Great off leash park! They added trees to the bottom part of the park that used to get super muddy. Nice open area and also has water bowls for every dog to use. If you forgot poop bags, there is usually a stash by the gate. Word of warning: my boyfriend's car was stolen while he took his dog to the park. He didn't have anything showing but was most likely stolen because of the kit and the kind of car it was (86 corrolla). Definitely lock all doors, do not leave anything visible. Would hate for someone else to know what its like to watch their car drive off :( read more

A star for the park itself, no stars for the crowd. Different parks draw different people - you'll find people on their phones or woefully and actively ignoring their dog and their dogs bad behavior. In just two visits... I've had a dog continue to jump on me repeatedly without the owner correcting it, another ignored dog that was following me incessantly and getting in my lap anytime I sat down (90+lbs), a pair ganged up on my dog and were back biting, this drew another aggressive dog in that was even more aggressive than the other two, another dog probably shouldn't have been there with the lunging, barking, growling and snapping, I walked to a separate side and tried to play fetch but another dog kept stealing the ball or would chase and bully my dog out of her ball, another dog spent the entire time mounting mine or others. I've never seen such a mess of dogs. It's too bad - the park itself is kind of cool (if it's not wet) read more

The mass amounts of mud have forced my dog and I to abandon our usual off leash stomping grounds, Woodland, and try out some new parks. Our search for a new dog park led us to the off leash area at Golden Gardens. And I think we may become regulars. While there was a big muddy patch in the middle, which my dog of course had to lay in repeatedly, the rest of the park was rather dry and had seemed to have received an extra dose of bark chips. There seemed to be more loose tennis balls, ropes and benches than I've ran into at other dog parks. The park has a small fenced area for small and/or shy dogs just to the north of the main off leash area. It was no problem finding parking in the parking lot and if you want to continue your doggy date, their are stairs leading down to Golden Gardens, so you can walk your pooch down below. My only complaint about this dog park is that there were no disposal bags, which some people may take as an excuse not to pick up after their dog. Add a trash can and some bags and we've got ourselves a 5 star dog park. read more

Golden Gardens is a great spot in general and it's nice to be able to bring your dog there. This off-leash area is definitely a fun spot for dogs but compared to some others in the Seattle area, it's just alright..nothing special, but it's a fun spot if your dog is good in an off-leash area. read more

Love this park. It's by far both mine and my dog's favorite park. We have been to almost every off leash dog park this city and the surrounding areas have to offer. It's nothing super special. My pup doesn't like to swim, so the parks that offer water access are of little use to us, but the hills and the trees and just the size is great. Not to big, but not to small. And all the dogs and owners are friendly. And COLA keeps this joint clean too. Plus as a side benefit they have a waters spicket for the pups. read more

Awful! All dirt! Aggressive dogs when we went...dust flying. Yuck. We travel in several different states and the is on the top of the dog park FAIL list! read more

My dogs were in heaven! I wasn't sure what to expect because I read some reviews that made the park sound like it wasn't that great. Luckily it hadn't been raining so there wasn't any mud! Instead, there was nothing but room to run and tons of dogs to play with. The trees surrounding this dog park were gorgeous and there were tons of lush gardens everywhere you look. Seeing my dogs so happy makes this mother proud! I will definitely be back soon. read more

Used to take my pup here when I lived in Ballard. People are almost as cool as their dogs. Always got a couple a holes and angry old people, but my dog has the time of his life. read more

Golden Gardens is great. The dog park within it is just okay. Mostly dusty or muddy (depending on the weather), expect to bathe your beast after your visit. There are, however, human toilet facilities and a parking lot within a stone's throw of the off-leash area, which is a bonus. read more

This is a decent dog park up the hill from the beach. It can get very muddy here. There isn't a lot of dimension to the park, it's really just a big square so it's really good for dogs that aren't picky and just want to run and play. My dogs need to be entertained so Magnuson is better - they can explore more. The benches can get pretty grimy. If you leave the park and go around to the back, there's a nice little trail with a few lookout points. Easy to miss, but check it out! read more