Los Angeles, California · City Walks
The best
dog walksin L.A.
Canyon trails, Hollywood views and an ocean-bluff stroll—chosen for the dogs who walk them and the humans holding the leash.
18,485
walks mapped in California
25,896
miles walked
187
California cities with walkers
HappyPupper walkers across California · all-time totals, November 2026
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Choose the right adventure
Big city.
Five very good walks.
Los Angeles hides some of the best dog walking in the country in its canyons and hills. This guide covers the famous trails, the city’s official off-leash dog parks, and one easy ocean-view walk in Santa Monica.
Outside the official off-leash areas, dogs stay leashed. Most L.A. trails are steep, sunny and dry, so start early, carry water for your dog and turn back sooner than you think you need to.
Before the leash comes off
Off-leash is only allowed inside the designated areas listed by L.A. Recreation and Parks. Dogs are not allowed on the sand in Santa Monica. Fire and mud closures happen—check before you drive.
Best views
Runyon Canyon
Biggest park
Griffith Park
Best ocean air
Palisades Park
Best easy loop
Lake Balboa
Pick your pace
Five walks worth
clipping in for.
L.A. heat changes everything: a walk that is easy at 7 a.m. can be dangerous at noon. Dashed green lines on the maps mark park boundaries.
Hollywood
Canyon trail
01
Runyon Canyon Park
Steep fire roads with skyline and Hollywood Sign views, a short walk from Hollywood Boulevard. Dogs can be off-leash in the designated areas only.
Check the trail status. L.A. Recreation and Parks has closed the West Trail until further notice after fire; other areas are open. Go early—there is almost no shade.
Los Feliz
Trails + dog park
02
Griffith Park
One of America’s great urban wild parks, with miles of trails and fire roads. Its official off-leash dog park sits at the north end of the John Ferraro soccer fields on North Zoo Drive.
Mind the wildlife. Griffith Park is home to coyotes and rattlesnakes. Keep your dog leashed on trails and out of brush.
Hollywood Hills
Off-leash
03
Laurel Canyon Dog Park
A hillside off-leash park at 8260 Mulholland Drive and a longtime L.A. favorite—room to run in a canyon setting, just over the hill from Studio City.
Call ahead after rain. The city has posted temporary closures when heavy rain sends mud down from Mulholland Drive. Check status before you go.
San Fernando Valley
Lake loop
04
Lake Balboa & Sepulveda Basin
A flat paved loop around Lake Balboa in the Sepulveda Basin, with the city’s Sepulveda Basin off-leash dog park nearby at 17550 Victory Boulevard. Easy walking, wide-open sky.
Loop, then run. Walk the lake loop first, then finish at the off-leash dog park so your dog cools down on the drive home.
Santa Monica
Ocean bluff
05
Palisades Park, Santa Monica
A long, palm-lined park on the bluffs above the Pacific—sea breezes, sunsets and an easy flat stroll for dogs of every age.
Stay on the bluff. Dogs are not allowed on Santa Monica’s beach. For off-leash time, the city has four enclosed dog parks, including Joslyn and Pacific Street.
Plan with current information
Official resources
Closures and rules change. These official pages are the final word before you head out. Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors.