New York City, New York · City Walks
The best
dog walksin New York.
Early-morning meadows, river views and the city’s best dog runs—chosen for the dogs who walk them and the humans holding the leash.
19,194
walks mapped in New York
15,170
miles walked
136
New York cities with walkers
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Choose the right adventure
Early risers.
Five very good walks.
New York’s dog life runs on a clock. In many city parks, dogs can be off-leash in designated areas only before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m.—so the best walks happen at dawn, when the meadows fill with dogs and the rest of the city is still asleep.
Outside those hours, and everywhere outside designated areas, dogs stay leashed. Fenced dog runs are the exception: dogs can be off-leash in them whenever the park is open. Dogs are never allowed in playgrounds, fountains, ball fields or on most city beaches.
Before the leash comes off
Off-leash courtesy hours apply only in designated areas, and owners need to be able to show a current dog license and rabies vaccination. Some spots, like Central Park’s Pinetum, require a leash at all times.
Best at dawn
Central Park
Best meadow
Prospect Park
Best dog runs
Riverside Park
Best long walk
Hudson River Greenway
Pick your pace
Five walks worth
clipping in for.
Time your walk to the off-leash windows and New York becomes a very different city. Dashed green lines on the maps mark park boundaries.
Manhattan
Big park
01
Central Park
Hundreds of acres of paths, meadows and woodland in the middle of Manhattan. There are no fenced dog runs, but there are 23 particularly dog-friendly areas, and off-leash hours in designated spots.
Go before 9. The early off-leash window is the best time of day in the park. A few areas, including the Arthur Ross Pinetum, require a leash at all hours.
Brooklyn
Meadows
02
Prospect Park
Brooklyn’s great park, with off-leash hours on the Long Meadow (outside the ballfields), the Nethermead and Peninsula Meadow—and Dog Beach, a swimming spot just for dogs.
Swim at the right time. Dog Beach is open to dogs only during the same off-leash windows as the meadows.
Upper West Side
Riverfront
03
Riverside Park
A long, leafy park on the Hudson with promenades, river views and fenced dog runs at West 72nd, 87th and 105th Streets.
Run-to-run. Walk the promenade between two dog runs for a walk with an off-leash stop at each end—the runs are open whenever the park is.
West Side
Long trail
04
Hudson River Greenway
A paved waterfront path along Manhattan’s west side, from the Battery north past Riverside Park. Flat, breezy and easy to join from almost any cross street.
Watch the bike lane. Much of the greenway has separate walking and cycling paths. Keep your dog on the walking side and close by.
Brooklyn
Neighborhood park
05
Fort Greene Park
A hilly neighborhood park with lawns, shade trees and a designated off-leash area—a favorite morning meetup for local dogs.
Know the boundaries. Off-leash areas in city parks usually exclude playgrounds, ballfields and natural areas. Follow the posted signs.
Plan with current information
Official New York resources
Off-leash rules can change park by park. These official pages are the final word before you head out. Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors.