San Diego, California · City Walks
The best
dog walksin San Diego.
A 24-hour dog beach, an off-leash island and canyon trails—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
Sun, sand, leash-free.
Five very good walks.
San Diego has two of the best-known off-leash spots on the West Coast—Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach and Fiesta Island—plus a big city park and real canyon trails. This guide covers all of them.
Outside the city’s approved leash-free areas, dogs stay leashed. Beach rules are seasonal: on most city beaches dogs are only allowed in the evening, so check the time before you hit the sand.
Before the leash comes off
The city’s general beach rule allows dogs after 6 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, and after 4 p.m. from November 1 to March 31. Dog Beach in Ocean Beach is the exception: it is off-leash around the clock.
Best beach
Dog Beach
Most space
Fiesta Island
Best city park
Balboa Park
Best hike
Mission Trails
Pick your pace
Five walks worth
clipping in for.
Sand is hard work for short legs—let beach walks be shorter than you planned. Dashed green lines on the maps mark the area boundaries.
Ocean Beach
Dog beach
01
Dog Beach, Ocean Beach
San Diego’s only 24-hour beach for dogs: a sandy stretch at the north end of Ocean Beach, at the foot of Voltaire Street, where dogs are always allowed off-leash.
Rinse after. Salt, sand and river-mouth water are hard on paws and coats. Bring fresh water to rinse off before the car.
Mission Bay
Off-leash island
02
Fiesta Island
A huge leash-optional island in Mission Bay with sandy shoreline and calm water all the way around—room for even the biggest dogs to run.
Watch for closed zones. Two least tern nesting sites are fenced off year-round, and buffer zones close from April 15 to September 15. City pages list opening at 4 a.m. or 6 a.m.; it closes at 10 p.m.
Balboa Park
City park
03
Balboa Park & Nate’s Point
Shady paths, gardens and canyon trails in San Diego’s great city park, plus Nate’s Point—about 2.3 fenced off-leash acres with a drinking fountain and picnic tables, open 24 hours.
Leash everywhere else. Balboa Park requires leashes throughout the park, including trails and canyons—Nate’s Point and Morley Field are the off-leash exceptions.
North Park
Off-leash
04
Morley Field
The off-leash area at Morley Field, northwest of the tennis courts in the east part of Balboa Park, is open 24 hours and a local favorite for early and late runs.
Make it a loop. Walk in from the Balboa Park trails on leash, run at Morley Field, and walk back through the park.
East San Diego
Hiking
05
Mission Trails Regional Park
Real hiking inside the city limits: rocky trails, river crossings and hilltop views. A true adventure for fit dogs.
Respect the heat. Trails here get hot fast and shade is rare. Go at sunrise, carry water for your dog and turn around early.
Plan with current information
Official San Diego resources
Hours and seasonal closures change. These official pages are the final word before you head out. Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors.