Seattle, Washington · City Walks
The best
dog walksin Seattle.
Lake loops, forest trails and the only off-leash area with water access—chosen for the dogs who walk them and the humans holding the leash.
1,038
walks mapped in Seattle
2,552
miles walked
2.5 mi
average walk
HappyPupper walkers in Seattle · all-time totals, November 2026
Map your own Seattle walks. Free on iPhone & Android.
Choose the right adventure
Rain or shine.
Five very good walks.
Seattle walkers go long—HappyPupper’s Seattle walks average two and a half miles, more than twice the average in Chicago or Houston. This guide pairs the classic long walks with the city’s best official off-leash areas.
Seattle’s leash law applies in every park outside the designated off-leash areas. Dogs are not allowed on beaches, athletic fields or children’s play areas at all—even on a leash.
Before the leash comes off
Off-leash is only allowed inside the fenced or signed off-leash areas. Magnuson Park’s is the only one with water access; everywhere else, keep dogs off the beaches.
Best water play
Magnuson Park
Best classic loop
Green Lake
Best wild walk
Discovery Park
Best long walk
Burke-Gilman Trail
Pick your pace
Five walks worth
clipping in for.
Bring a towel: most of these are at their best in drizzle. Dashed green lines on the maps mark park or off-leash boundaries.
Sand Point
Off-leash
01
Magnuson Park Off-Leash Area
Seattle’s largest off-leash area: 8.6 fenced acres with a gravel trail, a small and shy dog area, and the only off-leash access to the water in the city, on the Lake Washington shoreline.
Leash up outside the fence. The rest of Magnuson Park is on-leash. The small and shy dog area is near the main entrance off NE 74th Street.
Green Lake
Lake loop
02
Green Lake Park
A 2.8-mile paved inner loop around the lake—one of the busiest car-free trails in the city, with views, people-watching and endless sniffs.
Short leash. Seattle Parks asks for leashes no longer than 5 feet here, and for slowing down through congested stretches. Go early on weekends.
Magnolia
Forest + bluff
03
Discovery Park
Seattle’s wildest city park: forest trails, meadows and big bluff-top views of Puget Sound and the Olympics. A proper adventure without leaving town.
Stay off the sand. The beach trail looks tempting, but Seattle bans dogs from beaches even on a leash. Keep to the forest and bluff loops.
North Seattle
Long trail
04
Burke-Gilman Trail
A paved multi-use trail on an old rail line, running across north Seattle past the University of Washington and along Lake Washington. Join it anywhere and walk as far as you like.
Keep right. Bikes move fast here. Keep your dog on the right edge and close, and step off the trail to pause.
West Seattle
Off-leash
05
Westcrest Park
About 8.4 acres of fenced off-leash space in West Seattle, with shade, a doggie drinking fountain and a small and shy dog area—plus wooded trails in the rest of the park.
Park and walk. The parking lot is about 150 yards from the off-leash area—leash up for the walk in.
Plan with current information
Official Seattle resources
Rules and closures can change after publication. These Seattle Parks pages are the final word before you head out. Maps: © OpenStreetMap contributors.