The 11 Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in Edmonton
From the huge river-valley meadows where dogs swim in the North Saskatchewan to the newer fully fenced runs downtown and in the suburbs — with the details other lists skip: which spots are fenced, the park hours, and where dogs can actually get in the water.
Edmonton has more than 60 official off-leash areas, and most of them are unfenced river-valley parks where good recall matters — open meadows, ravine trails and shoreline where dogs can run and often swim. Alongside those, the City and developers have added a growing set of fully fenced enclosures for high-need and apartment-heavy neighbourhoods. City of Edmonton parks are generally open daily from 5am to 11pm. Off-leash use is permitted under the Animal Care and Control Bylaw and the Public Spaces Bylaw: dogs must be licensed (required from six months of age), on a leash when entering or leaving an off-leash boundary, and under control at all times, owners must clean up after them, and the City recommends keeping dogs up to date on vaccinations and deworming. Here's where to go, what to expect, and which spots suit which dogs.
Terwillegar Park
Edmonton's flagship off-leash destination — an expansive off-leash area of meadow and multi-use trails on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan, with river access where dogs love to swim and a 262 m footbridge over to Jan Reimer Park. Unfenced and natural, so solid recall is a must. EPCOR utility-tunnel maintenance will fence off a work area in the southern part of the off-leash area through November 2026.
Buena Vista Park
A large off-leash meadow on the north bank of the river, with wide gravel and paved paths, benches and washrooms near the meadow. Connects into the wider river-valley trail network beside Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Hawrelak. Unfenced — best for confident, social dogs.
Mill Creek Ravine South
A shaded ravine with a granular creekside path that's a long-standing local favourite for off-leash walks, threaded with footbridges and interconnected trails. Off-leash applies only on the signed sections of the granular ravine path; unfenced and shared with joggers and cyclists, so keep dogs close.
Capilano Park
A river-valley park on the south side of the North Saskatchewan at the end of 50 Street, with a designated off-leash trail alongside one of the city's two public boat launches, a dock, picnic sites and washrooms in the shelter building. Off-leash use is limited to the designated trail and it's unfenced, so check signage for the boundary. (Rundle Park, across the river, is not shown as off-leash on the City's current site map.)
Gold Bar Park
A river-valley park on the south bank with an off-leash area and extensive walking, cycling and cross-country ski trails that connect into the wider river-valley network. Unfenced and shared with cyclists and runners; trails can get muddy.
Jackie Parker Park
A large, varied off-leash space with open fields, wooded trails, footbridges, hills and a small lake — note the lake is signed no-swimming and no-boating. Family amenities (playground, spray park, climbing wall, picnic sites) sit nearby. Unfenced, so keep recall sharp near the water and roads.
Hermitage Park
A long northeast river-valley park whose large designated off-leash area fills the northern section, with natural trails winding through grassy fields and wooded slopes around a stormwater pond. Unfenced and good for year-round walks — but check the City off-leash page first: EPCOR is doing landscape work around the pond inside the off-leash area in 2026, with temporary fencing and restoration planned for May–September 2027.
Alex Decoteau Park
Downtown's established fenced dog park at the northwest corner of 105 Street and 102 Avenue (10230 105 Street NW) — one of the City's City-funded fenced off-leash areas, with dog-friendly surfacing and trash receptacles. Compact and secure, ideal for nearby apartment dogs.
O-day'min Dog Park
A fully lit and fenced dog run in O-day'min Park (formerly Warehouse Park) — the newest enclosed off-leash space downtown, opened with the park in November 2025 and located in its northwest corner near the washroom pavilion (10150 107 Street NW).
Lauderdale Dog Park
A fully enclosed off-leash area (12735 113A Street NW) fenced after safety concerns about dogs reaching the busy roads around it, with a separate fenced section for small and shy dogs. A good pick for dogs still learning recall — but note that EPCOR dry-pond construction has closed part of the park, staged so that a portion stays open at all times.
The Orchards Dog Park
A fully fenced off-leash park built and operated by developer Brookfield Residential in The Orchards community (1505 Plum Circle SW). Free, public and a solid secure option for dogs in Edmonton's far south.
Find your next park on the map
Off Leash is a free app that maps dog parks across Edmonton — filter for fenced parks and see which dogs are there right now before you head out.
Off-leash, answered
Where can I take my dog off-leash in Edmonton?
Edmonton has more than 60 official off-leash areas. The biggest and best-known are unfenced river-valley and large city parks like Terwillegar, Buena Vista, Mill Creek Ravine South, Capilano, Gold Bar, Hermitage and Jackie Parker, where dogs roam open fields and trails and, in places, swim. For enclosed options there are fully fenced runs like Alex Decoteau and O-day'min downtown, Lauderdale in the north, and The Orchards in the southeast. The 11 spots in this guide are the best places to start, and the Off Leash app maps dog parks across Edmonton and shows which dogs are there right now.
Which Edmonton dog parks are fenced?
Most of Edmonton's off-leash areas are unfenced river-valley parks, but the City and local developers have added fully fenced enclosures in recent years. The City's established (City-funded) fenced off-leash areas include Alex Decoteau Park downtown, Braithwaite Park in Garneau, plus sites in Alberta Avenue, Pleasantview and Glengarry, with O-day'min opening downtown in November 2025 and a new fenced Ottewell dog park in Fulton Ravine Park under construction, expected by the end of 2026. Developer-funded fenced parks include The Orchards, Paisley and Manning Village, and Lauderdale in the north is fenced with a separate small/shy-dog section (partly closed during EPCOR dry-pond construction). These are the safest picks for puppies and dogs still working on recall.
What are the off-leash hours and rules in Edmonton?
City of Edmonton parks are generally open daily from 5am to 11pm, so that's when you can use the off-leash areas. Off-leash use is permitted under the Animal Care and Control Bylaw and the Public Spaces Bylaw: dogs must be licensed (required from six months of age), on a leash when entering or leaving an off-leash boundary, and kept under control, and owners must clean up after them. The City also recommends keeping dogs up to date on vaccinations and deworming. A renewed Animal Care and Control Bylaw (21244) took effect May 19, 2026, adding tighter rules for vicious dogs (which are not allowed in off-leash areas).
Can dogs swim in Edmonton's off-leash parks?
Yes — some river-valley off-leash areas reach the North Saskatchewan, most famously Terwillegar Park, where many dogs swim. Note that neighbouring Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park, including the shore by its boat launch, is an on-leash park on the City's current site map — its off-leash meadow belongs to Buena Vista. Watch the current, especially during spring melt and high water, and note that some on-site water features — like the lake at Jackie Parker Park — are signed no-swimming and no-boating. Always check the signage at each site.
Last updated October 2026. Spotted an error, a closure, or a spot we missed? Let us know — we keep the map current.