The 9 Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in Quebec City
Fenced city dog runs, a riverside gravel yard and forest bases where your dog can swim — with the details most lists skip: which are fenced, the posted hours, and where small and large dogs are separated.
Quebec City keeps its off-leash setup tidy and rules-driven: the Ville de Québec runs exactly five designated off-leash spaces (parcs et espaces canins), and outside those, dogs must be leashed everywhere else in the city — including the Plaines d'Abraham and Old Port. Two are fenced urban dog parks (Pointe-aux-Lièvres and Pente-Douce), one is the new Duberger park, and two are fenced exercise areas at the city's outdoor bases (Sainte-Foy and Mont-Bélair/La Découverte). Your dog must be registered and wear the City of Québec medal to use any of them, and stay leashed everywhere outside the marked off-leash area. To round out the picture for the wider region, we've added a few standout fenced parks in the suburbs (Saint-Augustin, Shannon, Lévis) plus a private forest property on the South Shore where dogs can actually swim. Best first.
Aire d'exercice canin — Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy
The city's most loved off-leash spot — a fenced exercise area at the 123-hectare outdoor base, set around two lakes with year-round walking trails. Dogs run free inside the dog area and must stay leashed everywhere else on the base.
Parc canin de la Pointe-aux-Lièvres
A fully fenced off-leash park along the Rivière Saint-Charles, split into two sections for small and large dogs, with benches, a dog water fountain and waste stations — handy for downtown dogs.
Parc canin de la Pente-Douce
A smaller fenced park at the foot of the Pente-Douce hill near avenue Belvédère, with open running space, benches, picnic tables and a dog water fountain.
Espace canin de Duberger
Quebec City's newest off-leash park, opened August 2025. A well-developed space with two enclosures divided by size — one for dogs 20 kg and over, a smaller one for dogs under 20 kg. Sited beside Autoroute Robert-Bourassa, so it's a touch noisy.
Aire d'exercice canin — Base de plein air La Découverte (Mont-Bélair)
A fenced off-leash exercise area at the 31-hectare La Découverte outdoor base in the Mont-Bélair nature park, with walking trails open daily from 6am to dusk. Dogs run free inside the marked area and stay leashed everywhere else on the trail network.
Parc canin de Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
A large suburban park of about 5,300 m² (57,000 sq ft) with separate fenced enclosures for small and large dogs. Dogs need a Saint-Augustin medal — free for residents, $100 a year for non-residents. Heads-up: the city has sold the land, and the park stays open only until March 31, 2027.
Parc canin de Shannon
A large fenced park split into two enclosures so small dogs get their own space, lit in the evening, with a pavilion, picnic table and water fountains. Non-residents need a $35 Shannon medal for the year, bought through the Gestipattes platform.
Parc canin de Lévis (secteur Saint-Romuald)
A secure fenced city dog park on the South Shore, a quick drive over the bridge from Quebec City. Dogs must wear a medal issued by the SPA de Lévis (the city's dog licence), and entry is barred once the posted capacity is reached.
Plein-Air Canin
A 23-hectare private off-leash dog property with mature forest trails, an agility field and a sandy beach on the Aulneuse River where dogs can swim. A destination for canicross, frisbee and long off-leash forest walks rather than a quick city run. Sign the one-time waiver and buy a day ($6) or monthly pass before you go.
Find your next park on the map
Off Leash is a free app that maps dog parks across Québec City — 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 Quebec City?
The Ville de Québec runs five designated off-leash spaces: the fenced parks at Pointe-aux-Lièvres and Pente-Douce, the new Duberger park, and fenced exercise areas (aires d'exercice canins) at the Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy and the Base de plein air La Découverte (Mont-Bélair). Everywhere else in the city — including the Plaines d'Abraham and the Old Port — dogs must be leashed. To use any city off-leash space your dog must be registered and wear the City of Québec medal.
Which Quebec City dog parks are fenced?
All five city off-leash spaces are fenced: the two urban dog parks at Pointe-aux-Lièvres and Pente-Douce, the new Duberger park, and the exercise areas at the Sainte-Foy and Mont-Bélair (La Découverte) outdoor bases. In the suburbs, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures and Shannon both have large fenced parks, and Lévis has a secure fenced park for dogs licensed in Lévis (Saint-Augustin's is set to close on March 31, 2027). The only unfenced option here is the private Plein-Air Canin property in Saint-Nicolas.
What are the off-leash hours and rules in Quebec City?
The Duberger, Pointe-aux-Lièvres and Pente-Douce parks are open daily 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; the exercise areas at the Sainte-Foy and La Découverte outdoor bases follow base hours (La Découverte's trails open 6 a.m. to dusk), and the city says base facilities depend on the weather, so call 311 if unsure. Rules: keep your dog leashed until you're inside the entry airlock, no more than two dogs per responsible person, no sick dogs or females in heat, clean up waste, no feeding inside, toys only when you're alone with your dog, supervise your dog at all times, and your dog must wear the current City of Québec medal. The Duberger and Pointe-aux-Lièvres parks have separate sections for small and large dogs.
Are there dog parks near Quebec City where my dog can swim?
Yes — the private Plein-Air Canin property in Saint-Nicolas (Lévis) has a sandy beach on the Aulneuse River where dogs can swim (paid day or monthly pass). There is no designated off-leash dog beach within Quebec City itself.
Last updated October 2026. Spotted an error, a closure, or a spot we missed? Let us know — we keep the map current.