The 11 Best Off-Leash Dog Parks in Victoria
Ocean-view waterfront runs, a fully fenced city park, and coastal regional trails — here are Greater Victoria's best places to let your dog off the leash.
Greater Victoria is a patchwork of small municipalities, and each one writes its own off-leash rules, so "where can my dog run free" depends on which side of a street you're standing on. The City of Victoria has 15 designated leash-optional areas — all but two allow off-leash play only during set hours, which range from a two-hour morning window to 6 a.m.–10 p.m., and only Vic West Park is a fully fenced enclosure. Saanich, the largest neighbouring municipality, allows off-leash only in designated leash-optional parks and on specific trails; the leash-optional trails at PKOLS (Mount Douglas) are now partly fenced, and a fenced area is planned at Cuthbert Holmes. Note that the Capital Regional District's big regional parks (Thetis Lake, Elk/Beaver Lake) aren't designated off-leash parks: the CRD only asks that dogs be under control, in sight and leashed where signed, and bans them from designated beach and picnic areas from June 1 to September 15. Across the region, almost every off-leash spot is an open field, beach or coastal trail relying on solid voice control rather than a fence, and many waterfront areas have seasonal bird-sanctuary or species-at-risk closures. In the City of Victoria, off-leash fines run $100–$300, so it pays to check the posted signs and hours before you unclip.
Clover Point Park & Dallas Road Waterfront
One of the largest off-leash areas in the city — a long grassy oceanfront strip running between the multi-use path and the seaside walkway, from Cook Street out around Clover Point, continuing the Beacon Hill stretch to the west. Dogs must be leashed on the pathways and on the beach below. Big sky, ocean views and constant wind make it a dog-walking institution.
Vic West Park Dog Park
Victoria's only fully fenced, double-gated off-leash enclosure, open to off-leash dogs daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park also has a second fenced leash-optional area beside the gravel pathway.
PKOLS / Mount Douglas Park
Greater Victoria's signature forest park — 188 hectares and more than 21 km of trails, a summit lookout over the city and sea, and a sandy beach. Designated leash-optional trails, now partly lined with page-wire fencing, make this the go-to for big forest adventures; dogs are leashed everywhere else. The summit road is closed until December 1, 2026 for tower work, with areas around the summit restricted.
Topaz Park
One of Victoria's most popular parks, with two leash-optional areas. The larger north area (Glasgow Field) gives high-energy dogs plenty of room for fetch at set morning and evening hours, when no sports permit is in effect; the partially fenced south area, south of the playground, is off-leash 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Beacon Hill Park (Dallas Road side)
An off-leash zone south of Dallas Road on the ocean side, between Douglas Street and Clover Point, set within Victoria's most famous park. Everywhere else in the park dogs must be leashed, and they're barred from playgrounds and the heron nesting area south of Goodacre Lake.
Macaulay Point Park
An oceanfront park with trails winding past WWII military bunkers, lookouts and rocky shoreline. Dogs can be off-leash on the trails from the top of the hill at the breakwater to the Clifton Terrace entrance and in a marked area, but must be leashed from the parking lot up to the hill and stay out of fenced protected-species areas. Part of the walkway is currently closed for rock-fall hazard.
Saxe Point Park
A scenic oceanfront park at the end of Fraser Street, with manicured lawns, big firs and rocky shoreline lookouts. The westerly side is the designated leash-optional area; dogs stay leashed on the trails on the easterly side.
Banfield Park
A friendly neighbourhood off-leash area beside the Gorge waterway, between the basketball court and the Victoria West Community Centre parking lot. Grassy and central, popular with local dog walkers.
Oswald Park
A neighbourhood off-leash area in Oaklands, limited to a signed portion of the park and open to off-leash dogs daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. An easygoing, low-key spot for everyday play.
Songhees Hilltop Park
A small, well-kept hilltop green space in the Songhees neighbourhood with harbour views and low foot traffic — a calm option that suits smaller or more nervous dogs.
Pemberton Park
A quiet neighbourhood off-leash area in Gonzales, open to off-leash dogs daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the leash-optional zone is smaller when the baseball outfield fence is up. Unfenced, so it suits dogs with reliable recall who want a low-key local run.
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Off-leash, answered
Where can I take my dog off-leash in Victoria?
The City of Victoria has 15 designated leash-optional areas. The most popular are Clover Point Park and the Dallas Road / Beacon Hill waterfront (listed as leash-optional 'at all times'), Topaz Park, and the fully fenced Vic West Park dog park. In Saanich, PKOLS (Mount Douglas) has designated leash-optional forest trails, and Esquimalt has off-leash areas at Macaulay Point and Saxe Point. Everywhere else in Greater Victoria, dogs must be leashed unless the spot is specifically designated leash-optional. The CRD's big regional parks like Thetis Lake aren't designated off-leash parks — dogs must be under control and in sight, leashed where signed, and kept off designated beaches and picnic areas from June 1 to September 15.
Which Victoria dog parks are fenced?
Vic West Park is the only fully fenced, double-gated off-leash enclosure in the City of Victoria. Topaz Park's south leash-optional area is partially fenced. In Saanich, partial page-wire fencing along the PKOLS (Mount Douglas) leash-optional trails is complete, with full fencing approved for late 2027/early 2028, and construction of a fenced leash-optional area at Cuthbert Holmes Park is planned. Saanich also runs fully fenced pop-up dog parks at Hyacinth, Lambrick and Rudd parks from early April to late October. Most other off-leash areas in the region are open fields, beaches or coastal trails with no fence.
What are the off-leash hours in Victoria?
In the City of Victoria, off-leash hours are set park by park in the bylaw schedule. Vic West, Oswald, Pemberton, Songhees Hilltop, Arbutus and Topaz's south area are 6 a.m.–10 p.m. daily; Alexander and Redfern are 6–10 a.m. and 4–10 p.m.; Barnard, Fisherman's Wharf and Oaklands are mornings only; Topaz's north area (Glasgow Field) is 6–10 a.m. and 4–10 p.m. on weekdays and 6–8 a.m. and 5–10 p.m. on weekends; and Banfield is 6–9 a.m. and 5–10 p.m. from April 1 to Sept 30, then 6 a.m.–10 p.m. from Oct 1 to March 31. A few areas — Clover Point Park and Beacon Hill Park's Dallas Road side — are listed as leash-optional 'at all times' in the bylaw schedule. Off-leash violations carry fines of $100 to $300, so check the posted signs at each park.
Are there off-leash dog beaches in Victoria?
Most waterfront off-leash access has seasonal restrictions. Along Dallas Road, the grassy strip is leash-optional but the beach below it is on-leash only and sits in a federal migratory bird sanctuary. Fleming Beach at Macaulay Point in Esquimalt is leash-optional November 1 to May 1 and on-leash May 2 to October 31. At Saxe Point Park, the off-leash area is the westerly side of the park. In Saanich, dogs are banned from the PKOLS (Mount Douglas) beach and the area north of Cordova Bay Road from May 1 to August 31. Always check posted dates before unclipping near water.
Last updated October 2026. Spotted an error, a closure, or a spot we missed? Let us know — we keep the map current.