5–8 minutes
Dog Parks in Boise are both numerous and diverse compared to some other cities, and Boise is still growing. Some folks prefer walking their dogs off leash at the dog park, while other want more of a “hands off” kind of experience, and those dog parks are fenced in for safety.
Boise has over 100 parks throughout the city, but only a fraction of those are dog-friendly or off-leash dog parks. And, not all of them are worth a visit, so we’ll stick to the top 12+ best dog parks in Boise, so we can get you on your way to have some fun! We’ll divide them into off-leash dog parks and fenced in ones.
Before we get to the best dog park list, be sure you’re properly prepared for taking your dog to a dog park, whether in Boise or somewhere else. Read my post, “Are you really ready for a dog park?“, especially if you’re new to fenced-in off leash dog parks” first.
Boise Fenced-In Off-Leash Areas Within Parks:
- Together Treasure Valley Dog Island at Ann Morrison Park: Great place if you’re dog is a swimmer – bring a towel! There is also a designated, fenced-in area within the Ann Morrison park for “shy” dogs or those dogs that need a safe, fenced area to play in.
- Bowler Park: A fenced, 1.25 acre off-leash dog park with a special space for shy dogs.
- Military Reserve Dog Park: The reserve has miles of off-leash trails, plus an off-leash hill. Not only do you come across gorgeous views, but you can pick a trail the fits you and your dog’s fitness level. It’s the perfect park for hiking with your pup, but watch out for the bikes on the trails!
- Molenaar Park: Molenaar has two fully fenced dog park enclosures. This makes it perfect for friendly dogs who need a fenced, grassy area to play in. It’s a convenient location in Boise with easy access, and the dogs there are playful, and we’ve found the people there to be kind.
- Morris Hill Park: A fenced area of about an acre, with a separate area for smaller pups. There’s also a handful of training and/or agility equipment. Mulch does cover the ground, so be sure your dogs paws can handle it.
And, yes, we added a few dog parks slightly outside of Boise. It’s our dog blog. We do what we want.
Boise Dog Parks with Off-Leash Areas:
- Ann Morrison Park: This massive park, built in 1959, is right next to the Boise River and is open year-round, sunrise to sunset! The off-leash area is within the park at Together Treasure Valley Dog Island. This is a 5.4-acre open, off-leash area with swimming holes. This is a beautiful park, but very popular, so choose less busy times of the day if you don’t want to overwhelm your dog.
- Camel’s Back Park: This is another BIG favorite of ours. It’s a Boise North End neighborhood favorite, so always busy, and our dogs love it! 11 acres of dog-friendly exploration. Both off-leash and on-leash trails behind the park, just high enough for gorgeous views of downtown Boise! There are also easier, flat trails available. Dog owners beware, there are lots of trees, so…squirrels.
- Castle Hills Park: 2.2 acres. See designated off-leash areas here. Dogs allowed off leash from sunrise to 10:00 a.m., and evenings, 4:00 p.m. to sunset.
- Cypress Park: I haven’t been to this one, but it’s an off-leash dog park, with lovely walking paths, views, and a pleasant environment for stroll.
- Manitou Park: Located in Southeast Boise, it offers 5 of its 11 park acres to off-leash dog use during designated hours in a designated area, from sunrise to 10am, and evenings, 4:00 p.m. to Sunset.
- Phillippi Park: This is an 8 1/2 acre park, installed in the middle of a neighborhood. It has a few good-sized green spaces with designated areas for off-leash dogs Dogs can visit the park in the mornings, sunrise to 10:00 a.m., and evenings, 4:00 p.m. to sunset.
- Redwood Park: This 7-acre park in West Boise is an unfenced one with a lake/pond for dogs to play in. Redwood park has an unspoken golden rule -to clean up after your pet and make sure everyone plays together nicely. We haven’t been here yet, but hope to visit soon!
- Sunset Park: 4.4 acres of the 10 acre park is fully available to off-leash dogs during designated hours, from sunrise-10am year-round, and from sunrise to sunset October 15-March 15. Dogs must be on a leash at all other times during the day. See City of Boise for designated off-leash area.
- Winstead Park: This is a large park, focused on a decent-sized clean, open, grassy area surrounded by a short, easy dirt trail. All areas within the park, except tennis courts, playground, shelter, and parking lot, are accessible to hourly dog off-leash use.
Off-leash and Fenced Dog Parks NEAR Boise
- Discovery Park (Meridian, ID): This is one of our favorite dog parks. Why? Because there are two fenced in areas for dogs…one for small or shy dogs and the other for larger dogs or those dogs who play hard. Not only that, but the rest of this huge park is very dog-friendly. Be forewarned that it gets pretty busy on sunny days and holidays (especially on the weekends).
- Pet IQ Dog Park (Eagle, ID): At just about 3 acres, this off-leash fenced dog park in Eagle has two large fenced-in dog runs. One for the larger dogs and the other for smaller dogs. And, bonus! It’s open every day from sunrise to sunset. I’m really looking forward to visiting this one!
Bonus: A Couple of Favorite On-leash Dog Parks in Boise
I know, I know. This post is about off-leash dog parks, however, I would be remiss not to include these wonderful dog-friendly (leashed) Boise parks. We visit them often.
- Julia Davis Park: A highly popular park with lots of big trees and grass. This is where they hold Treefort Music Festival, art festivities, markets, and other fun events. It is situated right next to the river and the Zoo sits on the other side of it. It’s dog friendly, even during most events. This park also has a beautiful rose garden that dogs aren’t allowed in, but it’s beautiful, nonetheless.
- Boise Greenbelt: Technically, not a park, but a “greenway”. It’s the most popular “trail” in Boise, for good reason. The Greenbelt runs along the Boise River and connects Boise’s riverside parks (Kathryn Albertson Park, Esther Simplot Park, and Veteran’s Memorial Park – all dog friendly in one way or another), and connects Boise with neighboring municipalities. It extends about 25 miles from Lucky Peak Dam in the east to a just beyond Eagle Road (Eagle, ID) in the west. Dogs must be leashed at all times on the Boise Greenbelt. And, keep an eye out for joggers, walkers, and bikes on the Greenbelt.
- Kathryn Albertson Park: This is another go-to park for us and our dogs. Mostly because it’s all-natural…the ponds, trees, overgrowth, with paved pathways. You really are in the woods, and my dogs can’t get enough of all the sniffing. And, it continues on and on, and can lead into other parks. Don’t miss out on this one!
If you know of a new, great dog park in Boise or the surrounding area, please let us know! And, if we missed a dog park in Boise that you really love, please share it in the comments below and let us know what you love most about it.
