Dog Walkers in Laurel Heights

Laurel Heights is a neighborhood located in northern San Francisco and bordered by Jordan Park, Presidio Heights, and Anza Vista. It is a relatively upscale area and the streets are lined with Victorian homes while its major thoroughfares are populated by fancy dining spots and shops. The University of San Francisco campus is located directly south of the neighborhood which is otherwise a mostly middle-class suburban atmosphere. Because of this, it differs from some of the more famous areas of San Francisco which are known for their grittiness and character.

San Francisco has its own very unique climate where the temperature hovers between 55 and 66 degrees almost year round. Because of its location in the Bay Area, it is a very windy place. No matter the season, locals tend to be wearing light jackets or windbreakers. It still makes an ideal place for dog walking though, because of its beautiful, mild summers. 

The terrain in most of San Francisco is famously hilly and Laurel Heights definitely falls into the same category. The main thoroughfare that bisects the neighborhood is Euclid Avenue which has extreme elevation changes. The western side of the street begins going up a mid-sized slope and then plateaus in the middle of the neighborhood while the eastern side descends down another slope towards the downtown of San Francisco. Hills like this are scattered throughout the neighborhood and make its terrain fairly unusual, so you'll want to exercise caution if you are a beginner at hiking.

Though it isn’t the busiest neighborhood in town, Laurel Heights still has a good amount of street and foot traffic. With big shopping sites in the southeast corner and three major thoroughfares, it can get very busy during normal rush hour times. However, there are plenty of residential streets that will make for good dog walking at any time. 

Directly in the center of Laurel Heights is the Laurel Hill Playground which is the only major greenway in the neighborhood. It is fairly large, spanning one and a half acres with open green space, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and basketball courts. Its location and amenities make it a popular spot for locals, especially those with children or dogs.

There is a wider selection of parks and greenways in the areas surrounding Laurel Heights. The most notable is the massive Presidio area which is a national park connecting to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is located just a few blocks north of Laurel Heights and it stretches for 2.3 square miles. The park offers just about anything one could need for dog walking including acres and acres of green space, forests, and trails. It is known for its dog-friendly environment with a competent and engaged park staff who help to maintain the area.