Dog walking in Aptos

Rio Del Mar

Along the southern coast of Aptos is the Rio Del Mar Beach State Park, and this dog-friendly beach has miles of sand you can walk along with your dog on a leash. One of the great things about California beaches is how dog-friendly they are, and this beach is most certainly included in that category. The beach is quiet and peaceful, and with so much space, it doesn't often feel crowded. You can walk your dog there when the beach is open from 8 AM to sunset, and you can enjoy activities like bird and whale watching, surfing and paddleboarding there, too.

Southeast Aptos

Southeast Aptos is home to the town's very own dog park. Aptos Dog Park at Polo Grounds Park is a one-acre space where dogs are free to play off-leash. The dog park includes a small dog area and a big dog area, and the surface is made of wood chips which makes for easy clean-up. There are also doggy bags available, as well as lots of seating for humans and shade. The rest of Polo Grounds Park has other activities for you and your family to enjoy, including soccer fields, baseball diamonds, a bike track, and a walking trail around the perimeter of the park.

Rose-Sartorette

About a half-hour drive north of Aptos is San Jose, California, and in the neighborhood of Rose-Sartorette sits the Butcher Dog Park. Rose-Sartorette is on the western edge of San Jose, and there are all sorts of restaurants and activities nearby as well. Butcher Dog Park has everything you could want in a dog park: big and small dog sections, astroturf and mulch, water, seating, and shade. This park is free to use but is maintained by a dedicated group of park users out of the goodness of their hearts. Surrounding the off-leash park are playgrounds and sports fields, so feel free to bring the whole pack! 

University Terrace Park

The University Terrace Dog Run is only a 15-minute drive from Aptos, and it's a pawfect place to bring your pup for some exercise and socialization. Within the dog park, there is a small dog enclosure as well as a big dog enclosure. The sizable off-leash area is L-shaped, and it includes a tennis court, so Fido might be lucky enough to catch a spare ball! There are a whole bunch of trees throughout the park, as well as walkways and lots of green space. The park is free to use, and visitors love how dedicated park regulars are to keeping it clean.

San Tomas

Campbell is a city in California with a population of around 42,000 people, and it's about a half-hour drive from Aptos. In the south-central part of town there's a place known as Los Gatos Creek County Park, and in addition to the miles of trails and other recreational opportunities in the park, there's also an off-leash dog park! The Los Gatos Creek Dog Park has big and small dog sections, and it's free to use unless you park your vehicle there, in which case you'll need to pay an $8 fee. The dog park has a water source, seating, and shade, and the surface is astroturf, so you never have to worry about muddy paws.