Dog walking in Ukiah

Northwest Side

The neighborhood of Northwest Side is a small residential community. A 16-acre open space known as the Todd Grove Park provides residents with plenty of vacant fields to play in. There are shady trees, paved trails, barbeque facilities, picnic tables, a playground, pavilion, and swimming pool. Dogs can enjoy the open areas while leashed, along with water fountains, clean-up stations, and benches. McGarvey Park is a smaller but quieter park, with only an acre of land with a perimeter path, live grassy fields, and shaded picnic areas. The area is dog-friendly and provides humans and pups with amenities like water and trash bins.

Central Ukiah

Central Ukiah is busy during the day, with plenty of activity in the downtown area and shopping districts. Dog walkers can still find some open space at the Alex R. Thomas Plaza. This small park just under an acre offers a concrete walking path that encircles and winds through it, as well as a covered pavilion, grassy play areas, benches, and shaded picnic tables. Dogs must remain on a leash and be careful with the busy streets right next to the park. Patrona is a dog-friendly eatery in the neighborhood, serving hearty sandwiches and salads with dog-friendly seating outside and complimentary water bowls for Fido.

Wagonseller South

Wagonseller South is the southern neighborhood of Ukiah, and named after the old wagon shops that were once in the area. Although there aren't many wagons nowadays, the community has the Oak Manor Park, a 4-acre park with restrooms, picnic areas, large open spaces for Fido to run around and play, paved walking trails, and barbeque facilities. The community also offers the Vinewood Park, a 4.7-acre park known for its quiet setting, wooded surroundings and green space for Fido. There are benches, water fountains, and a clean-up station in the park. Dogs must remain on a leash while in both parks.

Talmage

Talmage is the largest neighborhood in Ukiah that also offers a large plot of wilderness to explore. The Bushay Recreation Area spans 50-acres for recreational activities and camping. The site rests right along Lake Mendocino, with access to fishing and swimming holes, paved trails, camping spots for RVs and tents, restrooms, a playground, benches, and trash bins. Dogs are welcome and are not required to be on a leash while at the park, although it is not fenced in. A trail connects to the camp known as the Shakota Trail, a 5-mile asphalt trail that follows along the lake. The trail is dog-friendly and provides some of the best views of the lake from elevated levels.

Western Lakeport

Western Lakeport is a large neighborhood in Lakeport, just 11 miles from Ukiah. The area is mostly forested, with some of those forests belonging to South Cow Mountain OHV Recreation Area. The recreational area is over 23,000 acres that are dog-friendly with plenty of activities for pups and humans. These activities include over 9 miles of dirt and concrete trails, open fields for exploring and hiking, and camping spots for tents. The area does not require pups to be on a leash, but owners must remember to bring water and clean-up bags for their pup, and keep their pup under voice command since the area is not fenced in.