Dog walking in Portage

Willow Creek

Woodland Park is a 64-acre recreational area in Portage that includes playgrounds, picnic facilities, a skate park, walking trails, and even its own dog park. The Portage Dog Park is a large, fenced space where dogs are free to explore off their leashes. There is an area for dogs over 35 pounds, as well as an area for smaller dogs, and both sections have agility equipment and seating. There's a water fountain for pups at the park, as well as waste disposal items to keep the park clean. The park is free to use, but be sure your dog is wearing current tags and is up-to-date on vaccinations because animal control is known to stop by to check these things.

Wicker Park

A 20-minute drive west of Portage will take you and your pup to the Wicker Memorial Park in Highland, Indiana. The park is in the northwestern corner of Highland, and among other excellent amenities, Wicker Park also has its own dog park. The Wicker Memorial Dog Park underwent major upgrades in 2016, and it now has two areas. One area is always closed to let the grass recover, so your pet isn't left running around in the dirt. There is a water fountain right outside of the dog park entrance, but be sure to bring your own water bowl. To visit the park, you must pay an annual fee and provide proof of your dog's registration and vaccinations.

Bluhm Park

Westville is a town in Indiana with a population of around 6,000 people, and it takes about 20 minutes to get there from Portage. In the northwestern quadrant of Westville, there's a place called Bluhm County Park. This 96-acre public park includes paved trails as well as nature trails, picnic facilities, playgrounds, and an off-leash dog area! The Bark Park at Bluhm County Park is a three-acre park that is paradise for dogs and owners. The park features a bunch of agility equipment so your pooch can show off their special skills, and there are also water fountains and seating throughout the park. You will need to pay a small annual or a daily fee to visit this park.

Lemon Lake Park

A half-hour drive southwest from Portage will get you to the Dogwood Run at Lemon Lake County Park in Crown Point, Indiana. Lemon Lake County Park is in the southwest corner of Crown Point, and the off-leash area is a 14-acre space, but half of it is closed at a time to allow the grass to regenerate. Dogwood Run features an agility course, and there are plenty of trails throughout the rest of Lemon Lake County Park that you can explore with your dog on a leash. Lake Lemon is also a good spot to go fishing, play disc golf, enjoy a picnic, or bring the kids to play at the playground.

North Porter

The Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore is only 20 minutes from Portage, and it's certainly worth the trip! Located in Porter, Indiana, the Lake Shore is more than 15,000 acres of ecological diversity you'll never get tired of exploring! Your dog can join you at the Lake Shore if they're on a leash, and you'll both enjoy exploring the dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, rivers and more. In addition to more than 1,100 plant species, more than 350 species of birds have been spotted here as well. The beaches to the east of the Lake Shore are open to dogs, but dogs are not allowed on the beaches to the west, although they can join you on the surrounding trails.