Weiss Field

Weiss Field is home to Avon Lake’s public dog park with fenced areas for off-leash play. Though small, the park offers a waste station, seasonal running water, and a climbing ramp. As the park is free and unmonitored, the city just asks that owners keep a close eye on the safety of their own pups. (Hey, you know those fur-babies would do the same for you.) If your pack needs more space to explore, wind your way around the ballfields of Weiss Park, though please note that dogs aren’t allowed on the fields themselves. Then, grab a bench or a sunny patch of grass and watch your neighbors catch some air at the skate park. 

Northwest Avon Lake

Miller Road Park in the northwest corner of Avon Lake offers a lovely view of the waterfront with a half-mile paved walking trail, a pier, and lots of squirrels. Dogs aren’t welcome in the water at the human swimming hole — we know, we know — but there’s plenty of room for canine splashing on either side. For a little more lakefront access, continue a few miles west on Highway 6 to Shell Cove Park, a smaller and quieter picnic spot on the water. Or, if quiet is what your pack wants, consider a walk in the woods in nearby Bicentennial Park: these undeveloped woods are small enough to explore without risk of getting lost but large enough to enjoy nature in total privacy.

Bay Village Waterfront

If your pack likes to walk in the evenings, note the long opening hours for Cahoon Memorial Park in Bay Village, 6.5 miles from Avon Lake. This lakefront park has a walking trail with views of the water and the Cleveland skyline, plus fantastic grassy fields that, when not hosting the park’s many festivals, are ideal for a game of fetch. In winter, find out whether your pups have any sled dog potential on the slide-at-your-own-risk toboggan hill. Or, if you want a more natural setting, the Huntington Reservation Metro Park adjoins Cahoon and provides an additional 3.5 miles of nature trails and beachfront walking.

East Lorain

The City of Lorain is just 10 miles west of Lake Avon and home to stunning lakeside and riverside parks. Whether you’re on two feet or four, they’ll carry you all over Lorain on the excellent trail network. The Black River Reservation’s Cromwell Park has a trailhead for the new 2-mile Black River Trail, which winds through Cromwell to the Steel Mill Trail on Colorado Avenue, which in turn leads to the Bridgeway Trail and Day’s Dam for a total of 5.5 paved miles of riverside walking. You’ll find an additional 4.5 miles of trail and 425 acres of lush scenery at the nearby French Creek Reservation, although the dirt and gravel trails may be less inviting for tender paws. 

Valley View