Balboa Park Dog Play Area, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, CA is well-known for its pawsome dog-friendly parks and play areas. Balboa Park in the Mission Terrace neighborhood offers activities sure to please anyone, with a pool, baseball fields, and tennis courts. But the pupular off-leash play area is where doggos go to have fun. Located in the northwest corner of the park between Balboa Pool and Boxer Stadium, it’s an area set aside for fur babies to run free. 

Like many of San Francisco’s dog play areas, Balboa is not fenced, but is well-marked if you are coming from Havelock. Once side of the dog area does border the street, so it's important that you have good voice control over your dog at all times for their safety. Nervous dogs may need to stay leashed. While the dog area itself is off-leash, your pup should remain leashed while getting there, and when exploring the rest of Balboa Park. 

This dog zone has a soft layer of grass for sensitive pup paws, and some open space dotted with a few trees for shade. Benches line the path that cuts through it for pet parents to keep an eye on their doggos. Unfurtunately, the area doesn't have a water source or access to clean-up bags, so you'll want to bring enough water to share with your thirsty pup, and some bags to help keep the park tidy. Parking can conveniently be found along the street that borders the park.

Besides leaving no surprises behind, the rules of the park also require that your dog's vaccinations and licenses are current when visiting, and that you prevent your dog from excessively barking, digging or engaging in other destructive behavior.

If your dog still has some energy to spare, explore the paths that weave through Balboa Park. Its benches, grass, and many trees offer a peaceful respite from the surrounding city that's pawrfect for warming up or cooling down from an exuberant afternoon at the dog area. 

If you’d like to brush up on Fido’s people and dog etiquette skills, be sure to book in-home training with Wag!