Clark Park Off Leash Dog Area

Old Saybrook, Connecticut is one of the oldest townships in the United States, perched near the mouth of the Long Island Sound. The area’s natural environments are wetlands and marshes, and the area is as green as green can be. You and your dog will love visiting any one of the area’s parks, most of which allow dogs both on and off leash in designated areas. 

The Clark Community Park, also known as the Town Park, is one of the area’s most popular choices for off-leash excitement. The Clark Community Park is a marshland park featuring baseball fields, a playground, and several miles of interconnected trails. If you are adventurous, you could spend anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours hiking and exploring Cedar Swamp. 

In total, the park encompasses 180 acres, including Crystal Lake, which allows fishing but not swimming. In the winter, the area’s steeper hiking trails double as skiing trails, allowing you and your dog to enjoy the area year-round. The park has several picnic areas, drinking water, and restrooms available, but you will need to pack poop bags and pick up after your dog when the time comes. 

Old Saybrook Parks and Recreation governs the park, and it is free for all to enjoy. Dogs cannot play on the baseball field or on any fields that are regularly maintained, but they are allowed on leash everywhere else in the park and off-leash on the trails. There are three main trails each connected to one another and offering varying levels of difficulty, including some trails that have not been blazed in case you feel like exploring on your own. 

At any given time, you are likely to run into other owners taking their dogs out for a stroll. They all tend to be friendly, courteous people and the dogs here are known to get along well in the area. If you find yourself in the historic town of Old Saybrook, feel free to stop by the Clark Community Park and explore natural landscapes that early settlers founded their homes upon.