Viking Dog Park - Bonney Lake

When we think of a dog park, we often think of a broad, mostly flat field that has grass or maybe wood chips. We picture benches, maybe picnic tables, and perhaps a separate enclosure for small dogs. Viking Dog Park at Bonney Lake, Washington, has all of these details, but maybe not in the layout you have come to expect.

Bonney Lake is between Tacoma and Seattle, and it has a gorgeous view of Mt. Ranier. The town had been a sleepy, small town for most of its history. However, it's less than 40 miles to Seattle and less than 30 miles to Tacoma, and now, it's a bedroom community for both cities. So the town has had an influx of new residents, which led to the creation of the Viking Dog Park.

Viking Dog Park, at almost four acres, is a nicely sized dog park. There is a grassy open area near the front of the park, but the rest of the park is wooded. There are paths and trails throughout the park and even some primitive stairs. Some of the paths have woodchips, others are simply dirt that can be quite muddy during the rainy season, which the northwest is known for. The off-leash area is well-fenced, but despite that, the park has a definite wilderness feel. However, this is a dog park and has the amenities you would expect. For instance, there are poop bags and trash cans throughout the park and you will find the occasional bench and picnic tables. There is a water fountain for people and dogs at the front of the off-leash area.

So what's with the name, you ask? The Viking Dog Park is adjacent to Bonney Lake Elementary, in fact, they share a parking lot. The dog park is named after the school's mascot. The Viking Dog Park is a beautiful park in a lovely area. The trees and the other dogs make it a very fun and interesting park for your dog to run off a little steam and maybe even meet some new furbuddies.