Greenlake Dog Park in Seattle Washington
I moved to Seattle over two years ago. My dog was two years old and as hyper as they come when I first got here, so I spent a lot of time visiting the dog parks in Seattle. I was on a mission to find the best one, and along the way I figured out what ones I did or didn’t love. Read through this post to hear all of the good and the bad when it comes to Woodland dog park.
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ToggleOverview
While the correct name for this Seattle dog park is Woodland off-leash dog park, many people refer to it as the Greenlake dog park. This is because it is right across the street from Greenlake. In this post I will be referring to it as both Woodland Off-leash dog park and Greenlake dog park.
This is a fully fenced in off-leash dog park. It’s not the largest dog park in Seattle, with only one acre of land for your dog to explore. There are two areas that are ok for playing fetch but if the park is busy this can become difficult. The amenities of this dog park include garbage cans, benches, poop bag stations (although these are rarely filled), free parking, and drinking water.
Play area at Greenlake dog park in Seattle.
Getting There
For Google maps directions to Greenlake Dog Park, click here.
Getting to Greenlake dog park is fairly easy. Google and Apple maps will take you very close by. Whether you are coming around the lake clockwise or counter clockwise, you will see a the lake to the east of the road and various parking lots to the west. The easiest way to find the parking lot for this dog park is to look for the Greenlake tennis courts, and follow the road that is just north of the courts and heading west. This road will lead you up to a small parking area right next to the off-leash area. If this lot if full, simply make a U-turn and park near the tennis courts.
Map showing where to find Greenlake dog park.
When to Visit
Since this park is only one acre, I try to avoid visiting Greenlake dog park on the weekends. This Seattle dog park fills up quickly and can be overwhelming when it’s busy. I also see this happen when I visit around 5-7pm on the weekends. If you can manage to go mid-day during the week that is ideal!
Another thing to note is that this park gets very muddy when it rains. If there has been a hard rain in Seattle, I like to avoid visiting Greenlake dog park. Sometimes I will plan to visit during the rain becasuse it isn’t every very crowded, but I always plan on giving my dog a bath. Make sure that if you visit Greenlake dog park on a rainy day you have a towel waiting for you in the car!
Amenities
Parking: There are multiple free parking areas near the Greenlake dog park. One is located right next to the off-leash area, but beyond that there are many lots within a .5 mile walk of this dog park.
Water: There is one water faucet available with a few dog bowls. This faucet is located at the top of the hill in the park. You’ll see the hill immediately when you enter the off-leash area, it’s hard to miss.
Shy dog area: There is a shy dog area conveniently located near the parking lot. If your dog is shy or small you can take them here without worrying about running into a large dog.
Fetch area: There are a few spots where you can play fetch with your dog at Greenlake dog park. I would estimate that there are 4 spots large enough for fetch, so if you plan on visiting on a weekend you may not have room.
Seating: There are multiple benches throughout the park
Garbage cans: There is one garbage can located outside of the park on the north end.
Poop bags: There are three poop bag stations located throughout the park, but in my experience they are rarely stocked.
Fetch area in Greenlake dog park.
Nearby Activities
If you’re planning on visiting the Greenlake dog park, don’t skip taking a stroll on the Greenlake walking trail. This walking trail is one of Seattle’s proudest trails. It creates a 3 mile loop around Greenlake, and walks by many different local businesses and restaurants. One of my personal favorite weekend activities is to visit the dog park, and then slowly make my way around the lake. I always stop for coffee and snacks, and spend some time relaxing on one of the benches with a view of the lake. For more information on Greenlake park, click here.
What I Love About Greenlake Dog Park
I don’t usually take my dog to this Seattle off-leash dog park, but the times that I do are typically followed up by a walk around the lake. The Greenlake walking trail is across the road from the dog park and is a really nice spot to go for a long walk. The trail is 2.9 miles long and winds around the lake. You will see lots of other dogs along this trail and must keep your dog on leash anytime you are outside of the Woodland park off-leash area.
I appreciate that this park has water access and lots of parking availability. I never worry about having to pack water because there is a faucet with a few dog bowls at the top of the hill in the park. The parking access is great because there is a large lot just outside of the off-leash area, and then there are a couple of parking lots within a .5 mile walk of the dog park.
Another thing that is nice about this park are the many benches. There are lots of benches available for you to sit down and relax. The park is also surrounded by large trees so even if you visit in the middle of a sunny day it shouldn’t be too hot.
Upper area of Greenlake dog park in Seattle, Washington.
What I Don’t Love About Greenlake Dog Park
To be completely transparent, this is not my favorite dog park in Seattle so I don’t come too often. If I lived right next to Greenlake I would visit this Seattle dog park more often, but knowing about Magnuson off-leash dog park makes it hard to go anywhere else. For more information on my favorite dog park in Seattle, Warren G. Magnusun Off-Leash Dog Park, check out my blog post here.
There are two main reasons why I don’t visit this park often. The first is that it is pretty small. There’s not enough room for my dog to get all of his energy out. That being said, he is a very active dog that needs to get a lot of running in. If you have a smaller or less active dog this shouldn’t be too much of an issue for you.
The second reason I don’t visit the Greenlake dog park often is the dirt that is used in the park. The entire park is covered in dirt, creating a very muddy environment when it’s raining. I would plan on giving your dog a bath after visiting this park, especially if you are visiting on a rainy Seattle day.
One last thing to keep in mind is that I have visited this park 5-10 times since moving to Seattle and they’ve been out of poop bags each time. I always make sure to bring my own bags when visiting this off-leash dog park in Seattle.
Stairs and benches at Greenlake dog park.
Conclusion
The Woodland Off-Leash Dog Park in Seattle has all of the basic amenities that a dog park should have. With room to play, water to drink, and other dogs to socialize with – Greenlake dog park has all of the basics. There are many pros and cons of Greenlake dog park, but all in all this park is a staple for many Seattle dog owners. Oh, and don’t forget to take some time to walk around the lake!
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Oooh fabulous! We sometimes travel to Washington to hike or ski, and it’s always with dogos, so this is really useful. Woodland Off-Leash Dog Park sounds perfect for happy pups.
Great information. Thanks for sharing!
This off-leash dog park sounds like a place my three pups would love! I wish there was a decent dog park in my area, but I’ve not yet found one. Thanks for sharing your experience.