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LA's 10 Best Dog Parks for Pup Play Dates & People-Watching

By Danielle Directo-Meston
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By Danielle Directo-Meston

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Welcome to Racked's Pet Week: five days' worth of coverage for LA's most stylish furry friends.

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LA may be the home of the world's smallest Pomeranian, but not all four-pawed Angelenos are blessed with their own doggie mansions and personal parks. Here, now, are LA's 10 best dog parks for unleashing Fido (Lola if you're in DTLA, or Princess for all you in Southeast LA) from the stresses of urban and suburban life.

Did we miss your canine's fave? Sound off in the comments below.


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1. Alice's Dog Park

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3026 E Orange Grove Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107
Visit Website
Located within Viña Vieja Park, this two-and-a-half acre off-leash dog park offers separated grassy areas for large and small/sensitive pups. Hours: Dawn to dusk daily; closed Tuesdays for maintenance. [Photo via]

2. Arts District Dog Park

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1004 E 4th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Visit Website
Catering to DTLA dwellers and recently reopened after a brief members-only stint, this Arts District park got a fresh coat of paint from muralist Septerhed. The small but well-kept space (it's run by a dedicated team of local volunteers) boasts a separate gated little dog area and water fountains. Hours: 5am to 11pm daily. [Photo via]

3. The Bone Yard

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Duquesne Avenue & Leash Lane
Culver City, CA 90230
Visit Website
Pay no attention to those creepy oil derricks chugging away above. Just over the hill from the Baldwin Hills steps, this off-leash dog park in Culver City offers ample parking, clean water fountains, and late hours. Bring Fido before bath time—the flea-deterrent dirt ground may require a post-playtime rinse. Hours: Sunrise until 10pm daily. [Photo via]

4. Griffith Park Dog Park

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N Zoo Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 913-4688
(323) 913-4688
Visit Website
A popular alternative to Silver Lake Dog Park, this low-key, 1.6-acre space is tucked away on at a dead-end street at N Zoo Drive. It's larger than its Reservoir competitor, with separate areas for big and little canines, concrete benches, water fountains, and lots of parking. Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily; closed Tuesdays from 6am to 10am for maintenance. [Photo via]

5. Lake Hollywood Park

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3200 Canyon Lake Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Visit Website
Though technically not an off-leash park, this lush parcel offers choice views of the Hollywood sign. Unleash Rover at your own rule-breaking discretion; LA's rolling a slew of quality-of-life laws, including a leash law that'll set you back $100 on the first offense. Hours: 5am to sunset daily. [Photo via]

6. Laurel Canyon Dog Park

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8260 Mulholland Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(818) 769-4415
(818) 769-4415
Visit Website
Nestled in the hills off Mulholland, this patchy Studio City park narrowly beat Lake Hollywood as LA's best. Spacious and with separate spaces for big dogs and little dogs, the park is also prime for Hollywood folk people-watching. Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily; closed Fridays from 6am to 10am for maintenance. [Photo via]

7. Rosie's Dog Beach

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4800 E Ocean Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90803
(562) 570-3100
(562) 570-3100
Visit Website
LA County's only off-leash dog beach earns a big bone for that fact alone, but that doesn't make it any less a local favorite for doggie-paddling and playdates. Don't forget your pup's life jacket! Hours: 6am to 8pm daily. [Photo via]

8. Runyon Canyon Park

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2000 North Fuller Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 666-5046
(323) 666-5046
Visit Website
Perhaps the best spot for #OnlyinLA people-watching is Runyon, where you'll find all breeds of dogs and humans: Stars both aspiring to A-list, yogis and boot campers, and every other possible LA archetype. Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily. [Photo via]

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9. Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park

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17550 Victory Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 756-7667
(818) 756-7667
Visit Website
Dogs dig this Valley spot for its massive running space, mix of dirt patches and greenery, plentiful shade, and plethora of water fountains. Hours: Sunrise to sunset; closed Friday from 6am to 11am for maintenance. [Photo via]

10. Silver Lake Dog Park

Copy Link
1850 W Silver Lake Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 644-3946
(323) 644-3946
Visit Website
This sometimes-desert-like, sometimes-muddy Eastside dog park (with separated areas for large and small dogs) recently scored some new shade, where pups and their parents can seek shelter from the sun, presumably with Intelligentsia in hand. Hours: 6am to 10pm daily; closed Wednesdays from 6am to 8:30am for maintenance. [Photo via]
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1. Alice's Dog Park

3026 E Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
Located within Viña Vieja Park, this two-and-a-half acre off-leash dog park offers separated grassy areas for large and small/sensitive pups. Hours: Dawn to dusk daily; closed Tuesdays for maintenance. [Photo via]
3026 E Orange Grove Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107
Visit Website

2. Arts District Dog Park

1004 E 4th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Catering to DTLA dwellers and recently reopened after a brief members-only stint, this Arts District park got a fresh coat of paint from muralist Septerhed. The small but well-kept space (it's run by a dedicated team of local volunteers) boasts a separate gated little dog area and water fountains. Hours: 5am to 11pm daily. [Photo via]
1004 E 4th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Visit Website

3. The Bone Yard

Duquesne Avenue & Leash Lane, Culver City, CA 90230
Pay no attention to those creepy oil derricks chugging away above. Just over the hill from the Baldwin Hills steps, this off-leash dog park in Culver City offers ample parking, clean water fountains, and late hours. Bring Fido before bath time—the flea-deterrent dirt ground may require a post-playtime rinse. Hours: Sunrise until 10pm daily. [Photo via]
Duquesne Avenue & Leash Lane
Culver City, CA 90230
Visit Website

4. Griffith Park Dog Park

N Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
A popular alternative to Silver Lake Dog Park, this low-key, 1.6-acre space is tucked away on at a dead-end street at N Zoo Drive. It's larger than its Reservoir competitor, with separate areas for big and little canines, concrete benches, water fountains, and lots of parking. Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily; closed Tuesdays from 6am to 10am for maintenance. [Photo via]
N Zoo Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 913-4688
Visit Website

5. Lake Hollywood Park

3200 Canyon Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Though technically not an off-leash park, this lush parcel offers choice views of the Hollywood sign. Unleash Rover at your own rule-breaking discretion; LA's rolling a slew of quality-of-life laws, including a leash law that'll set you back $100 on the first offense. Hours: 5am to sunset daily. [Photo via]
3200 Canyon Lake Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Visit Website

6. Laurel Canyon Dog Park

8260 Mulholland Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90046
Nestled in the hills off Mulholland, this patchy Studio City park narrowly beat Lake Hollywood as LA's best. Spacious and with separate spaces for big dogs and little dogs, the park is also prime for Hollywood folk people-watching. Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily; closed Fridays from 6am to 10am for maintenance. [Photo via]
8260 Mulholland Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(818) 769-4415
Visit Website

7. Rosie's Dog Beach

4800 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803
LA County's only off-leash dog beach earns a big bone for that fact alone, but that doesn't make it any less a local favorite for doggie-paddling and playdates. Don't forget your pup's life jacket! Hours: 6am to 8pm daily. [Photo via]
4800 E Ocean Blvd
Long Beach, CA 90803
(562) 570-3100
Visit Website

8. Runyon Canyon Park

2000 North Fuller Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Perhaps the best spot for #OnlyinLA people-watching is Runyon, where you'll find all breeds of dogs and humans: Stars both aspiring to A-list, yogis and boot campers, and every other possible LA archetype. Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily. [Photo via]
2000 North Fuller Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 666-5046
Visit Website

9. Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park

17550 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Dogs dig this Valley spot for its massive running space, mix of dirt patches and greenery, plentiful shade, and plethora of water fountains. Hours: Sunrise to sunset; closed Friday from 6am to 11am for maintenance. [Photo via]
17550 Victory Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 756-7667
Visit Website

10. Silver Lake Dog Park

1850 W Silver Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90026
This sometimes-desert-like, sometimes-muddy Eastside dog park (with separated areas for large and small dogs) recently scored some new shade, where pups and their parents can seek shelter from the sun, presumably with Intelligentsia in hand. Hours: 6am to 10pm daily; closed Wednesdays from 6am to 8:30am for maintenance. [Photo via]
1850 W Silver Lake Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 644-3946
Visit Website