The East end of Toronto offers some amazing parks for you and your dog! From beaches to rolling grass hills, the east end has everything your pup needs.
For the dog lovers of Toronto, we’ve compiled a list of 12 of the best east end off leash dog parks for you to check out this summer!
1. Cherry Beach
Location: 1 Cherry St. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
The Cherry Beach Dog Park is Toronto’s most well known dog beach. Featuring 1.5 km of dog friendly beach access, the park is a great place to spend a few hours with your pup.
The park is well enclosed, giving pup parents piece of mind to sit back and relax. The beach is a mixture of sand and rock, and the park is a grassy area with trees for shade. The people who frequent the beach are rumored to be friendly and open with communication, and the dogs are well socialized.
Head down for the afternoon, and let your dog romp around with some new friends!
2. Hideaway Dog Park
Location: 23 Audley Ave. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
Hideaway Dog Park is a fully fenced park, perfect for dogs who love to socialize. The park is tucked away by tall trees, providing lots of shade in the hot summer months.
There is a separate Small Dog Area, giving dogs under 20 lbs a safe place to run amuck. The park is well maintained, and equipped with drinking fountains as well. There are also picnic tables and benches for the human visitors.
This park is a local favorite!
3. Riverdale Park East
Location: 550 Broadview Ave. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
Riverdale Park East is an extra large open space, frequented by pup parents and dog lovers alike. The park is fully fenced, and well maintained, providing a nice grassy area for dogs to run wild.
The dogs most commonly found at the park are friendly and ready to play. However, there is plenty of space for you to take your dog aside and play a solo game of fetch.
The park is completed with baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a running track, an ice rink, tennis courts, and a pool!
4. Riverdale Park West
Location: 201 Winchester St. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
Riverdale Park West is a large grassy area, consisting of rolling hills and wide open fields, making it the best place to exercise your dog. Many pup parents bring their dogs here to play fetch or frisbee, while others let them run free. The park is popular among dog parents, and it’s a rare occasion to see the park empty.
The park has amenities like public washrooms and change rooms, as well as drinking fountains, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. Riverdale Park West is a great place for pup parents and others to spend the day.
5. Allan Gardens Dog Park
Location: Carlton St. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
The Allan Gardens Dog Park certainly isn’t the largest in Toronto, but it’s definitely the most stunning!
This park is fully fenced, and lined with perfectly manicured landscaping. There’s even a doggy sculpture for the more artsy parents to enjoy.
The Allan Gardens Park is also home to Toronto’s largest indoor botanical gardens, complete with six greenhouses stretching over 16,000 square feet of land. Pup parents are encouraged to keep their dogs on leash while exploring the rest of the park, but are welcome to let them roam free in the designated off leash area.
6. Withrow Park
Location: 725 Logan Ave. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash Designated Area
Withrow Park is another one of Toronto’s open spaces, with green grass and tall trees. The off-leash area is a popular spot for parents of large breed dogs, who enjoy having so much area to run around.
There is also fully fenced dog run, lined with wood chips, ensuring your dog doesn’t get too muddy during playtime.
There are plenty of tall trees for shade, as well as picnic tables and benches to relax on. Many pup parents make a day of the park, and take advantage of the many amenities available to the public. The park is home to baseball diamonds, sports fields, volleyball courts, and much more.
7. Kew Gardens
Location: 2075 Queens St. E. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
Kew Gardens is a hot spot for dogs who love to swim!
The dog park is lined with lush grass, while the beach is made of soft sand and clear waters. The dog beach area is very clean and well maintained, earning it fantastic reviews from pup parents.
Kew Gardens has a lovely walkway, popular for leisurely strolls with your dog along the water, and throughout the grassy fields. The park also has beautiful rolling hills, healthy trees, and water fountains. There are many other amenities, like tennis courts, and other sports centers as well!
This is the perfect spot to spend the day with your best friend!
8. Gerrard Carlaw Dog Park
Location: Gerrard St. and Carlaw Ave. Toronto, ON.
Status: Off Leash
Gerrard Carlaw Parkette is popular among pup parents for its well maintained grounds. Though the park is not fully fenced, it is great for well-behaved dogs, who want to make new friends. There is a smaller fenced in run for small dogs, or dogs without perfect recall skills.
The ground is lined with wood chips, making for a much cleaner visit. There are some benches lining the fenced area, where parents often sit to chat.
This is a great park for people who live nearby!
9. Cassels Avenue Playground
Location: 69 Cassels Ave. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
Cassels Avenue Playground is another popular spot for Toronto dog lovers. The park is well maintained, and has grassy spots for parents to enjoy. There are many benches and picnic tables as well.
Cassels Avenue is frequently visited by young families, who like to play in the public waterpark and playground. During the off season, dogs are welcome from 5:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
10. Norwood Dog Park
Location: 16 Norwood Rd. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
Norwood Dog Park is a fully fenced area, where dogs can go to run around with friends. The ground is covered in sand, making it soft for dogs with sensitive feet.
There aren’t many trees or plants at the park, giving it full exposure to the sun. This is great for warm days, but pet parents should be cautious as the temperature rises.
This park is also a fun space for dogs who enjoy splashing in puddles, as it quickly fills with water during the rainy season. Dogs who love to get muddy should come here!
11. Monarch Park
Location: 115 Felstead Ave. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash
Monarch Park is a large open space, with enough room for civilians and dog lovers.
There is a designated off leash area, where dogs are free to do as they please. The grounds are green with grass, trees, and hills. Many people have commented on how clean the park is, despite being a playground for so many dogs.
There are dogs of all shapes and sizes at the park daily. This is a recommended spot for pet parents looking to interact with other dog lovers as well, as the parents are considered to be some of the most friendly in the city.
Monarch Park also has many amenities, including a full sized swimming pool. Bring your pup for a run and then take a dip in the pool!
12. Stan Wadlow
Location: 373 Cedarvale Ave. Toronto, Ont.
Status: Off Leash Designated Area
Stan Wadlow Park is another large green space, with maintained grass, and many amenities. Toronto seems to have a few of these!
The off leash dog area is on the smaller side, but can be comfortable for up to 15 owners and dogs. There are many trees providing shade, as well as drinking fountains for humans. There are picnic tables, and benches for people to sit on, and a bike path perfect for an afternoon ride.
There is a playground for children, and the park is often visited by young families. This is a great place for families with well-behaved dogs to spend a few hours.
“Bring a good book, and let your dog romp around with some new friends!” – in your reference to Cherry Beach Dog Park. That’s irresponsible dog ownership. You’re responsible for your dog’s behaviour (and for picking up after them)in a dog park, just as you are anywhere else. If you don’t know where your dog is or what it’s doing that’s a recipe for disaster. Not every dog in a dog park is well-behaved, and owners need to be on the alert for that, as well as the raccoons and other wildlife that occasionally appear in at the beach. Cherry Beach is also NOT fully fenced – it’s well enclosed, but a dog can readily get around the fence at the shoreline and out onto the public beach area and beyond. Something you might miss if you’re reading that book. I’ve been going to Cherry Beach for over 17 years and you’re right, it’s a wonderful area. What makes it wonderful, though, is the opportunity to play with my dog in a wide open space and connect with his (and my) friends down there, not to ignore my dog.
Thanks so much for letting us know your thoughts on this!
We strongly believe dog owners should be responsible for watching their dogs at all times. Taking responsibility for your dog is important, and bringing a book to the dog park or beach neglects that. We will amend that the park is not fully fenced as well. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks!
Cassels doesn’t have a separate small dog area.
We have fixed this mistake! Thanks for pointing it out.