Cooler temperatures are not an excuse to skip out on dog walks! There is nothing better than watching your best friend let off steam in one of the many dog off and on leash areas and beaches in Greater Victoria. With some parks being the perfect place for your dog and you to explore and enjoy together. We recommend checking the information on this webpage before visiting a park or beach as some areas have restricted off-leash times.
Here are a few of my favourite dog parks and beaches in and around Greater Victoria so that you can make sure your pup gets the daily exercise he or she needs! Treat your pooch to a fun time at one of these top dog parks and beaches and explore our amazing community. Where do you take your furry friend?
Golden Rule
Keep your dog under control
Pick up your dog’s droppings
Victoria BC Area
Alexander Park Dogs are permitted to be off leash daily between 6am – 10am and 4pm – 10pm. The off leash area is the area north of the pathway that cuts diagonally across the park. Dogs are prohibited from the playground area.
Arbutus Park Dogs are permitted to be off leash daily between 6am – 10pm.
Banfield Park Dogs are allowed off leash in the summer (April 1st – September 30th) between 6am – 9am and 5pm – 10pm. In the winter (October 1st – March 31st) the off leash hours are 6am – 10pm.
Dallas Road – Beacon Hill Park This is the busiest leash optional area in Victoria; off-leash dogs are permitted year round. The beach below the park is NOT included. Dogs must be leashed on the beach.
Clover Point Park Dogs are permitted to be off leash year round. Does not include the Ross Bay Walkway to the east of Clover Point.
Gonzales Beach The leash-optional area includes the beach only. Leashed dogs are allowed in the small grassy park area above the beach year round. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach from September 1st – May 31st. There are no dogs allowed on the beach from June 1st – August 31st.
Oswald Park Dogs are permitted off leash from 6am to 10pm. The off leash area is within the perimeter woodchip trail, on the west (Delatre St) side of the gravel pathway that cuts through the middle of the park.
Pemberton Park Dogs are allowed off-leash daily between 6am – 10pm.
Redfern Park Dogs are permitted off-leash daily from 6am to 10am and 4pm to 10pm. The off leash area is the north (Bourchier St) end of the park to the east of the pathway
Songhees Hilltop Dogs are allowed off-leash from 6am to 10pm. The off leash area is the grassy area encircled by the gravel pathway on the west side of the park.
Topaz Park There are 2 Leash Optional Areas (LOAs) within Topaz Park. Dogs are prohibited from the playground area, lacrosse box, tennis courts, or the synthetic fields. Areas of Topaz Park are sometimes closed due to community or sporting events and in the winter due to muddy fields. At these times dogs are not permitted in those areas.
Vic West Park Dogs are permitted off leash daily between 6am – 10pm.
Esquimalt BC Area
Esquimalt Gorge Park (New!) The leash optional area is within the grassy area south of the parking lot.
Highrock Park The park covers 7.1 hectares and offers great views.
Saxe Point Park Dogs are permitted on leash on trails in the areas south of the parking lot. Dogs are prohibited from the grassy areas south of the parking lot.
Macaulay Point Park The off leash area is the southern section of the park, including the breakwater. The beach near the parking lot, called Fleming Beach, is leash optional between November 1st and May1st. May 2nd to October 31st dogs must be leashed on Fleming Beach.
Captain Jacobson Park A flat grassy area overlooking West Bay Marina.
Oak Bay BC Area
Uplands Park There are no restrictions on dogs at the Cattle Point side of the park (on the east side of Beach Drive) however; restrictions apply in the rest of the park. Dogs are allowed off leash during January to March, and July to December. Dogs must be under full control (on leash) of a competent person April to June.
Willows Beach Dogs are allowed year-round on grass areas and pathways and must be leashed at all times. Dogs are not allowed on the beach between May 1 and September 30 but are allowed on the beach, leashed or unleashed, from October 1 to April 30.
Windsor Park Dogs are permitted off-leash from September through June between sunrise and 11am. During July and August dogs are permitted off-leash between sunrise and 9am.
In the following parks, dogs are permitted to be off leash at any time:
Anderson Hill Park Dogs are allowed on leash at any time. Off leash in the open area on the brow of the hill during July to March.
Saanich BC Area
Dogs are permitted to be off leash in Saanich parks EXCEPT the following:
Lochside Trail Dogs must be leashed. Keep dogs on the right hand side of the trail. On the regional trails dogs must be leashed.
Beaver/Elk Lake Regional Park Dogs are not allowed to be on a designated beach or picnic area between June 1 and September 15, except to pass through on a leash, without stopping.
Francis/King Regional Park Dogs must be on leash on the Elsie King Trail. More on Francis King Regional Park here.
Cedar Hill Park Dogs must be leashed within the park. There are NO dogs allowed within 50m of King’s Pond, unless they are on the perimiter trail where they must be leashed.
Rithet’s Bog There are no dogs allowed except on perimiter trail where dogs must be leashed.
Cadboro Bay-Gyro Park and the public beach at Cadboro Bay There are no dogs allowed during the months of May through August except before 9am.
Whitehead Park There are no dogs allowed during the months of May through August.
Cordova Bay Beach During the months of May through August, there are no dogs allowed in the area lying between the southerly boundary of Cordova Bay Park and the northerly boundary of the Walema Avenue right-of-way, except before 9am.
Mount Douglas Park On the mountain side you must keep off leashed dogs under control. On beach side and the section of Mount Douglas Park bounded by Cordova Bay Road, Ash Road, Douglas Creek, the natural boundary of the ocean and the northwesterly boundary of the park, during the months of May through August, there are no dogs allowed except on the asphalt road surface lying to the northwest of the picnic area between the two gates.
Sidney BC Area
Peter Grant Park There is access at the end of Westbrook Rd. The trail from there to Peter Grant Park runs through Reay Creek Park, in which dogs must be leashed. Peter Grant Park is a large park great for ball throwing and playing.
Central Saanich
Dogs are permitted to be off leash in Central Saanich parks EXCEPT the following:
John Dean Provincial Park Dogs must be on leash. More on John Dean Provincial Park here.
Gowlland-Tod Provincial Park Dogs must be on leash
Island View Beach Park Dogs are prohibited from the beach between Jun 15 – Sept 15
North Saanich
Cy Hampson Park is the designated off leash area
Westshore & Other Greater Victoria
Thetis Lake Regional Park Dogs are not allowed to be on a designated beach or picnic area between June 1 and September 15, except to pass through on a leash, without stopping. At Thetis Lake the seasonal dog restriction is at Prior Lake beach and dock area, and Thetis Lake main beach.
Matheson Lake Regional Park Dogs are not allowed to be on a designated beach or picnic area between June 1 and September 15, except to pass through on a leash, without stopping. The seasonal prohibition zone applies to the main beach area.
Mount Work Regional Park Dogs are not allowed to be on a designated beach or picnic area between June 1 and September 15, except to pass through on a leash, without stopping. The seasonal prohibition zone applies to Durrance Lake main beach, Killarney Lake foreshore, and Pease Lake foreshore.
Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park Dogs are not allowed to be on a designated beach or picnic area between June 1 and September 15, except to pass through on a leash, without stopping. The seasonal prohibition zone applies to the beach areas above the natural boundary of the sea, except Tower Point.
Sooke Potholes Regional Park Dogs are required to be on a leash at the park and in the campground.
Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park Dogs must be on leash at all times.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you come across any thing that my not be correct on this page and I’ll promptly update. Enjoy!!
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