As one of the many cities located around Puget Sound, Gig Harbor benefits from forested shorelines, wildlife, and bustling city life. It’s surrounded by wooded walking trails, lakes, and open parks, where you can enjoy a weekend picnic or a morning stroll with your dog.
While there aren’t many off-leash areas for you and your dog in Gig Harbor, you can visit several dog-friendly parks in adjacent cities. Along with the three off-leash parks in Gig Harbor, you can examine seven nearby parks below.
Top 3 Dog Parks in Gig Harbor
1. McCormick Forest Off-Leash Dog Park
- Natural wooded areas, open grassland, and a creek to explore
- Plenty of space to socialize or keep to yourself, with beautiful scenery
- Can get muddy after rain
- Off-leash area is a 5-minute walk from the parking lot and offers plenty of space for your dog to run around
- Amenities include water, public restrooms, and doggy waste bags
2. Tubby’s Trail Dog Park
- Separate, fenced-in areas for big or small and quieter dogs
- Named after a Cocker Spaniel called Tubby, who died when the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed in 1940
- Wooded hiking trails aren’t fenced, and you should keep your dog leashed while walking along them.
- Can get muddy after the rain and dusty in summer
- On-site water station and sheltered seating areas, and dog waste bags are provided
3. Rotary Bark Park
- Fenced-in, off-leash walking trails and an open area
- Huge park with plenty of space to prevent overcrowding
- Dogs must be kept on a leash throughout the rest of the park
- Amenities include waste disposal and on-site water stations
- Remember to take water during the winter months
- Can get muddy when it rains
Top 7 Dog Parks Near Gig Harbor
4. Bandix Dog Park
- 30 acres of open areas and wooded walking trails
- Separate areas for big and small dogs; the small dog area is fenced in
- On-site waste bags, trash receptacles, and water bowls, but there’s no drinking water
- Plenty of shaded walking trails
5. Point Defiance Dog Park
| ️ Address: |
Five mile Rd, Tacoma, WA 98407 |
| Open Times: |
7 AM– 9 PM (6:30 AM–8:30 PM on Fridays), all year |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Off-Leash: |
Yes, but only in the designated area of the main park |
- Outside the off-leash area, dogs need to be kept on a leash
- Separate areas for big and small dogs
- The large dog area isn’t fenced in
- Plenty of shaded seating areas
- Dog water station is filled with rainwater, but in dry seasons, you might need to bring your own water
6. Chambers Bay Dog Park
- Fenced-in, 1-acre, off-leash area
- No shady areas to take shelter
- You must keep your dog leashed on the walking trails and beach in the rest of the park
- Offers a great view of the ocean
- There is a separate area for small, quiet, or senior dogs
7. Wapato Off-Leash Dog Park
- Three separate, fenced-in areas for dogs
- Main park has more hiking trails and lake access, but your dog must be leashed
- On-site water stations and trash cans
- Maintained by the dog owners who visit, so remember to pick up after your dog
- Plenty of space to keep to yourself or socialize with other dogs
8. Rogers Dog Park
| ️ Address: |
3151 E L St, Tacoma, WA 98404 |
| Open Times: |
9:15 AM–9:15 PM, all year |
| Cost: |
Free |
| Off-Leash: |
Yes, but only in the designated off-leash area inside the main park |
- On-site water supply for dogs
- Wide-open grassy area for playing fetch
- Close to a playground for children and a community garden
- Plenty of available parking, and it’s wheelchair accessible
9. French Lake Off-Leash Dog Park
- 10-acre off-leash park with grassy areas, a pond, wheelchair-accessible parking, and a picnic area
- Dog waste bags, trash cans, and water stations are provided throughout the park
- Plenty of shaded seating areas
- Separate area for small or shy dogs
- As an old golf course, it has hills, grassy areas, and sand pits
10. McKinley Park
- Off-leash area is a 7-acre space within the main park
- Dogs must be leashed outside the designated areas
- Main park has over 26 acres of grassy hills, playgrounds, hiking and running trails, and beautiful scenery.
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Popular but rarely crowded
Conclusion
Gig Harbor is surrounded by hiking trails, lakes, and parks for you and your dog to explore. While you’ll need to keep your dog leashed in most of the parks in the area, there are many places in and around Gig Harbor where you can let your dog run free as long as they’re under voice control.
Although there are only three off-leash dog parks in Gig Harbor, its proximity to other cities allows easy access to more dog-friendly parks. Always remember to respect your fellow dog park guests by keeping your dog under voice control and picking up after them before you leave.
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Featured Image Credit: Jumpstory
Top 3 Dog Parks in Gig Harbor
