Dog park · Excelsior & McLaren Park, Southern Neighborhoods
Balboa Park Dog Play Area
About the dog park
- Surface: grass
- Run by San Francisco Recreation and Parks
An unfenced grass field west of Balboa Pool, along San Jose Avenue near Havelock Street. Playgrounds, the pool and athletic fields are nearby.
Rules
In San Francisco's city parks, dogs may be off leash only inside the dog play areas that Rec and Park has set aside. Everywhere else in the parks they must be on a leash, and they are kept off athletic fields. Stay with your dog, pick up after it and keep barking and digging in check. Dogs over four months need a current license and rabies shots, and a dog walker may bring no more than eight dogs. (SF Recreation and Parks)
Rules and hours can change, and dog parks sometimes close for repairs. Check the signs at the gate.
Getting there
- LocationBalboa Park, Excelsior & McLaren Park, Southern Neighborhoods
- NeighborhoodExcelsior & McLaren Park, Southern Neighborhoods
Dog-friendly cafés and restaurants near Balboa Park Dog Play Area
- about 0.6 mi
Other dog parks nearby
- about 1.2 mi
- about 1.4 mi
- McLaren Park Shelley Dog Play AreaAbout 60 acresabout 1.5 mi
Balboa Park Dog Play Area: frequently asked questions
Is there a small-dog area at Balboa Park Dog Play Area?
Our sources do not mention a separate small-dog area.
Where is Balboa Park Dog Play Area?
Balboa Park Dog Play Area is at Balboa Park, in the Excelsior & McLaren Park, Southern Neighborhoods, San Francisco. An unfenced grass field west of Balboa Pool, along San Jose Avenue near Havelock Street. Playgrounds, the pool and athletic fields are nearby.
Are there dog-friendly cafés or restaurants near Balboa Park Dog Play Area?
Yes. The closest on our list is Railroad Expresso, about 0.6 mi away.
Sources
- SF Recreation and Parks, undated, read Oct 2026
- The Ingleside Light, May 2023
All dog parks in the Excelsior & McLaren Park · All dog parks in SF