Best Parks & Off-Leash Areas in Toronto

Off-leash zone: Dog Hill and the designated trails between the Grenadier Restaurant and the zoo. The area is not fully fenced, its edges are bush and trees, so only let a reliable recall dog off the lead. Everywhere else in High Park the two-metre leash rule applies.

💡 During the cherry blossom peak bloom in late April or early May there is no vehicle or parking access to High Park, only the TTC bus and Wheel-Trans, so plan to arrive on foot from High Park station.

Off-leash zone: The bowl in the centre of the park is designated off-leash. It has no fence, the slope of the hollow is the only boundary, and it is busy with dogs, picnickers and cyclists on a summer evening.

💡 Come early. By late afternoon in summer the bowl doubles as the neighbourhood picnic ground, and a dog that chases food is going to have a difficult hour.

Off-leash zone: A large unfenced off-leash field beside Burke Brook. The surrounding valley trails are on-leash, and the City advises against walking a dog in ravine habitat in spring, when coyotes have pups.

💡 There is no subway here. Plan a bus from Eglinton or Lawrence station, and remember the TTC only carries pets outside weekday peak hours.