The 6 Best Dog Parks in Reno

Reno, Nevada, is known for its casinos and tourist attractions like The Great Reno Balloon Race. Lots of people live in Reno, and even more travel there every year. In Reno, there’s always plenty for you to do, but what about your pup? That’s why we’ve devised a list of the 6 best dog parks in Reno. 

Giving your furry friend a place to exercise, play, socialize, and enjoy the outdoors is great for its health. When you don’t exercise and play with your pooch, they can get depressed or stressed out and become aggressive or destructive. Dogs need at least 30-45 minutes of exercise to be healthy and strong. 

Dog parks are the perfect place for your pup to exercise and have fun because that’s what it’s made for! The dog parks in Reno all have something to love, whether it’s wide open space or interactive equipment for the pups. Every dog park in Reno has its own set of rules. Some common rules you can expect to see are;

• Owners are responsible for picking up after their dog
• No aggressive dog behavior
• No sick or in-heat dogs 
• Dog owners must have a leash at all times.
• Dogs must be on the leash when entering and before exiting the gated area.
• Keep small children and infants under close supervision.
• Dogs must be up to date on vaccination and licensing 

There may be more or fewer rules depending on what park you visit, so be sure to check before you enter.

1. Whitaker Dog Park

Inside Whitaker Park in North Reno is a somewhat large fenced off-leash dog area. Here you can let your pup play or socialize with other dogs. The ground was once covered in grass, but now, big dirt patches make up most of the area. A few trees inside the dog park provide some nice shade on sunny days. 

Garbage cans can be found in various spots around the park, and doggy bags are available at the entrance. There are no nearby water fountains inside or outside the park, so be sure to bring your pooch some water and a doggy bowl to keep it happy and hydrated. Some wooden and plastic chairs have been donated by local visitors to the park, so there’s somewhere for owners to sit while their furry friends play. 

The entrance to the park does not have a double gated leash area, so you must be mindful and safe when you enter and exit the dog play area. There have been issues with dogs digging holes under the fence, but park maintenance does try to fill them when possible. The dog park in Whitaker Park is one of the less visited dog parks in Reno. Weekends can get busy, but the park is typically pretty empty.      

2. South Valleys Dog Park

The South Valleys Dog Park is a soccer field designated as an off-leash dog area during non-team use. Because it is a soccer field, the park is a large open grassy field that is well maintained. There are no trees on the actual field, but there are trees lining the fence outside the park, providing some shady areas at the corners of the park. 

Doggy bags are provided at the entrance, and it is mandatory for all visitors to pick up after their dogs. Water fountains are not available inside the park, so be sure to bring your water and stay hydrated. Weekends can get very busy, but weekdays are usually only busy in the early evening. The park is not open to dogs all the time, so be sure to check if the field is in use before you let your dog off-leash.

3. Biggest Little Dog Park

The Biggest Little Dog Park is one of the newer dog parks in Reno. Located in downtown Reno, this dog park opened in 2018, so the landscaping and amenities are fairly new and well maintained. The ground is covered in artificial grass, making mud holes and dirt patches less of a problem here.

The entrance to the dog park is double gated so dogs and their owners can safely enter and exit. Near the entrance, doggy bags are available for owners to grab, and trash cans are located inside and outside the fenced area. Small benches in the shape of dog bones and large regular benches are in various spots around the park.

The off-leash dog area is split into two separate areas for small dogs and large dogs. Water spouts and dog bowls are available for use in both the small dog area and the large dog area. The Biggest Little Dog Park is smaller than most dog parks in Reno but still has plenty of room for you and your furry friend.

4. Virginia Lake Dog Park

Across the street from Lakeside Park in Southern Reno is the Virginia Lake Dog Park. Here you can walk your dog around the shore of Virginia Lake or let them run around the dog play area. This dog park is large, and though there isn’t much grass, it’s mostly covered in dirt and concrete pathways. 

Agility equipment is all over the park. There are large tunnels, ramps, a-frames, hoops, and steps for your pooch to play on or learn a new trick. Benches are located all around the pathways around the park, and a few picnic tables under canopies can be found along the fence. The lake gives visitors a beautiful view and an abundance of waterfowl like ducks and geese to observe. 

Doggy poop bags and trash cans are provided, and it is required for all visitors to pick up any mess left by their furry friends. There is a very small separate fenced area for small dogs, which has a canopy and a bench inside. Water fountains are available inside the dog park but are shut off in the winter and fall months. This is one of the more visited dog parks in Reno and can get pretty crowded throughout the week, especially in the evenings. 

5. Link Piazzo Dog Park

In East Reno, you and your furry friend can visit the Link Piazzo Dog Park. Located inside Hidden Valley Regional Park is the Link Piazzo Dog Park. This very large dog park is located on the outskirts of Reno, so unlike most dog parks in the city, you’ll have a beautiful view of the surrounding hills and nature here. The landscape is mainly grass and dirt patches with trees and shrubs around the fence inside and outside the dog area.

Link Piazzo Dog Park is separated into two large fenced areas for small and large dogs. A few benches are located in both areas, and some are under nice shady canopies. Water fountains and dog bowls are not available inside the off-leash area, so owners will need to bring theirs. Doggy bags and trash cans are supplied by the park so owners can easily clean up after their pooch. 

6. Rancho San Rafael Pasture Off-leash Dog Park 

The Rancho San Rafael Pasture is an off-leash dog park located in the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in Northern Reno. This park is where the annual Great Reno Balloon Race takes place! Here your pooch has tons of room to run, play, and socialize with other pups. The park isn’t fully fenced in, and the entrance gate stays open, so if your furry friend has a tendency to run off, this may not be the best park to visit. 

Visiting dogs can access a large open field perfect for fetch or running wild. Water fountains are not located inside the off-leash area but can be found in other parts of the park. A small stream nearby is what most dogs use to hydrate or play in when the weather gets hot. Doggy bags are provided at the entrance, and it is required for owners to pick up any mess their dog makes. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Tatyana Consaul