First walks in St. Paul.
Outside a designated dog park, St. Paul asks for a leash no longer than six feet in every city park. The city’s own rules, its seven off-leash dog parks and two dog runs, and how we suggest starting a new dog’s first week.
The rules, in short
From the city’s Off-Leash Dog Parks and Dog Park Rules pages.
- 1Leash no longer than six feet in city parks
- 2Off-leash only in designated dog parks and runs
- 3Dog parks open sunrise to sunset
- 4Licensed and vaccinated, per the posted rules
- 5Bring your own waste bags - none provided on-site
Hours, exceptions & the fine print
The posted rules go further than the leash law: voice control at all times inside the park, no aggressive dogs, female dogs in heat and dogs under four months stay home, three dogs per person per visit, and you’re liable for your dog’s behavior.
The first week
The same calm start we suggest everywhere - on St. Paul’s streets.
- 1Leash, quiet streets, short and sniffy - calm hours, near home, ending before your dog is wound up. An off-leash area is not day-one material for a brand-new dog.
- 2Sniffing is the point - let your dog pause and sniff instead of focusing on distance. More on the sniff walk.
- 3Settle first, explore later - more on the first days: a routine for a newly adopted dog and a calm start to every walk.
The dog parks, for later
Once your dog has settled. The city lists seven off-leash dog parks and two dog runs - four to start with:
- 1Arlington Arkwright Dog Park
- 2High Bridge Dog Park
- 3Lowertown Dog Park
- 4Meeker Island Dog Park
Arlington Arkwright spreads 4.5 wooded acres with trails; High Bridge covers seven acres on a former power-plant site. Lowertown is completely fenced, near CHS Field; Meeker Island is unfenced, bordered by the Mississippi and its bluffs, with a dog beach. The other five - Kellogg Mall and Pedro Park runs, Lilydale (separate fenced large- and small-dog areas), Lower Landing and Uńcí Makhá (two fenced areas) - are in the city list under Good to know.
Pins mark the park or its listed access point, not the exact off-leash boundary.
Good to know
Worth knowing
Dog parks can close temporarily for maintenance, high water, or other reasons - Meeker Island specifically may close when the Mississippi runs high. The city’s Closures and Special Notices page has the latest before you drive over.
Sources
Sources: City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, “Off-Leash Dog Parks” (list, hours, closure notes): stpaul.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks/leash-dog-parks. City of Saint Paul, “Dog Park Rules”: stpaul.gov/.../dog-park-rules.
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