The short answer
Edmonton has over 60 designated off-leash areas, but most are unfenced river-valley natural areas that need a dog with solid recall. For a secure, fully fenced park, Grand Trunk Dog Park in Lauderdale is the best pick, and it has a separate small-dog area. For the biggest open run, Terwillegar Park on the river is the largest in the city. Whichever you choose, your dog must be leashed entering and leaving, kept under control, and you must clean up after it ($100 fine if you do not). Coyotes share the river valley, so keep your dog close.
Few cities give dogs as much room as Edmonton does. The catch is that most of that room is open, unfenced river valley, which is glorious for a dog with reliable recall and a real risk for a brand-new rescue that might bolt. Picking the right park for the dog you actually have matters more than picking the most famous one. Here is how they compare.
The Rules First
Off-leash does not mean no-rules. The City of Edmonton sets clear expectations for every designated off-leash area:
- Leash on the way in and out. Dogs must be on a leash when crossing the off-leash boundary, and off-leash only inside it.
- Under control and in sight at all times. The behaviour of your dog is your responsibility; do not let it chase wildlife or other dogs.
- Clean up after your dog. The fine for failing to remove dog waste is $100. Carry bags.
- No vicious dogs. A dog deemed vicious under the bylaw is not allowed in off-leash areas at all and must be leashed and muzzled off its owner's property.
- Outside the designated areas, leash up. Dogs must be on a leash on all other public property.
The full set of leash, pet-limit, and fine rules is in our Edmonton dog bylaws guide.
Best Fenced Parks (for recall-in-progress, small, or shy dogs)
Grand Trunk Dog Park (Lauderdale)
127 Avenue between 109 Street and 113A Street. Fully fenced, with a separate fenced area for small dogs.
This is the one to choose for a new rescue still learning recall, a small dog, or a shy dog that needs a calmer space. The fence means a bolt does not become a lost-dog emergency, and the small-dog section keeps nervous little dogs away from the boisterous big ones. It was fenced by the City after dogs ran into nearby traffic, so the security is the whole point.
O-day'min Dog Park (downtown)
A fenced off-leash park in the downtown core, and the other fully fenced dog park the City names directly. Handy for central residents who do not want to drive to the river valley.
Best River-Valley Parks (for confident dogs with recall)
These are unfenced natural areas. They are the best of Edmonton off-leash, but only for a dog that comes when called.
Terwillegar Park
South bank of the river, end of Rabbit Hill Road. The largest off-leash area in the city, around 169 acres, with multi-use trails, a long footbridge, and a canoe launch. Wide open and beautiful, and the most popular off-leash destination in Edmonton. Unfenced and next to the water, so recall and river awareness matter.
Hermitage Park (northeast)
2115 Hermitage Road. A large natural off-leash area with a stocked fishpond, non-motorized boating, and natural trails. A good northeast-side option away from the busier southwest parks.
Buena Vista / Laurier Park
13210 Buena Vista Road, north bank. A large off-leash river-valley meadow with nearby washrooms and walking and cycling trails. A west-end favourite. (Parts of the Lauderdale area have had construction, so check the City page if you are heading to that section.)
Dawson Park
North bank, between 84 Street and 92 Street. A central river-valley off-leash area with a boat launch, multi-use trails, and an accessible gravel path. Convenient for inner-city neighbourhoods.
Which to Pick for Your Dog
New rescue, small dog, or shy dog: start at Grand Trunk (fenced, small-dog area). The first month after adoption is the highest-risk window for bolting, so a fence is worth the drive until recall is solid. Our lost dog action plan explains why.
Confident dog with reliable recall: the river-valley parks (Terwillegar, Hermitage, Buena Vista, Dawson) are where Edmonton off-leash really shines. Just keep your dog in sight and away from the water's edge and any wildlife.
Coyotes and River Safety
Edmonton's river valley is shared with wildlife. The City's own off-leash guidance and its urban coyote advice are clear: do not let your dog chase, and if you see a coyote, leash your dog immediately. Coyotes are most active and most protective of dens around dawn, dusk, and the spring pupping season.
The North Saskatchewan River runs fast and cold, and the banks can be steep and slippery. Keep an eye on a water-loving dog near the edge, and rinse off after a swim. In winter, never let a dog onto river ice, watch for salt and ice balls between the pads, and keep outings shorter on the coldest days.
Check Before You Go
With over 60 sites and ongoing river-valley construction, a park can be closed or fenced-off for work without much notice. A couple of sites have had active projects (Ottewell's fenced park, parts of Lauderdale), and destination parks like William Hawrelak reopened in 2026 after a long rehabilitation.
The simplest move is to check the City's official off-leash sites page and interactive map before you drive out. Enter your address and it shows the nearest designated areas and any current notices, so you are not turning around at a fenced gate with a disappointed dog in the back seat.
Looking for a running buddy?
Browse adoptable rescue dogs across Edmonton, then make the river valley your new weekend routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many off-leash dog parks does Edmonton have?
Edmonton has over 60 designated off-leash areas, more per capita than almost any Canadian city, many of them in the North Saskatchewan River valley. Most are unfenced natural areas; only a couple are fully fenced. The City keeps an official off-leash sites page with an interactive map where you can enter your address to find the nearest one.
What is the best fenced dog park in Edmonton?
Grand Trunk Dog Park in the Lauderdale neighbourhood (127 Avenue between 109 Street and 113A Street) is the standout fully fenced option, and it has a separate fenced area for small dogs. That makes it the safest pick for a new rescue still building recall, a small or shy dog, or anyone who wants a secure boundary. O-day'min Dog Park downtown is the other fenced option the City names. Most other Edmonton off-leash areas are unfenced, so they need a dog with reliable recall.
What is the biggest off-leash park in Edmonton?
Terwillegar Park, on the south bank of the river at the end of Rabbit Hill Road, is the largest off-leash area in the city at roughly 169 acres, with multi-use trails, a long footbridge, and a canoe launch. It is unfenced and backs onto the river, so it is best for a dog with solid recall, not a new escape risk.
Do I need to keep my dog on a leash in an Edmonton off-leash park?
Your dog can be off-leash inside the designated boundary, but the City requires it to be leashed when entering and leaving the area, kept in sight and under control at all times, and not allowed to chase wildlife or other dogs. You must clean up after your dog (the fine for not doing so is $100), and dogs deemed vicious are not allowed in off-leash areas at all. Outside the designated areas, dogs must be leashed on public property.
Are Edmonton off-leash parks safe with coyotes around?
Coyotes live throughout Edmonton, including the river valley where many off-leash areas are. The City's own off-leash guidance is direct: do not let your dog chase, and if you see a coyote, leash your dog. Keep your dog in sight and close, especially at dawn and dusk and near dens in spring. The river-valley parks are wonderful, but they are shared wildlife habitat.
Is Hawrelak Park open for dogs again?
William Hawrelak Park reopened in 2026 after a multi-year rehabilitation, so it is no longer closed. It is a destination park rather than a confirmed off-leash dog area, though, so check the City off-leash map before planning a dog visit there. A few other sites also have ongoing construction (Ottewell's fenced park, parts of Lauderdale), so it is always worth a quick check of the City off-leash page for current closures before you drive out.