Bellevue Dog Woods
Volunteer-kept fenced woods north of the city, with a waterfall pool
About this park
A volunteer-run fenced hilltop inside Bellevue Memorial Park, about five miles north of downtown, supported by a local board and private donations. The woods have a filtered pool with a running waterfall for summer cool-downs, pet-safe salt on the approach paths in winter, and wood chips laid down in the muddy spots.
Amenities
Bellevue Dog Woods reviews
What visitors consistently sayThe filtered waterfall pool is the signature feature dogs remember in summer, and the volunteer upkeep (wood chips, salt, trees, benches) keeps this park visibly better maintained than most neighborhood fenced runs.
A protective, tight-knit regulars crowd who clearly treat the park as theirs; mornings are the heaviest window, with a lunchtime group forming in winter.
Best for
Before you go
Park at the lot near the field hockey rink off Bellevue Avenue; the entrance is a short uphill walk from there. Hours match the rest of the park (sunrise to sunset), and the surrounding streets aren't pedestrian-friendly, so plan to drive.
Frequently asked
- Is Bellevue Dog Woods fenced and off-leash?
- Yes. It is a fully fenced hilltop enclosure for off-leash dogs, split into a large-dog side and a separate small-dog side.
- Is there a separate area for small dogs?
- There is a medium and small-dog pen that usually stays fairly empty. One regular reported seeing small dogs get roughed up on the big-dog side, so keeping a small dog to its own side is the safer call.
- Can dogs cool off with water in summer?
- The big-dog side has a filtered pool fed by a running waterfall that dogs use to cool down in warm weather, and volunteers keep drinking water stocked in gallon jugs.
- Where do you park?
- The closest lot is off Bellevue Avenue next to the field hockey rink, with a short uphill walk to the entrance. The surrounding low-density streets are not pedestrian-friendly, so plan to drive.
- Does it get muddy after rain?
- Volunteers spread wood chips over the spots that would otherwise turn to mud, and the approach paths are salted with pet-safe salt through winter.
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