Can dogs be off leash at Back Cove Park?

No. Leashes stay on for the full loop, and the path is shared with runners and cyclists moving at speed.

How long is the loop and what is the surface?

About 3.5 miles of flat packed gravel, even enough that reviewers treat it as a workout route rather than a hike.

How crowded does it get?

The morning and late-afternoon running waves are the busy windows. One reviewer's main caveat is stepping out of a runner's way every so often.

What is worth seeing along the way?

The Dancing For Joy egret sculpture on the cove side draws comment from reviewers, and the bird activity over the mudflats holds a dog's attention. Foggy mornings get singled out as the best light.

All Dog Parks

Back Cove Park

A flat 3.5-mile cove loop with a running-club crowd and big skies

3 · Our score

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About this park

Back Cove Park wraps a 3.5-mile gravel loop around the tidal cove between Tukey's Bridge and the Forest Ave overpass, on a flat surface that carries steady running and cycling traffic all day. Dogs stay on leash the whole way, and the cove's mudflats sit just below the path at low tide.

Amenities

Parking Benches Trash cans

Back Cove Park reviews

What visitors consistently say

The highlights

Reviewers love the unbroken cove views, the clean surface, and the easy connection to the Eastern Promenade Trail for a longer outing. Sunsets over the cove pull a small crowd of regulars to the western shore most evenings in summer.

The community

More running-club than dog park, but the dog walkers know each other on the regulars stretches. Foggy mornings draw a quieter, photographer-leaning crowd.

Best for

Senior dogs Social dogs

Before you go

Leashes are required for the full loop. Step aside for runners and cyclists, especially the morning and 5pm waves; dogs that pace alongside their owners do best here.

Frequently asked

Can dogs be off leash at Back Cove Park?: No. Leashes stay on for the full loop, and the path is shared with runners and cyclists moving at speed.
How long is the loop and what is the surface?: About 3.5 miles of flat packed gravel, even enough that reviewers treat it as a workout route rather than a hike.
How crowded does it get?: The morning and late-afternoon running waves are the busy windows. One reviewer's main caveat is stepping out of a runner's way every so often.
What is worth seeing along the way?: The Dancing For Joy egret sculpture on the cove side draws comment from reviewers, and the bird activity over the mudflats holds a dog's attention. Foggy mornings get singled out as the best light.