There are many fun places for your pup to exercise, socialize, and play in Burlington and the surrounding area. Not only are there several dog parks but there is also a dedicated dog beach where you and your pup can cool down in the hot summer months.

So to celebrate the idea of everyone getting a little fresh air alongside their dogs (who are having the times of their life), we’ve put together a list of five of our favorite places to bring your dogs for a little fun in nature. 

Waterfront Dog Park has plenty of benches for dog owners to use and plenty of space for your pups to run! However, there are no public restrooms or drinking water available - so you’ll have to bring water with you. Another noteworthy downside is that this park does not offer a separate fenced-in area for small or senior dogs. Open year-round, 8 am to dusk. Visit enjoyburlington.com for more information.

Starr Farm Dog Park, Burlington 

Starr Farm Dog Park is a fully fenced off-leash dog park located in the New North End of Burlington. There are separate areas for large and small dogs to play safely with pups their own size, as well as, basic dog agility equipment and a sand pit for dogs. Dogs really have fun here.

Starr Farm provides water stations, poop bags, and garbage receptacles. Several visitors have said that there is a shortage of shade here so plan accordingly when planning your visit. Also, dogs are not allowed access to Lake Champlain from this park but a wading pool is provided for dogs in the hot summer months. Open year-round, sunrise to sunset. Visit enjoyburlington.com for more information.


Veterans Memorial, South Burlington

South Burlington has a 2.1-acre dog park inside Veterans Memorial Park. This park is surrounded by a 5ft tall fence and has separate areas for small and senior dogs. This park has ample shade for pets and parents, water on site, picnic tables, and scenic views. This park is located on Kirby Road Extension near the airport and is open year-round from 7 am to dusk. Visit southburlingtonvt.gov/ for more information.

Located in Winooski, West Allen has a fully-fenced dog park and ample parking. This small dog park has a decent amount of space for your pups to run and is not as busy as other dog parks in the area. People like this park for the wood chips covering the ground, which keeps their pups cleaner than in other parks. This park is open 24 hours a day. Visit www.winooskivt.gov/ for more dog park information. 

Shelburne Village Dog Park

The Shelburne Village Dog Park, in Shelburne, is a fully-fenced adventure space for dogs filled with trees, paths, tall grasses, and bushes for them to explore. There are benches available throughout the park and dog bowls and a spigot are available on site. It’s important to note that this park is located in a wetland, so mud and overgrown brush are a probability. This park is a great place for your pups to adventure and explore. This park is open year-round from 5 am to 9 pm. Visit www.shelburnevt.org/ for more information.

Essex Dog Park

Located in Essex Junction, this park offers a large fenced-in area for dogs, however, there is no separate fenced-in area for small or senior dogs. That said, there is a small fenced area for training (or separating) purposes, but that is not a dedicated small dog area. 

This park provides baggies, many benches, and running water.  The open areas for dogs are very large and there are usually plenty of other dogs here. A downside is that there is very minimal shade at this park and it is often muddy. Kiddie pools are provided for your pups in the summer. Open 7 am to 9 pm year-round. Visit www.ejrp.org for more information.

These are just a few of our favorite dog parks in the Burlington area. For more dog-friendly places, check out www.bringfido.com where you will find dog-friendly restaurants, vineyards, breweries, etc. in your area.