Point Defiance Dog Park

PROS:
-Large area with lots of trails, trees, and open area
-Covered picnic table near water station
-Multiple entrances
-Poo station with bags

CONS:
-Some signs aren't clear about off-leash boundary, we went into an area we thought was part of it without knowing

NEUTRALS:
-Not fully fenced
-Small dog area
-Inside a nice larger park on the sound with nice views
-Water station collects rain water
-If your dog is not recall trained, would not recommend this park due to steep cliffs and many different trails

This dog park is MASSIVE! The trails feel like they go on forever, and the views of the Sound and Tacoma Narrows Bridge are absolutely stunning. My dog had a blast exploring, and it’s a great spot if you love long walks in nature.

That being said, there are a few things dog owners should be aware of:

The large dog section is not fully fenced, so if your pup has no recall, they could easily run out to the street.

There’s no signage, which makes it super easy to get lost. Some trails even lead straight to the street with no warning.

Some trails seem to be on-leash only, which isn’t well-marked and could be confusing (or dangerous if you run into off-leash dogs)

There are cliffs and drop-offs, so keep an eye on your dog, especially if they like to run ahead

Only one water station and one poop bag/trash can, so plan ahead

Overall, it’s a gorgeous place, and we had fun, but it’s definitely not the most user-friendly or safest setup. Just be prepared, and you’ll have a great time!

This is definitely the largest dog park in Tacoma that we have found. Beware that it is not fully fenced, so if you are worried about your dog running away or trying to go down the hills/cliffs, this may not be the right park for you. The trails are very well maintained, but I do wish there were more signs as we ended up on a street about 15 min away at one point & it wasn’t clear if we could just loop around or if we had to retrace our steps.

A great dog park with plenty of space to run around, and a good network of trails to walk with your dog. The trails are very well maintained and enjoyable.

The main area has a shelter with rainwater collection, but you should consider bringing some water in the dry season. There's always someone for the dogs to play with.