High Park's dog off-leash areas
Dogs: Off the leash in the OLAs
Yes. Dogs are welcome in High Park, and they can run off the leash in its dogs off-leash areas: along the east side of Colborne Lodge Drive and north of Centre Road, and near the east edge of Allotment Lane. Everywhere else in the park, keep your dog on a leash.
Last checked 21 October 2026. Rules change, so read the signs at the entrance.
Rules for dogs
- Off the leash only in the off-leash areas: along the east side of Colborne Lodge Drive and north of Centre Road, and near the east edge of Allotment Lane. Allotment Lane itself is on-leash only. Maps and signs in the park show where they start and end. (City of Toronto, High Park)
- Open in park hours. City parks are closed from 12:01 am to 5:30 am. (City of Toronto, Dogs Off-Leash Areas list; Toronto Municipal Code, ch. 608, § 608-9)
- The City's off-leash list shows High Park's area as fully fenced, on sand, about 32,000 square metres, with a dog fountain. (City of Toronto, Dogs Off-Leash Areas list)
- Commercial dog walkers may use it. (City of Toronto, Dogs Off-Leash Areas list)
- Everywhere outside the off-leash area, keep your dog on a leash no longer than 2 metres. Letting it run loose elsewhere can cost up to $615: a $500 fine plus surcharges. (Toronto Municipal Code, ch. 349, § 349-12.1; City of Toronto, Responsible Dog Ownership; City of Toronto, Dogs Off-Leash)
- Put the poop in a waste bin or one of the Green Bins around the park. (City of Toronto, High Park)
- City rules in every off-leash area: your dog must be licensed and vaccinated, and stay in your sight and under your control; never leave it there alone. Dogs with a history of biting, pit bulls and females in heat may not go in, and no training or electronic devices. Pick up the poop: the City has Green Bins in its off-leash areas. (City of Toronto, Dogs Off-Leash; Toronto Municipal Code, ch. 608, § 608-34)
Getting there
Cars can drive into the park only from Monday to Friday, and not on statutory holidays or in peak cherry blossom season. The Spring Road lot, off Parkside Drive, has 21 spaces and is open seven days a week. On foot, the paved entrances include Bloor Street West at High Park Avenue, and Parkside Drive at Howard Park Avenue, High Park Boulevard and Spring Road. (City of Toronto, High Park)
Dog Hill
blogTO's 2021 list of Toronto dog parks calls High Park's off-leash area Dog Hill, between the Grenadier restaurant and the High Park zoo, with a fountain for dogs. (blogTO, 16 Apr 2021)
Where it is
Bloor Street West and Parkside Drive, west end. The pin is where the City's off-leash map puts the area. Open in Google Maps (a rough pin, not the gate).
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Nearest places on this list
- Trinity Bellwoods Park, 3.9 km away in a straight line. Off the leash in the OLA
- Humber Bay Park West, 4.2 km away in a straight line. Off the leash in the OLA
- Coronation Park, 5.0 km away in a straight line. Off the leash in the OLA
Related posts
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