Sellwood Off-Leash Dog Park - Portland, OR
Sellwood Off-Leash Dog Park in Portland, Oregon
Sellwood Off-Leash Dog Park is a local favorite nestled along the Willamette River in Portland, OR. This dog-friendly park offers expansive, open areas perfect for letting your pup run and play off-leash. The park’s unique riverfront access means energetic dogs can play in the water, enjoy sandy beaches, and cool off on hot summer days—making it a top spot for pet owners seeking dog-friendly swimming and outdoor adventures.
Dog lovers praise Sellwood for its relaxed, social vibe, shaded seating, and ample grassy spaces for both picnics and play. While there’s convenient parking near the accessible restrooms, spaces can fill quickly, especially during weekends, so arrive early if possible. Note that the park is currently without lighting and trash bins are now primarily placed in the grassy off-leash area, so plan your visits during daylight hours and be prepared to take your waste with you if you venture outside the main lawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are welcome off-leash in the designated area.
- Is there a swimming area or pond for dogs? Yes, the park features a long riverfront with gently sloping beaches for dogs to swim and play.
- Is there shade or shelter available? Yes, there are both sunny and shaded seating spots throughout the park.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? Yes, plenty of places exist to sit and relax while your dog plays.
- Where is the best place to park? There is parking adjacent to the park, but it can be tight—arriving early is recommended.
- Is the park open year-round? Yes, Sellwood Off-Leash Dog Park is open throughout the year, but visit during daylight hours due to a lack of lighting.
Reviews
Best dog park in the city by far. Parking can be tight, so bring your smallest vehicle. Large open space for throwing and running. A long river front with gently sloping beach. Plenty of places to sit, both sun and shade. Piers to help launch your water craft. Fully accessible, plumbed facility adjacent to parking.
Beautiful little park with lots of canine friends to meet. Good place for picnic, hanging out in grass, or down to water level for fun in the sand and relaxing with feet in the water ❤️
Such a happy place. Might be my favorite place to take my dog during warmer weather months. The open areas are wonderful for the dog to run around and have a blast. The vibe is super-chill. Always have a good time here and try to get out at least once a week.
Also side note: if you’re like me, you like to get sun on the body-piece during the summer and this is a great place to get tanned as many others are also shirtless and bikini-clad.
Our two Corgis tend to pull on their leashes and occasionally bark at other dogs when we walk them around our neighborhood.
When we go to off-leash areas they are totally chill and go up to other dogs to make friends. The boy is brave and will chase and play with other dogs. He’ll even go into the water just above his chest height.
If the female chases other dogs she’ll immediately return to us on her own. The boy can be about 50 yards away from us but he’ll check in and come when called.
If you have dogs that seem to dislike other dogs during your on-leash walks I’d suggest giving an off leash area a try.
Best to go early to find a parking spot
As always, my dogs loved playing at the river tonight. Unfortunately, I dropped my rating from 5 stars to 4 because of some recent changes made at the park. The lights were removed for safety reasons due to safety reasons because of their age. Sadly, there is no plan to replace them leaving this popular park unsafe in the dark. They have also reduced the garbage cans and changed the placement of them. Instead of spacing them throughout the park, they are now only located around the grassy off leash area. As a result, I have noticed more litter in the park. On Monday, I pulled 4 glass bottles and multiple cans from the shoreline. Not only is it ugly… it’s dangerous for dogs, children, and anyone recreating in the river.