Southwest Dog Park - Eau Claire,
Southwest Dog Park in Eau Claire, WI
Discover Southwest Dog Park, a pet-friendly destination located along the beautiful Chippewa River. This off-leash dog park in Eau Claire offers expansive, scenic trails perfect for dog-friendly hiking, with a large natural area, access to the river, and sand beaches that make it a favorite for both locals and travelers alike. Your dog can swim, run, and explore woodchip trails surrounded by mature trees and grassy sand dunes.
While the park is not fully fenced, it has a double-gated entrance and waste stations at the entry. There’s a paved parking lot for convenient access, and your pup can enjoy over a quarter-mile of riverbank for swimming and play. Note that a fee is required to use the park, payable onsite or through a yearly application. Southwest Dog Park truly stands out among Eau Claire dog parks for its natural setting and riverfront access, making it an ideal stop for adventurous dogs and their owners!
FAQ
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in the designated area.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? The park is not fully fenced; fencing stops before the river.
- Are there water fountains or bowls for dogs? There is a water spout inside the entry, though it may not always be operational.
- Are poop bags or waste stations provided? Yes, multiple bag dispensers and a single garbage bin are available at the entrance.
- Are there benches or seating areas for owners? No designated benches or seating areas were noted at the park.
- Is there a fee or membership required to enter? Yes, a daily or yearly fee is required and can be paid at the park or online.
- Where is the best place to park? There is a paved parking lot available at the park entrance, though access may occasionally be limited due to flooding.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are multiple natural trails and a loop of approximately 0.7 miles within the park.
- Is there a swimming area or pond for dogs? Yes, dogs have direct access to the Chippewa River and sandy beach areas for swimming.
- Is there shade or shelter available? The park features mature trees providing natural shade throughout the area.
Reviews
Great road trip dog park. Large area with multiple trails along the river with a great dog beach. This is definitely on our list when traveling through WI.
Good sized dog park with access to river.
NOTES!
-NOT fenced fully.
-Access to river
-FEE (by envelope daily or application yearly) see photos for prices & contact.
-limited lot/area lights
– no seating? – I didn’t notice any benches or tables.
-water spout inside entry but was not on/working on 4/23/22
Paved parking lot. One double gated entrance with single garbage bin, pay box, and multiple bag dispensers. Trails appear to be being rechipped. Terrain is uneven with varying sizes of woodchips. Some rock and dirt area. Grass, sand beach, and grassy areas. Mature trees, fallen trees, natural brush. A lil’ bit of everything!
River access along over 1/4 mile and fence stops 5 feet from the river. River can be quick moving but there is a gentler area near the sand dunes.
Trail loop is approximately 0.7 miles.
I grew up in Eau Claire and only been at one other dog park by Kohl’s location. I found this location to be a nice change. The only problem was my poor old blind dog fell into the water basin in the middle of the park and I almost thought I was gonna have to jump in and pull him out. I wish they would sense this area off so dogs would not go into that area. Otherwise very scenic and beautiful area by river.
Update 5/22: You can now get to the parking lot, but the fences to keep dogs in the park got knocked over from the flooding. Check out my photos for reference.
Super nice dog park, just impossible to drive to the parking lot currently 😄
Best off-leash dog park in Eau Claire/ Chippewa County with access to Chippewa River, great for dogs that love to swim, cant wait for summer when they have the land graded and mulched. Looks like a trail is being made running along river. There are also multiple sand dunes/beaches for easy access to water. I hope more dog owners learn about this park as the weather gets warmer. I would say it is comparable to the twin cities Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park that runs along the Mississippi River. There is a fee so make sure you bring NULL or file the dog license and dog park application paperwork online. I did the latter.