Purgatory Park, Minnetonka Township - Minnetonka, MN
Purgatory Park: A Scenic Dog Park in Minnetonka, Minnesota
Purgatory Park in Minnetonka Township is a favorite spot for dog owners and outdoor enthusiasts looking for wide open spaces and natural beauty. Renowned for its expansive pet-friendly trails, the park offers both paved and unpaved paths that weave through open fields and lush woodlands, providing a unique experience for dog-friendly hiking or jogging alongside your canine companion. Local Minnetonka residents appreciate the variety of well-maintained paths, though it’s worth noting that the smaller trails may get muddy after rain or thaw cycles.
While Purgatory Park is not fully enclosed, there are designated unmaintained areas where well-trained dogs can be off-leash, making it an excellent option for those seeking off-leash adventures—just be sure your dog is under reliable voice control. The peaceful scenery, abundant vegetation, and the expansive layout make it ideal for nature walks, but also mean parking can be limited during busy times. Whether you’re a local searching for a dog park in Minnetonka, Minnesota, or a visitor exploring pet-friendly trails, Purgatory Park is a beautiful and multifaceted choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed off-leash in certain unmaintained areas if they are under reliable voice control.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? No, the park is not enclosed, so it is not appropriate for dogs that cannot be trusted off-leash.
- What are the park’s leash requirements? Dogs must generally be leashed, except in specific unmaintained areas where off-leash is permitted with good recall.
- How busy does the park get on weekends? The park can get busy, and you may encounter many dogs on popular days.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are several paved and unpaved paths and trails throughout the park, suitable for walking, hiking, or jogging with your dog.
- Is the park muddy after it rains? Some smaller trails can become quite muddy after heavy rains or during thaw cycles.
- Where is the best place to park? Parking is available but can be limited, especially during busy times.
Reviews
Gorgeous park with lots of great paths both the maintained ones and the ones through the brush. Obviously the park is not enclosed so don’t take your dog off leash unless you have great recall and voice control of them. My only other “complaint” is that dogs are only allowed off leash in unmaintained areas of the park and that is a really vague description so it’s hard to know sometimes if you are in the correct place for it or not.
Nice paths for strolling with the pup! Some paths are narrow offshoots while main paths are either paved, sandy, or firm ground. Ran into some off leash dogs but they were well behaved so good with me.
Beautiful combination of walking paths across large open fields and through dense green forests. Mix of paved and unpaved. Some of the smaller trails can get muddy after heavy rains.
No trail signage so be ready to navigate with your phone.
Purgatory Park is fun place to visit. If you like jogging or bicycling or walking the dogs, or just walking, it is the place for you. Pretty large area to explore. Lots of vegetation, all kinds of trees and plants. Number of trails besides main trail. Great area to walk your dog. Just be aware sometimes there are too many dogs on a given day.
Nice looking park. We went in late winter after a thaw cycle and most of the paths were either still frozen or muddy soft. But air temps were a bit chilly. The hiking paths look well maintained and have good coverage throughout the park. A little skimpy in the parking.