🐾 Kids at the Dog Park: Real Stories, Safety Risks & Smarter Solutions
If you’ve spent time at an off-leash park, you’ve probably seen it:A parent strolls in with a stroller 🚼 or […]
Discover Robbinsdale Dog Park, one of the most spacious and scenic dog parks in Rapid City, South Dakota. Known for its sprawling open spaces and well-maintained, pet-friendly paved trails, this park invites both locals and travelers to enjoy exceptional dog-friendly hiking and exercise in a relaxed, natural setting. While unique among area dog parks for not having a fenced perimeter, the vast grounds are perfect for well-trained dogs who reliably respond to commands. The park is accessible through multiple parking lots and features a wide, smooth pathway—perfect for strollers, wheelchairs, or easy walking with your canine companions.
Amenities at Robbinsdale Dog Park include waste stations (though bringing your own bags is wise), accessible walkways, and adjacency to other recreational spaces such as a new bike track and children’s playground. A porta-potty is available seasonally nearby, and the mile-long loop offers a flexible environment for outdoor enthusiasts and their pets. Shade from trees and open grassy areas create a versatile, welcoming area for all. With free entry and plenty of room to roam, it’s an ideal spot for enjoying the outdoors with your dog in Rapid City.
Nice place to take your dogs….to bad not everyone doesn’t pick up after their pets😡
Really like this park, not only because it’s near to where we’re staying but there’s so much space – even without a fence around it – that just confirms you need to be sure you can recall your dog on command.
The pathway is great because it’s wide/tar and even. You can go off the path, through the grass area in several spots as it’s mowed down paths to walk through. It’s one-mile around the dog park area but you can walk to other areas of the park to extend your exercise.
There are no lights in the parking area or in the park – but you can see part of the park as the sunsets if the sky is lit as there’s nothing blocking street lights either. There are some trees, and water drainage areas in the park if your dog likes to go in mud – just a warning.
There’s a porta-potty on this side of the parking lot, near to the BMX track and the fire department. The children’s playground is the 3rd parking lot down the same road. Don’t know if there are any bathrooms, but if their were they would be closed for the season, seems like that’s common for this city. There’s also no water faucet or drinking fountain for you or your dog.
There’s about 4 waste stations – some have bags, some don’t – just bring your own – if you have a dog and take them out, you should clean up after your dog – we don’t want to walk in your dog’s poop, you can do that at your own house. (sorry for the rant but people are irresponsible so you know if they don’t clean up after their dog, their dog probably has no manners around your pup either).
If you’re concerned about road traffic: There’s one area that’s closer to the main road traffic that you’ll want to either avoid or put your dog back on leash when going by that area (E Fairmont Blvd & Hemlock St). Otherwise, be aware that people who “think” their dog will listen to them, may not.
They are building some type bicycle playground on the roadside of dog park – that will be interesting to see when it’s done. You could park on that side of the park also – which is right off of E. Fairmont Blvd – in case you pass the entrance to the main parking lot.
Caution – For your dog – We have a female golden who is fixed – but one day there was a crazy male dog that ran up to her twice to check her out and was about to hump her and the owner had no command over his dog – then as we’re finishing our walk – we heard a guy yelling at his dog to come and the same dog, ran away from his owner to run to our dog and tried to mount her again – we stopped him multiple times but I also carry stuff to stop aggressive dogs or people from attacking us – didn’t have to use any thing on his dog as the guy starting to run for his dog. Just letting you know, this is the risk you take when going to an “off leash” park.
We try to go in the middle of a work week when there’s less people and animals – but the reason this park gets 5 stars is that it’s spacious and you have a better opportunity to avoid other people and dogs if you want to – but many medium to large dogs can out run their owners.
We are just passing through SD & needed a place to take our older 135 pound Brazilian Mastiff for the afternoon. Initially there wasn’t but 1 or 2 dogs there but it picked up more towards the evening hours. It was a weekday after all. So we really didn’t expect much tbh. At first we weren’t really sure which parking lot was for the dog park but I guess it didn’t matter which one we parked in. We’ve never come across a dog park like this one before. Every dog park we’ve seen in multiple states are usually fenced. So the fact that this dog park sprawled & meandered around curves & trees with a paved walking area was really nice for us & my dog. The park just seemed to go on & on. It was great exercise for my husband, myself, & our giant puppy. If we come back through SD again one day, we will be sure to stop here again & plan on spending alot more time enjoying ourselves out at this dog park. Even if you don’t have dogs, it’s still a great area to walk & get away from it all.
This park has a playground and new bike track for children, a mile track for walking, and is a no leash park provided that your dog will listen to the commands of its owner. It’s a great place to go to get outdoors if you get the feeling of being cooped up as it is free to attend and overall a fantastic walk.
Great dog friendly dog park. Park is exactly 1 mi round –but there are shortcuts that run through the middle.