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NW Region of San Francisco: Click on the map below for information about open spaces in this part of the city: 
back Baker Beach GGNRA | Map of Area | Virtual Tour Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Take Lincoln Blvd. West and turn North on Bowley St. The beach is located about a mile South of the Golden Gate Bridge. Dogs are permitted, under voice control, on Baker Beach North of Lobos Creek. Dogs must be leashed South of Lobos Creek. Parking: Large parking lots available in several locations. Description: Baker Beach is a lovely little beach with unique views of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a clothing optional beach, so there may be nudists enjoying the surf and sun. West Pacific Ave GGNRA | Map of Area | Trail Map Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Dogs may be off leash under voice control along the corridor adjoining West Pacific Avenue from the Broadway Street entrance to the 14th Avenue gate. Dogs must be on leash in the forest and fields east of Lovers Lane and north of the Ecology Trail. Parking: Street parking only. Description: This is one of the only trail experience off-leash areas remaining in the Presidio, but it is adjacent to roads. Mountain Lake Park DPA | Map of Area Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Enter at 8th Ave and Lake Street. For wheel chair access and the doggy water fountain, enter one block further west at the 9th Ave. entrance. The off-leash area is located in the Eastern corner of the park, on the opposite end of the lake area. Parking: Street parking only. Description: A wonderful park with a strong local dog community. Because of the NAP, children can no longer feed the ducks here. The NAP has already removed trees here and is redeveloping the park under the guise of "restoration". Ocean Beach | Map of Area | Panorama View | Advocacy Group Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Dogs are allowed on Ocean Beach under voice control from Stairwell 1 south to Stairwell 21. Dogs must be on leash south of Stairwell 21 to Sloat Boulevard in order to protect the endangered Western Snowy Plover. Description: Great wide-open space for dogs who live the beach - there's surf and sand aplenty! Ocean Beach is the premier beach in San Francisco stretching about 3.5 miles along the Pacific Ocean from The Cliffhouse near the mouth of San Francisco Bay south to Fort Funston. Part of the GGNRA, Ocean Beach receives more than 100,000 visitors per year and is the city's largest beach, defining the entire Western edge of the city. One can walk south unimpeded (at low tide) all the way to San Mateo County. Ocean Beach is a long, flat and very heavily used recreational area; popular with every type of user, including kite flyers, runners, surfers and walkers. Watch out for hot embers (leftover from beach bonfires) and trash when walking there with your dog. Golden Gate Park: Dog Training Area | Map of Area Status: Legal Fenced, Single-Use Off-leash Area Location: Behind the Bison pens and West of Spreckles Lake. Walk in near 39th Ave. & Fulton or drive in from 38th Ave. Parking: Parking lot directly adjacent to the Dog Play Area. Description: This is San Francisco's largest fenced, exclusive-use off-leash area. Please do not bring leashed dogs to this fenced-in area. The area is surrounded by a low fence that larger dogs may jump, so keep an eye on your dog. This area can become very muddy during the rainy season to the point where it is unusable. Most suitable for dogs that are either in training or not under voice control. Golden Gate Park: North-East Corner DPA | Map of Area Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Near the intersection of Stanyan & Fulton Streets. Parking: Street parking only. Description: This is a small corner off-leash area. Not well marked. Lots of homeless people hang-out here. Beware that the area is often littered with human waste, which many dogs love to eat -- yuck! Golden Gate Park: South-West DPA | Map of Area Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Bounded by 34th & 38th Avenues, Middle Dr. & MLK Way. Parking: Street parking only. Description: This is a small, little used, sliver of an off-leash area. Not well marked. There are no fences and there is very heavy traffic on all sides -- be careful! This area is seldom mowed and is loaded with foxtails in the late Spring. Golden Gate Park: Big Rec | Map of Area | Advocacy Group Status: De Facto Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Enter Lincoln Way at 9th or 7th Ave - area bounded by Middle Dr E & Martin Luther King. Parking: Street parking only. Description: This is well-used area located above/behind the athletic fields. Neighbors prefer this area becasue it is safer and more useable than the offical DPA located at the SE corner of Golden Gate Park. Golden Gate Park: South-East Corner DPA | Map of Area Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Located in the wooded strip of land bounded by 3rd Ave., 7th Ave., North of Lincoln Way, and South of Martin Luther King Blvd. Parking: Street parking only. Description: This is a small, unused corner off-leash area. Not well marked. There are no fences and there is very heavy traffic on all sides -- be careful! Lots of foxtails in the late Spring and so heavily wooded that it is difficult to utilize. There are many homeless encampments located within this small, wooded lot. Very few people use this area for dog walking - see Big Rec for the safe, popular off-leash area for this neighborhood. Big Rec is not a legally off-leash area though - so please support Big Rec Dog in their efforts to make it a legal DPA. Buena Vista DPA | Map of Area | Advocacy Group Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: Enter at the intersection of Buena Vista Ave. & Central St., south of Haight St. or at any of the other park entrances along Buena Vista Ave. The off-leash area is located in a lower area, along the Western side of the park near Central Ave. Parking: Street parking only. Description: Buena Vista is the oldest city park in San Francisco. Basically one giant hill with expansive views from the top. Just a few short years ago, Buena Vista Park was known as an incredible oasis within the city. Walking along the many steep trails and pathways, one nearly forgot they were in the middle of San Francisco. The vegetation was lush and varied, there were many squirrels and it was a great place for birds. This has all changed with the NAP. The entire hill is slowly being deforested and is quickly turning into a sand dune. The NAP has already removed a huge amount of the vegetation, some trees, and is redeveloping the park under the guise of "restoration". Beware of foxtails in late Spring! This park is popular with professional dog walkers, locals and as a destination location because of its size and safety/isolation from traffic. The legal off-leash area is barely, if ever, used by dog walkers because it is not safe being so close to the road and does not allow for enjoyment of the fantastic trail experience Buena Vista offers. Other regular park users (besides dog walkers who are the majority) can be found in the tennis courts, children's play area, and gay men "looking for love" on the hill (for this reason, it is best to keep dogs out of the bushes!) Crissy Field GGNRA | Map of Area | Webcam | Advocacy Group Status: Legal Mixed-Use Off-leash Area Location: From downtown, take Mason St. West, after you pass the old warehouses, turn right on Mitchell, and go through the to the parking lot. Keep your dog out of the fenced restoration areas and lagoon area at all times! Off-leash areas include: beaches along the waterline and the large, grassy landing field. The West beach nearest to Ft. Point is now on-leash. Parking: Large parking lots available in several locations. Because this area is so heavily used on sunny days and after work, it can be difficult to find parking at times. Description: Crissy Field is a wonderful off-leash area with stunning views to the West of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands, views to the East of the Palace of Fine Arts and San Francisco's skyline - these views are breath-taking on a clear day at sunset. This area has been an off-leash Mecca for over 30-years despite efforts by the NPS to close these areas to off-leash recreation. This beach is heavily used by a wide-variety of beach-goers on sunny days and weekends - from kite flyers, joggers, walkers, bikers, beach-going families, mounted police, and every type of water sport enthusiast - this has become a very popular area for thousands of recreationalists. Be sure your dog in under perfect voice control while enjoying this area. More about the areas listed:
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