Branciforte Dog Park
200 North Branciforte Avenue
Surface: dirtHours: sunrise-sunset
View on map →Dog walking and dog parks in Santa Cruz, CA.
Places to play, and GPS-tracked dog walking from screened local walkers.
Dog walking in Santa Cruz
You can sign up with Dote today as a dog owner or a walker in Santa Cruz, California. How many walkers are available near you depends on your area. Every walker completes identity and criminal background screening, and every walk has live GPS tracking.
Places your dog can play in Santa Cruz
OpenStreetMap, a volunteer-edited map, lists 7 dog parks in or near Santa Cruz. Rules, hours, and fencing can change, so check the posted signs or the city website before you go.
Mimi De Marta Dog Park
View on map →Pacheco Dog Park
Fenced
View on map →Small Dog Park
View on map →University Terrace Dog Park
View on map →Plus 2 more dog parks not named on the map.
Santa Cruz at a glance
- Population: about 61,501 (2023 Census estimate)
- Change since 2020: down 2.3%
- Land area: about 13 square miles
- Density: about 4,827 people per square mile
- Rank in California: number 143 of 482 places by population
By these numbers, Santa Cruz is a medium-density place. In medium-density places, walks are often along residential streets, and parks can be a short walk, a longer walk or a short drive away, depending on the neighborhood.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer files.
Before you go
- Bring water and waste bags, and keep your dog's vaccinations up to date.
- Read the posted rules at the entrance. Many parks require current vaccinations, licenses, or leashes at the gate.
- Watch how your dog is getting along with the others, and leave if play gets too rough.
Dog rules in Santa Cruz, California
Dog rules in the U.S. come from three levels: state law, the county, and the city. Nearly every state requires rabies vaccination for dogs, while leash, license, and waste rules are usually set by the city or county, so they can be different in Santa Cruz than in the next town over.
- License and rabies tag: most cities require a dog license and current rabies vaccination. Keep the tags on your dog's collar.
- Leash rules: many cities require dogs to be leashed in public, with off-leash allowed only in posted dog areas. Check the leash length limit too.
- Waste: picking up after your dog is required almost everywhere, and fines apply.
- Limits: ordinances often cover barking, the number of dogs per home, and dogs left in hot cars or tied up outdoors.
For the exact rules in Santa Cruz, read the city's animal ordinance or ask local animal control: municipal code library · search the Santa Cruz dog ordinance · Santa Cruz on the map. Dote does not give legal advice, and rules change, so confirm with the city.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I take my dog to play in +
OpenStreetMap lists 7 dog parks in or near Santa Cruz: Mimi De Marta Dog Park, Pacheco Dog Park, Branciforte Dog Park, University Terrace Dog Park, Small Dog Park, and more. Check posted rules and hours before you go.
Is Dote available in +
You can sign up today as a dog owner or a walker in Santa Cruz, California. How many walkers are available near you depends on your area.
Are leash rules the same everywhere in +
Usually not. Leash, license, and vaccination rules are often set by the city or county and can differ by park, so check Santa Cruz's municipal code or animal-control office and the posted signs.
Are Dote walkers in Santa Cruz screened? +
Yes. Every Dote walker completes identity verification and a criminal background check through a third-party screening provider before their first walk, with periodic re-screening afterward.
Nearby places in California
Capitola · Scotts Valley · Watsonville · Los Gatos · Monte Sereno · Saratoga
Dog park data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See all of California.
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