Walking Your Dog in High Park: An On-Leash Guide
November 9, 2026 · 6 min read · By the WalkDogs.ca pack leaders
High Park is the West End's backyard, and our pack leaders walk its edges every week. It's also one of the most rule-heavy parks in the city for dogs, for good reason: it protects some of Toronto's rarest natural habitat. Here's how to enjoy it with your dog while staying on the right side of the bylaws.
The basic rule: leash on, except on Dog Hill
Dogs must be on leash everywhere in High Park except the designated off-leash area, known locally as Dog Hill. It sits between the Grenadier restaurant and the High Park Zoo. Outside that zone, an off-leash dog can earn you a ticket, and more importantly can disturb ground-nesting birds and fragile plants.
Why so strict? The savannah
Large parts of High Park are rare black oak savannah and woodland, protected as natural areas. Commercial dog walkers aren't allowed to bring dogs into designated natural or environmentally sensitive areas at all, and everyone with a dog is asked to stay on marked trails. Paws for Parks, a local volunteer group, has campaigned for years to keep dogs leashed in these zones.
That's why our pack walks stick to paved paths, roadways and the residential streets around the park, rather than the wooded trails.
Good on-leash options
- The paved park roads. The main roads that loop through the park are wide and easy to follow. When stretches are closed to cars, they're pleasant for a slow sniff walk.
- Around Grenadier Pond (on the paved path). Great views and plenty of interesting smells. Keep your dog well back from the waterfowl.
- The Bloor Street edge. Enter near High Park station and walk the northern paths for an easy loop that's close to transit.
- The streets around the park. Indian Road and the side streets of High Park North and Roncesvalles give you shade, quiet, and no trail rules to worry about.
Whichever route you pick, stay on paved or clearly marked paths and keep the leash short near cyclists and strollers.
Using Dog Hill well
Dog Hill can be a great outlet for a confident, social dog with reliable recall. It can also be a lot: a busy off-leash area on a sunny Saturday is overwhelming for nervous dogs, puppies and seniors. A few tips:
- Go early on weekdays if your dog is new to off-leash play.
- Watch for a while before you go in. If the play looks rough, come back another time.
- Leash up before you leave the designated area, every time.
- Bring water in summer; there's little shade on the open hill.
When to avoid High Park altogether
Cherry blossom season, usually late April into early May, brings huge crowds around Grenadier Pond and the main roads. Big summer weekends and events do the same. On those days, a walk through the surrounding neighbourhoods is calmer for everyone, especially reactive dogs.
How we walk near High Park
Our pack leaders hold City of Toronto dog walker permits, keep every dog on leash with four points of contact, and plan routes around the park's protected areas. Read more about our High Park dog walking service, or book a free first walk and we'll show you our favourite loop.