It may rain a lot here in the winter, but you can still take the dog for a walk even when it’s raining. Dog owners in Salem have many great exercise options for their dogs, and you see dogs on leashes everywhere in the city. We have an excellent park system, and walking and running with dogs is especially popular in the larger parks with paths like Riverfront Park and Bush’s Pasture Park. Barrick Field, the baseball field for North Salem High School, is also popular as an informal dog park. But sometimes, it’s the most fun for dogs to go off-leash to really be able to run, and we’re lucky to have three designated dog parks in Salem for dogs and their owners to enjoy.
Dog Parks in Salem
Minto Brown Park
2200 Minto Island Road SW SE, Salem
Minto Brown Park has the largest dog park in the area. It’s a giant field bordered by a road, parking lot, and wooded areas. There’s a path around the edge, but it’s fun primarily because of the giant lawn in the center. Dogs of all sizes run and jump in the park, and it’s especially good for those big dogs who need a lot of running for exercise. The park itself has an extremely extensive trail system, and many dog owners put leashes on their dogs to access the paths throughout the different areas of the park.
Keizer Rapids Park
1900 Chemawa Road N, Keizer
Part of a large, 100-acre park, Keizer Rapids Park has two adjoining fenced dog parks – one for large dogs and one for small dogs. The fenced areas have a few benches, but it’s mostly a grassy field for running and jumping. In addition to the dog areas, the park is also popular for its system of trails that lead down to the Willamette. Please be careful of dogs near the river – the current can be very strong in the spring.
Orchard Heights Park
1165 Orchard Heights Road NW, Salem
The smallest of the designated dog parks, Orchard Heights Park, is a small fenced area for small dogs. There’s a bench for dog owners to sit on and a single tree that provides a bit of shade during the spring and summer months. Many dog owners who come to this park take advantage of the trail system that leads into a wooded area with some meadows and a small creek. In the sunnier months, it’s an enjoyable place to walk with a dog.
Dog-Friendly Trails in Salem
Croisan Creek Trail
4500 Croisan Scenic Way S, Salem
Skyline Trail
2373 Kuebler Blvd., Salem
In addition to the dog parks, a couple of hiking trails in Salem are very popular with dog owners. The Croisan Creek Trail and Skyline Trail are both in South Salem. They are known as “pocket” trails because they are short (about a mile each). They are very close to each other – only about six city blocks between them – and can be connected for a longer walk. They are both within undeveloped city projects and have excellent access to the neighborhoods adjacent to South Salem (just north of Kuebler Boulevard).
To access Croisan Creek, you take Croisan Creek Way north from Kuebler until the road ends, and you just keep walking the undeveloped road. Skyline Trail has a small sign at the first parking lot connected to Sprague High School. If you want to get out into a more wooded and less-developed area, these trails are for you!
Salem Dog-Related Fundraising Walks
There are some great events in Salem that dog owners might want to know about – the annual Walk-n-Wag in Minto Brown Park usually happens on the first Saturday in June. It’s a dog-centric fundraiser (people walk with their dogs on leashes) to benefit the Pet Peace of Mind program that allows people to stay in their homes with their animals during hospice. Now in its twelfth year, the event is popular with many dog owners.
Another great dog-centric fundraiser is for the Oregon Humane Society. The WillaMutt Strut takes place in early August in Riverfront Park. It’s a 1K walk around the park with many dog-related contests to follow – costume, treat toss, leap or limbo, and the peanut butter lick-off. Participants raise money (even a small amount is acceptable) and pay an entrance fee to help the Humane Society stay open. Even though it’s at a time when the weather is typically quite hot, there are lots of measures in place to keep people and canines cool.
Salem has a lot to offer for dog owners, from dog-friendly hikes within the city to dog parks designed for both large and small dogs to frolic off-leash. Salem is a very dog-friendly city and will likely continue to welcome dogs in more areas.
