Best Parks for Dogs in Albuquerque: Exploring Clients' Favorite Spots

Looking for a new park to explore with your dog? Or maybe somewhere they can roam safely and comfortably on a long leash? I generally don't recommend traditional dog parks (a conversation for a different article), and luckily Albuquerque has plenty of great public parks and open spaces that I can, and do, enthusiastically recommend. To be honest, most of these parks were first introduced to me by my clients, so they recommend them too. Let's take a look at some of their favorite spots and what makes them so attractive.

Before diving in, I'd like to mention a few things. First, it's important to note that many city parks are popular spots for dog guardians and often used for children's sports practices, so they can become moderately to extremely busy on weekday mornings and evenings, as well as on weekends. It's also important to keep in mind that some dogs are let to roam off leash in many public spaces. Keeping your dog's boundaries and preferences for meeting new dogs and people in mind, having emergency/escape routes/practices planned in advance, being knowledgable on what to do in the case of a dog fight, and knowing how to advocate for your dog will help ensure your outings stay safe and fun.

Alright, let's get to it.

(Note: These aren't ranked in any particular order and headings link to Google maps.)

List of Parks in This Post

1. Heritage Hills Park

2. Montgomery Park

3. Arroyo Del Oso Park

4. Tiguex Park

5. West Bluff Park

6. Jerry Clines Park

7. Vista Del Norte Park & Bernardo Trails Park

8. Vista Grande Community Center

9. Pajarito Open Space

1: Heritage Hills Park

This park is located in northeast Albuquerque on Ventura Ave NE, not far from the Hoffmantown Church. This is personally one of my favorite parks, and was introduced to me by Boone and his dog-mom.

What it offers:

• ample and easy-to-access parking lots

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• wide open spaces

• only one small side of the park is adjacent to a busy road (Ventura)

• trees for shade

• walking paths on perimeter of park

• gorgeous views of the Sandias

• basketball court at the west end, children's playground at the east end

• and if you're so inclined, the Cherry Hills Dog Park is adjacent to the far east side

What it lacks:

• public restrooms

• picnic tables

The wide open spaces give dogs ample room to run on long leashes, and provide excellent visibility for being aware of other dogs and people in case your dog is a little bit reactive or nervous with unfamiliar dogs or people. I find this park to be a good choice in any season - the wide open field makes it easy to stay in the sun in winter, and the trees surrounding the park make it easy to chase shade in the summer.

2: Montgomery Park

As its name suggests, this park is located in the Montgomery-San Mateo-Comanche area. It was first introduced to me by Lily and her pawrents.

What it offers:

• plenty of street parking and a small parking lot off of Comanche

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• wide open spaces

• trees for shade

• walking path, mostly on perimeter of park

• picnic tables and benches

• gorgeous views of the Sandias

• tennis courts at the west end, children's playground at the east end

• public pool, library, and senior center nearby

• and if you're so inclined, a dog park is adjacent to the far east side

What it lacks:

• public restrooms

The wide open spaces give dogs ample room to run on long leashes. Much of the park provides great visibility for being aware of other dogs and people, though trees in some areas may reduce visibility. I find this park to be a good choice in any season - the wide open areas make it easy to stay in the sun in winter, and the trees make it easy to chase shade in the summer.

3: Arroyo Del Oso Park

This expansive park is located in the Osuna-Spain-Wyoming area. It was first introduced to me by Finnick and his sidekick.

What it offers:

• several parking lots

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• wide open spaces

• benches

• sidewalk around fields

• public restrooms (vault toilets)

• gorgeous views of the Sandias

• basketball and tennis courts, children's playground

What it lacks:

• trees for shade

• picnic tables

The wide open spaces give dogs ample room to run on long leashes, and I've observed many dogs running off leash here. There aren't very many trees throughout the park, so I find this one to be better for visiting in the cooler months, or mornings and evenings in the summer. This park is one of the busier parks I've been to, and has provided great dog training practice in high energy environments.

4: Tiguex Park

This iconic park is located in the Old Town area. It was first introduced to me by Rocket and his guardians.

What it offers:

• street parking or paid lots

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• wide open space

• trees for shade

• benches & picnic tables

• walking path through the park

• within walking distance to Old Town Plaza

• basketball courts, children's playground

What it lacks:

• public restrooms

The open space gives dogs room to run on long leashes, and provides great visibility. I find this park to be a good choice in any season, though it's important to park close to the park during the summer to avoid your dog walking on hot asphalt. This park is often busy, and may be challenging for nervous or reactive dogs.

5: West Bluff Park

The West Bluff Park is neatly tucked away in a residential area near the intersection of I-40 and Coors. It was first introduced to me by Cooper and his humans.

What it offers:

• street parking on Hurley Dr NW or Vista Grande Dr NW

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• open spaces

• trees for shade

• pavilions, benches, and picnic tables

• walking path through the east side of the park

• an overlook with amazing views of the Sandias

• within walking distance to Old Town Plaza

• children's playground and basketball court

What it lacks:

• public restrooms

• parking lot

• sports fields

While not the most expansive open space of the parks listed in this article, there's still plenty of room for dogs to run on long leashes, and provides great visibility. I find this park to be a good choice in any season. Because this park does not have athletic fields, it tends to get less traffic than some of the other parks on this list. However, the pavilions and benches attract picnic goers and small celebratory gatherings. As a little heads up in case your dog doesn't particularly like other dogs barking at them, parts of this park are flanked by private yards with dogs in them.

6: Jerry Cline Park

The Jerry Cline Park is incredibly easy to access, as it lies in a residential area just off I-40 near the intersection of Louisiana and Constitution. It was first introduced to me by Goldie and her adventure buddies.

What it offers:

• street parking and parking lot

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• wide open space (Lilac Field)

• trees for shade

• benches & picnic tables

• walking and cycling path through and around the park

• public restrooms near the tennis courts

• children's playground and tennis courts

What it lacks:

• basketball courts

This park is pretty popular for dog guardians! And it's easy to see why: Open space with great visibility for dogs to run, shade for summer walks, and a path that goes both through the park and around it. This park also attracts families with young children, picnic goers, cyclists, walkers and runners, and tennis players. All that being said, this park is rarely empty. A section of the park is currently blocked off due to a Water Utility Authority construction project.

7: Vista Del Norte Park (and Bernardo Trails Park)

Located at the intersection of Osuna Rd NE and Vista Del Norte Dr NE, Vista Del Norte Park is perhaps one of the largest open spaces I have visited to date. Both parks mentioned in the title were introduced to me by Louie and his fun-loving guardians.

What it offers:

• ample parking lot spaces

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• vast, wide open space

• new public restrooms as of October 2025

• benches & picnic tables

• spectacular views of the Sandias

• walking path around perimeter

• children's playground

• a shady 1-acre dog park at the east end of the park

What it lacks:

• trees for shade

• basketball & tennis courts

The open space gives dogs room to run on long leashes, and provides great visibility. With such a vast, open space, Vista Del Norte Park can become a landing site for balloons and attracts many field sports, such as soccer. Some dogs can find these things to be overwhelming! That's why I also mention Bernardo Trails Park; just half a mile north of the sprawling Vista Del Norte Park, this park is smaller and quieter, and may be a better choice for dogs who prefer a less busy environment. There are no restrooms or parking lots at Bernardo Trails Park. Due to sparse tree coverage, I find both parks to be best for visiting in the cooler months, or mornings and evenings in the summer.

8: Vista Grande Community Center

If you want to take your dog on a short field trip out of the bustling city of Albuquerque, I recommend the Vista Grande Community Center in Sandia Park. This area was first introduced to me by Peach and her dog-dad.

What it offers:

• ample parking lot spaces

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• pavilion, tables, and benches on premises

• fresh mountain air, quiet surroundings, beautiful mountain views

• sidewalk/concrete walking paths

• a wooded trail loop at the west side of the complex

• baseball/softball and soccer fields

• public restrooms (inside the community center, only accessible during business hours)

• children's playground

• a dog park at the northeast side of the complex

What it lacks:

• trees for shade (unless on the wooded trail or in the dog park)

• outdoor basketball & tennis courts

I particularly enjoy visiting the Vista Grande Community Center during weekdays, mid-day. At these times the dog park and the surrounding paths and trails are often quiet or completely empty. While the community center and restrooms are only accessible during standard business hours, the dog park and walking areas are accessible to the public off hours. Keep in mind that this location is usually a few degrees cooler than in Albuquerque, and tends to experience a bit more precipitation - don't forget to check the weather before heading out!

9: Pajarito Open Space

Located in the South Valley, the Pajarito Open Space is nestled between quaint fields and is more of a walking area than a park. This area was first introduced to me by CC and her enthusiasts.

What it offers:

• street parking and a small parking lot

• dog poop bag dispensers & garbage cans

• benches & picnic tables

• wide walking paths

• open spaces around the walking paths (great visibility)

• calm and quiet environment

• trees for shade

What it lacks:

• public restrooms

• recreational fields and courts

• children's playground

While the other parks and areas in this post have great amenities for the whole family, this is the perfect spot for a rejuvenating walk with your dog. Theoretically your dog could romp around in the fields, though I wouldn't recommend it as they are full of goat heads and other prickly weeds. If you're a Sniffspot patron, GG's Private Dog Park is just down the street, so you could plan a decent outing for you and your dog - some off leash running at GG's followed by a cool-down walk at the Pajarito Open Space would fulfill and tire out even the most energetic pup.

In Review

I hope this article helps you plan your next adventure with your dog! I'm still exploring and meeting amazing new clients, so stay tuned for more park reviews.

If you'd like to explore more of Albuquerque's parks on your own, you can check out the city's park list here. If you have a favorite park to visit with your dog, I'd love to hear about it!