Bring the dog. Seriously. Everett is one of those Pacific Northwest cities that genuinely earns the "dog-friendly" label rather than just slapping it on a marketing flyer. There are dedicated off-leash parks, miles of trail that welcome leashed dogs, and a waterfront culture built around being outside with your whole family, four-legged members included.
If you're planning a trip to the North Puget Sound and wondering whether your dog will actually have a good time (not just tolerate the trip from the back seat), the answer is yes. Here's what you need to know.
TL;DR: Everett has two primary off-leash dog parks, Forest Park Dog Off-Leash Area and Loganberry Lane Dog Park, plus numerous leashed trails, Cascade foothills hikes, and waterfront paths your dog will love. Most parks are free and open year-round. A pet-friendly home base like Timber & Tide means your dog gets a real yard to decompress in between adventures.
Where Are the Off-Leash Dog Parks in Everett, WA?
Everett has two dedicated off-leash dog areas maintained by the City of Everett Parks and Recreation department. Both are fenced, free to use, and open year-round.
Forest Park Dog Off-Leash Area sits inside Forest Park, one of Everett's oldest and most beloved green spaces. The off-leash enclosure is separated from the main park, so you can let your dog run without worrying about the picnic crowds nearby. The park itself spans 197 acres of towering second-growth fir, which means even on a warm summer afternoon there's shade everywhere. The off-leash area has a double-gate entry (standard for safety), separate sections for large and small dogs, and waste bag dispensers. Parking is available off Mukilteo Boulevard.
Loganberry Lane Dog Park on the south end of Everett is a smaller, neighborhood-scale park with a loyal local following. It's fully fenced, has the same double-gate setup, and tends to be a little less crowded during peak weekend hours than Forest Park. If your dog is on the shyer side, this one often works better.
Both parks ask that dogs be current on vaccinations and wear tags. That's standard across Washington State parks and just good trail etiquette regardless of where you go. Check the City of Everett Parks page for current hours, closures, and any seasonal maintenance notices before you head out.
What to Expect at Forest Park: The Bigger Picture
Forest Park deserves its own paragraph because it's more than just a dog park. The off-leash area is one piece of a much larger property that includes paved walking loops, picnic shelters, a spray park in summer, and trails that wind through old-growth-style forest. A lot of visitors combine a leashed forest walk with off-leash time in the enclosure, which is a good strategy for a high-energy dog who needs to burn off the long drive first.
The park is about a 10-minute drive from Timber & Tide, depending on traffic. In the morning, especially on weekdays, it's quiet enough that you'll mostly hear birds and the occasional runner. Bring a coffee from Black Drop Roasting or another local shop nearby, because you will want to linger.
Dog-Friendly Trails Near Everett
Off-leash parks are great, but most dog owners traveling to the Pacific Northwest want trails, and Everett's location delivers.
Lowell Riverfront Trail runs along the Snohomish River just south of Everett. Dogs must be leashed, but the flat, paved trail is easy on older dogs or dogs recovering from injuries. It's an underrated spot: you get big open-sky views of the river and the Cascades in the distance, and the trail connects to the Centennial Trail, which stretches all the way to Snohomish and beyond.
The Centennial Trail is one of Snohomish County's best-kept secrets for dog walkers. It runs 30 miles from Snohomish north toward Arlington, mostly crushed gravel with some paved sections, passing through farmland, forest, and small river crossings. Dogs must be leashed. You can pick it up at multiple trailheads, and the southern end near downtown Snohomish drops you right into the antique district if you want to add a browse to your walk.
For a bigger mountain day, the Cascades foothills are only about 45 minutes east of Everett. Cascade day trips from Everett has a full rundown, but highlights for dogs include the trails around Lake Serene (strenuous, worth every step) and the lower portions of the Wallace Falls trail near Gold Bar, which is dog-friendly and manageable for most fitness levels.
A Good-to-Know: Leash Rules in Washington State Parks
Washington State Parks requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than eight feet in all state park lands. That applies to beaches, campgrounds, and trails within the state park system. City and county parks have their own rules, which is why the designated off-leash areas matter. The off-leash enclosures at Forest Park and Loganberry Lane are the places where your dog can truly run free within Everett's city limits.
For state parks nearby, like Mukilteo State Park where the Mukilteo lighthouse sits, dogs are welcome on leash and the beach walk is genuinely beautiful. It's a short 15-minute drive from Timber & Tide, and on a clear day you get views across the Sound to Whidbey Island with the ferry cutting through the water. Your dog will like the salt air. So will you.
What About the Waterfront?
The Everett waterfront and Port Gardner area are popular walking routes, and leashed dogs are generally welcome on the public paths. The Marina area and Jetty Landing have paved trails with direct water views, and on a weekday morning it's genuinely peaceful. Just be aware that Jetty Island, the sandy barrier island just off the waterfront, has a seasonal ferry (it runs in summer and charges a small fee) and dogs are allowed but must be leashed. The sandy beach there is worth the trip if you visit in July or August.
Honestly, the waterfront loop combined with a stop at a dog-friendly patio is one of the best low-key afternoons Everett offers. Grand Avenue Park, perched on the bluff above Port Gardner, has sweeping views of the Sound and Whidbey Island, and dogs on leash are welcome there too.
Planning a Dog-Friendly Weekend in Everett
If you're trying to map out a full trip, a good two-day dog itinerary might look something like this:
- Morning of Day 1: Drive to Forest Park for off-leash time, then do one of the leashed forest loops.
- Afternoon of Day 1: Head to the Everett waterfront. Walk the marina path, let your dog sniff everything. Grab food from a waterfront spot with patio seating.
- Morning of Day 2: Drive east toward the Cascades. Wallace Falls State Park is about 45 minutes from Everett and has a well-maintained lower trail that most dogs handle easily.
- Afternoon of Day 2: Swing through Snohomish on the way back. Walk part of the Centennial Trail and wander the antique shops (your dog waits outside, but most shop owners don't mind well-behaved dogs on the sidewalk).
For a more detailed itinerary, a perfect weekend in Everett has the full human version of this plan, and almost all of it translates to dogs with minor adjustments.
Staying Somewhere That Actually Welcomes Your Dog
This is the part that matters more than people realize. An off-leash park is great, but if your dog spends the rest of the trip cooped up in a hotel room, nobody's happy.
Timber & Tide is a pet-friendly vacation rental in Everett, a short drive from both Forest Park and the waterfront, with a yard where your dog can decompress between adventures without you hovering. It's the kind of place where you can come back muddy from Wallace Falls, hose off outside, and not stress about it.
For the full picture of what it's like to travel to Everett with a dog, including beach access, patio dining, and more trail options, traveling to Everett with dogs is the deep dive.
Off-Leash Dog Parks in Everett, WA: Quick Reference
| Park | Size | Fenced | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Park Dog Off-Leash Area | Large | Yes | High-energy dogs, first visits |
| Loganberry Lane Dog Park | Small-Medium | Yes | Shy dogs, less-crowded hours |
| Centennial Trail (leashed) | 30 miles | No | Distance walks, older dogs |
| Lowell Riverfront Trail (leashed) | ~5 miles | No | Flat walks, river views |
| Mukilteo State Park (leashed) | Beach + trails | No | Scenic beach walks |
Everett is a genuinely good dog vacation. It's not a stretch or a consolation prize for pet owners who couldn't book somewhere else. The parks are real, the trails are accessible, and the waterfront gives both of you something to look at.
If you're ready to plan your trip, check availability at Timber & Tide and bring the dog along. They're welcome here.