Dog Parks in the East Metro

Fenced places where dogs can really run in the Twin Cities east metro and St. Croix Valley: the new park taking shape at Mahtomedi's Southwest Park, plus long-running favorites in Oakdale, White Bear Township, and Stillwater.

Where can your dog really run?

Looking for a fenced place where your dog can burn off some energy and make a few friends? The Twin Cities east metro and St. Croix Valley have a small but growing set of off-leash dog parks, and this fall brings a big one: Mahtomedi's first off-leash park, approved in August and now under construction at Southwest Park. Until it opens, and for a change of scenery after it does, three established parks in Oakdale, White Bear Township, and Stillwater cover the area well. All four are an easy drive from the White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi area.

Hours & rules vary

Every park sets its own hours and rules, and those can shift with the seasons, maintenance, or construction. The details below come from the parks' own pages and the City of Mahtomedi's dog parks page, but it is always worth a quick look at each park's page before you load up the car.

New & Under Construction

New: Mahtomedi Southwest Park Dog Park

The big dog news of the year: Mahtomedi is finally getting an off-leash park of its own, and it is taking shape at the Southwest Park complex on Long Lake Road.

A park of Mahtomedi's own

The Mahtomedi City Council approved the site plan for the dog park at the Southwest Park complex, 29 Long Lake Road, on August 18, 2026, and awarded the construction contract to Odesa II, LLC at the same meeting. The White Bear Press reported in September 2026 that the bark park is on its way, and the headline says it best: "Yes, Ginger, the Bark Park is coming." Local dog owners will soon have a park of their own.

Design details from the city's documents: the park sits on a roughly 5.9-acre parcel within the larger Southwest Park complex, with separate small-breed and all-breed off-leash areas and its own parking (about 11 stalls, including one accessible stall). Chain-link fencing goes around the small-dog area, with post-and-wire fencing elsewhere, and the plan includes a trail, benches, and water.

Read the White Bear Press story on presspubs.com

No opening date yet

Because the park is brand new and still under construction, the city has not announced an opening date. Watch the City of Mahtomedi website (mahtomedimn.gov, Dog Parks page) for the announcement. That same page keeps a running list of nearby off-leash parks for the meantime, and it is the page to bookmark if you are a Mahtomedi dog owner.

The Established Favorites

Other off-leash parks nearby

Three fenced off-leash parks anchor the east metro while Southwest Park is under construction, and they will stay worth the drive long after it opens. Addresses and details below come from the City of Mahtomedi's dog parks page and each park's own official page.

Oakdale Bark Park

Oakdale's only off-leash park, tucked back off Helena Road near 50th Street. The mix of open grass, wooded areas, and a pond keeps a 4.6-acre park feeling bigger than it is, and it is completely free: no permit, no pass, just show up.

4957 Helena Road N, Oakdale, MN
4.6 acres, free to use, no permit required
Wood-chip walking trail, wooded areas, pond
Four-foot fencing with a double-gate entry
Pet waste stations on site

City of Oakdale page

Also listed on the City of Mahtomedi dog parks page.

Bald Eagle-Otter Lakes Regional Park Off-Leash Area

The biggest fenced off-leash space in the immediate area. The Otter Lake section of this Ramsey County regional park, in White Bear Township, keeps 10 acres fully fenced with separate large- and small-dog sides, so there is room for a real sprint.

5750 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township, MN
10 fully fenced acres in the Otter Lake section
Designated small-dog hours: Tuesdays 6-7 PM & Saturdays 10-11 AM (dogs 35 lbs and under)
Small-dog hours per the BringFido listing; confirm on the park page

Ramsey County park page

Also listed on the City of Mahtomedi dog parks page.

Stillwater Dog Park

A volunteer-built park on the west edge of Stillwater, opened in 2014 by the Friends of Stillwater Area Dog Park and still run by that group of neighbors. Easy to find off Myrtle Street West, fenced, and always friendly.

2000 Myrtle Street West, Stillwater, MN
Fenced, off-leash park established 2014
Run by the Friends of Stillwater Area Dog Park
Open daily, roughly 8 am to dusk

City of Stillwater parks page

Also listed on the City of Mahtomedi dog parks page.

Get Oriented

See them on the map

All four parks sit within a short drive of the White Bear Lake and Mahtomedi area. The map below spans Mahtomedi, Oakdale, White Bear Township, and Stillwater; use the controls to zoom in for directions.

Map labeled by Google Maps. Park details, hours, and rules are on each park's own page.

Good to know: hours, rules, and manners

Check before you go. Hours and rules vary from park to park, and they can change with the seasons. Each park card above links to the official page for the current details.

Watch for the Mahtomedi opening. The City of Mahtomedi's Dog Parks page is where the Southwest Park opening date will be announced, and it keeps a list of nearby parks in the meantime.

Neighborly reminders: keep dogs leashed until you are inside the fenced area, scoop the poop, and keep an eye on small dogs in the all-breed runs. Every park provides waste stations, and the parks stay friendly when everyone shares them.

Did we miss your favorite?

Know another off-leash spot in the east metro that should be on this list? Tell us and we will go check it out.

Share a Spot Parks & Trails Overview

Your info stays yours. We never sell personal data to third parties. Privacy Policy