Nate’s Point has to be one of the most popular and well-known dog parks in San Diego. It was named for a city employee, Nate Wells, who on his own time, turned a pile of dirt and weeds into a lovely picnic area, which officially achieved dog park status in 1996.

Nate’s Point has the wonderful distinction of being totally fenced in. It even features a double-gated entry to let new four-legged visitors in without letting others escape. It is centrally located off of Sixth Ave. near the west end of the Laurel Street Bridge, so it’s easily accessible to all the well-heeled hounds in the Banker’s Hill/Hillcrest ‘hoods. Parking is usually available along Balboa Drive.

Clean and well-maintained, Nate’s Point is open 24/7, giving insomniac pooches a place to expend some energy before hitting the hay (though I look forward to more lighting being added soon). The 2.3-acre park has a gentle slope and is surrounded by tall mature trees, providing ample space for running and fetching and, of course, much-needed shade for cooling down.

Ground-level water fountain service, plenty of pick-up bags, and hip location make Nate’s Point San Diego’s number one doggie hot spot!