Bark! – West Kelowna Dog Parks Guide

The global pandemic of 2020 has caused general unrest for many people. Work and school schedules have been flipped on their head. Businesses have closed and what we would all normally do for entertainment looks very different than it did back in January. Ahhh, January – a simpler time. 

Looking at the global crisis, it’s easy to identify who the true winners of social isolation are: our pets! Dogs, cats, and other furry creatures couldn’t be happier that their human companions are spending all their time at home. 

However, being cooped up with a dog all day can get a bit arduous, especially if you have a dog that needs a lot of attention. Fortunately, the local dog parks are still open, while still encouraging social distancing, for those wishing to give their dogs a bit of a run. There are three dog parks in West Kelowna to choose from:

1) Shannon Woods Park

The closest dog park to Tallus Ridge is the Shannon Woods Park located on Shannon Woods Drive. This is perfect for Tallus Ridge residents as it’s walking distance. Not only can you give your dog a chance to run free, but there’s also a play park for kids, and a community garden.

2) Gellatly Dog Beach 

If your dog is a swimmer and you don’t mind the smell of wet dog in your car, we highly recommend the Gellatly Dog Beach. Located at the bottom of Gellatly Road, the beach has ample sandy space for your dog to run and a stretch of lakefront that’s blocked on either side by a fence and boulders. The beach is a quick 5-7 minute drive from Tallus Ridge.

3) Westbank Centre Park

The Westbank Centre Park hosts not only the largest dog park in West Kelowna, but also features a splash park for kids, a community garden, and a playground (at George Pringle Elementary). The dog park has a massive run for large dogs and a smaller separate run for small dogs. This is a great park if you’re worried about your smaller dog getting bowled over by larger playful dogs. You can find this park just off Hebert Road in Wesbank (behind the Dairy Queen).

No matter where you choose to take your four-legged friend, please remember to clean up after your dog. While most of the dog parks have extra waste bags for clean up, it’s always still a good idea to take your own.