Dog Park Review: Haulover Dog Beach and Bark Park

The Best Dog Park in South Florida

One of the joys of moving to Miami Beach has been the opportunity to spend more time outside, particularly with Bodhi. A few weeks ago, we visited what I think is the ultimate dog park! It’s located in the 99-acre, one-and-a-half-mile-long Haulover Park on Collins Avenue just north of Bal Harbor. Haulover Park actually has two dedicated dog areas: a huge dog run, called the Bark Park, and an adjacent dog-friendly stretch of beach. Both areas are in the southern part of the park. The Bark Park is great, but the star of the show is the beautiful dog-friendly beach!

The Bark Park is open from 8 AM to sunset, seven days a week. It features an enclosure for small dogs (less than 35 pounds) and one for large dogs. There are plenty of shade trees, picnic tables, and drinking fountains for both dogs and their companions. You’ll also find handy poop bag dispensers and garbage cans. I was really surprised to see just how big the Bark Park is! There is plenty of room for dogs of all sizes to run around to their hearts’ content.

The entrance to the Bark Park is through Parking Lot 3, located on the west side of Collins Avenue if you are traveling southbound, or through Parking Lot 4, on the east side of Collins if you are traveling northbound. There is a two dollar user fee per vehicle; you must enter the park with your dog in the vehicle. They take cash only. The dog friendly portion of the beach is located at Lifeguard Tower 3 through the dunes just east of the Bark Park. The dog beach now has new hours! It is open from 8 AM to 3 PM every day of the week. The dog-friendly area has a station where you can rise salt water and sand off your pooch.

Technically, dogs must be kept on-leash unless they are in the water. Practically speaking, everyone who has a dog that is easily controlled lets their dogs run off-leash.