Quick facts about Westwood Lake Off-Leash Dog Area
- Dog access: Dogs must be on-leash throughout Westwood Lake Park except inside the designated off-leash area on the far side of the lake.
- Off-leash area: Located along the hydro-line corridor at the back of Westwood Lake.
- Fencing: This is a designated outdoor off-leash area rather than a traditional fenced dog enclosure.
- Main trail: Approximately 5.51 km (3.4 mi) around Westwood Lake.
- Trail difficulty: Generally easy, with one steeper section on the west side of the lake.
- Parking: Free parking is available from the main Westwood Road entrance. There is a large paved parking lot and access to a gravel parking area near Second Beach.
- Dog-waste facilities: The City of Nanaimo provides dog-waste bags and a garbage bin at its designated off-leash dog areas.
- Washrooms: Washrooms and change facilities are located near First Beach, not beside the off-leash dog area.
- Swimming: Dogs are not allowed on Nanaimo’s public beaches or in the water from May 1 through September 30, except in specifically designated off-leash areas. Westwood Lake’s designated off-leash area is along the hydro-line corridor, not at the main swimming beaches.
- Address: 381 Westwood Road, Nanaimo, BC.
Westwood Lake’s off-leash dog area
Westwood Lake Park is a large, popular recreation area in Nanaimo, with a 5.51 km (3.4 mi) loop trail around the lake, swimming beaches, picnic areas, fishing, paddling and a network of nearby mountain-bike and walking trails. For dog owners, however, there is an important distinction to understand: most of Westwood Lake Park is on-leash.
The designated off-leash dog area is on the far side of Westwood Lake, along the hydro-line corridor. Dogs must remain on-leash while you make your way through the park and along the main trail. Watch for City of Nanaimo signage showing where you can leave the main trail and enter the designated off-leash area.
This setup makes Westwood Lake quite different from a neighbourhood dog park where you can park, walk a few metres to a gate and immediately let your dog run. Visiting the Westwood Lake off-leash area is really a combination of an on-leash walk or hike followed by some off-leash exercise.
That may be exactly what you are looking for if you want to give your dog a longer outing, but it is worth knowing before you arrive.
Our take on the Westwood Lake dog park
The hike itself is very nice, but this “dog park” is not one of our favourites. We appreciate cities adding dog parks wherever they can, but the off-leash area is a little too far out of the way and not particularly scenic or pretty.
That distinction is important because Westwood Lake itself is a lovely place to walk. The forest, lake views and changing scenery around the loop make the on-leash portion of the outing more appealing to us than the actual destination.
If your main goal is a pleasant walk with your dog and you like the idea of adding some off-leash time partway through the outing, Westwood Lake may work well. If you are specifically looking for an attractive off-leash destination, a fenced dog park or somewhere you can quickly stop to give your dog a run, there are other Nanaimo dog parks we prefer.
Walking the Westwood Lake trail with your dog
The main loop around Westwood Lake is approximately 5.51 km (3.4 mi). The trail is generally easy, although there is a steeper section on the west side.
Expect a natural outdoor trail rather than a perfectly level paved walkway. Depending on the section, you may encounter gravel, dirt, rocks, roots and uneven ground. The park is also popular with walkers, runners and cyclists, and bicycles are permitted on the main trail, so keep an eye out for other trail users.
Dogs must remain on-leash on the main trail. Westwood Lake Park is considered a sensitive natural area by the City of Nanaimo, with the designated dog area being the exception to the general on-leash requirement. Do not let your dog off-leash simply because you are away from the busy beach area. Wait until you reach the signed off-leash area along the hydro lines.
Once your dog is off-leash, you still need to keep them under control and within sight. The City of Nanaimo also limits handlers to a maximum of two dogs per person in its off-leash dog areas.
If you and your dog are new to shared off-leash spaces, or you would like a refresher before visiting, see our guide to Dog Park Etiquette: How to Keep Off-Leash Play Safe.
Parking at Westwood Lake Park
For the most straightforward visit, use the main entrance at 381 Westwood Road. The City of Nanaimo specifically directs people visiting the Westwood Lake off-leash area to use the park parking lot.
Parking is free. The large paved parking lot at the Westwood Road entrance was substantially expanded and redesigned as part of recent park improvements. The project created 86 standard parking stalls and eight accessible parking stalls, along with sidewalks, pedestrian connections and safer routes through the parking area.
There is also a gravel parking area closer to Second Beach. Vehicle access to this area is through the main Westwood Road entrance.
Westwood Lake can be extremely busy on warm summer days, particularly when people are visiting the beaches, swimming or paddling. If you are coming primarily to walk your dog, quieter times of day may make parking and the first part of the trail more comfortable.
Washrooms and other amenities
Westwood Lake is a major Nanaimo recreation park, so it has considerably more visitor facilities than the remote off-leash area might suggest.
Around the developed portion of the park you will find washrooms and change facilities, picnic areas, benches and tables, beach access, a playground, drinking water, a boat launch and fishing facilities. The park also has a wheelchair-accessible fishing float, and Westwood Lake Park overall is partially wheelchair accessible.
Keep in mind that most of those amenities are concentrated around the main developed areas of Westwood Lake, particularly First Beach and Second Beach. The off-leash dog area is on the far side of the lake under the hydro lines. Do not expect the same level of facilities once you reach the dog area.
For that reason, we recommend bringing water for your dog even though drinking water is available elsewhere in the park.
Dogs are not allowed in playgrounds, so keep your dog out of the playground area at Second Beach.
Can dogs swim at Westwood Lake?
Westwood Lake is a popular freshwater swimming destination for people, but dog owners need to pay close attention to Nanaimo’s seasonal beach rules.
From May 1 through September 30, dogs are not allowed on Nanaimo’s public beaches or in the water except where an area is specifically designated for off-leash dogs. Westwood Lake’s designated off-leash dog area is along the hydro-line corridor on the far side of the lake, rather than at First Beach or Second Beach.
Do not assume that the presence of an off-leash area somewhere within Westwood Lake Park means dogs can use the park’s main swimming beaches.
Outside the summer restriction period, dogs still need to be on-leash anywhere that is not part of the designated off-leash area.
What to bring
Westwood Lake is best treated as a proper walk rather than a quick trip to a dog park. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water for both you and your dog (we use the LumolLeaf insulated dog water bottle from Amazon). A leash is essential because dogs must stay on-leash until you reach the designated off-leash area and must be leashed again when you leave it.
Although the City of Nanaimo supplies dog-waste bags at its off-leash areas, carrying your own bags is always a good idea. Pick up after your dog and place used bags in a garbage bin rather than leaving them beside the trail.
On warm days, remember that you will need to walk both to and from the off-leash area. Take your dog’s age, fitness and tolerance for heat into account before setting out.
Westwood Lake is ultimately a better choice for dog owners who want to combine a pleasant on-leash hike with some off-leash exercise than for someone looking for a convenient standalone dog park. The lake and surrounding trail are the highlight for us; the actual off-leash area is much more functional than scenic.
