55This field is huge! My dogs had an amazing time running around and exploring 😍 There is shade under the trees, and the part that wasn't fenced in wasn't an issue for us. If your dogs don't have solid recall, stick to the fenced side. The whole place is so big, you shouldn't have a problem getting a good amount of walking/running in, without coming too close to the unfenced side. I walked around for about 2 miles, and I'm guessing my dogs probably did twice that 😆 The host was nice and allowed extra time, because I took a wrong turn coming there and was late to my booked time. We will definitely be back! Adelina C.
Adelina C.
August 2023
This field is huge! My dogs had an amazing time running around and exploring 😍 There is shade under the trees, and the part that wasn't fenced in wasn't an issue for us. If your dogs don't have solid recall, stick to the fenced side. The whole place is so big, you shouldn't have a problem getting a good amount of walking/running in, without coming too close to the unfenced side. I walked around for about 2 miles, and I'm guessing my dogs probably did twice that 😆 The host was nice and allowed extra time, because I took a wrong turn coming there and was late to my booked time. We will definitely be back!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Great place for my dog to sniff and run. I think some signs to show where we can’t and can go might be nice. My dog was winded in 30 min which usually doesn’t happen for him. Josey M.
Josey M.
August 2023
Great place for my dog to sniff and run. I think some signs to show where we can’t and can go might be nice. My dog was winded in 30 min which usually doesn’t happen for him.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55This is essentially a large partially fenced field with some walking paths mowed through and a tree grove bordering the east (Sarver lane) side. Park across the street from the mailbox/driveway on Sarver and walk down the driveway to the picnic table, then carry on to the west fence line. Towards the back (north) are several dwelling structures and to the front (south) is the nursery which is off limits. It was a little unclear which other areas are off limits & my adventure hound likes to sniff the perimeter everywhere, so if you have an investigative dog maybe invest in a nylon long line for $12 and practice recall. I did spot a cat at the nursery so also something to be aware of if your dog has a high prey drive. My dog doesn't like to be active in the sun & when we arrived it was full sun, so we spent much time in the shady grove where there was no shortage of things to sniff. The field will be perfect for running in the winter.
At the moment it is BYOWater so something to be aware of. It is not manicured grass (& I'm not sure where you'd even find that in SD county); we encountered no hazards which is uncommon for a rural farm type property. Be prepared for a nature walk with lots to explore. We had a great time, thank you to the hosts for offering this spacious and unique property which is relatively close to home for us. We look forward to future visits. Michele S.
Michele S.
September 2023
This is essentially a large partially fenced field with some walking paths mowed through and a tree grove bordering the east (Sarver lane) side. Park across the street from the mailbox/driveway on Sarver and walk down the driveway to the picnic table, then carry on to the west fence line. Towards the back (north) are several dwelling structures and to the front (south) is the nursery which is off limits. It was a little unclear which other areas are off limits & my adventure hound likes to sniff the perimeter everywhere, so if you have an investigative dog maybe invest in a nylon long line for $12 and practice recall. I did spot a cat at the nursery so also something to be aware of if your dog has a high prey drive. My dog doesn't like to be active in the sun & when we arrived it was full sun, so we spent much time in the shady grove where there was no shortage of things to sniff. The field will be perfect for running in the winter.
At the moment it is BYOWater so something to be aware of. It is not manicured grass (& I'm not sure where you'd even find that in SD county); we encountered no hazards which is uncommon for a rural farm type property. Be prepared for a nature walk with lots to explore. We had a great time, thank you to the hosts for offering this spacious and unique property which is relatively close to home for us. We look forward to future visits.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Great North County accessible spot! The area is very well-maintained with plenty of room for walking, training, and x-games mode fetch if that's your thing, and there's a nice view of the surrounding hills. The sniffspot area is mostly fenced if you stick to the interior/field, but is located next to a business that had some people coming and going in the distance - not an issue for us, but some dogs may do best on a long line if you're working on recall. Host was super communicative and accommodating, we love this spot! Arabella R.
Arabella R.
September 2023
Great North County accessible spot! The area is very well-maintained with plenty of room for walking, training, and x-games mode fetch if that's your thing, and there's a nice view of the surrounding hills. The sniffspot area is mostly fenced if you stick to the interior/field, but is located next to a business that had some people coming and going in the distance - not an issue for us, but some dogs may do best on a long line if you're working on recall. Host was super communicative and accommodating, we love this spot!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Stephanie’s place is NOT an agricultural land parcel. The Sniff Spot is next to it and perfectly fine to run your dogs. We had a great time.
There was some confusion when we entered the shared driveway and the folks next door didn’t understand how Sniff Spot worked (they do now and everything is fine). You can simply unload dogs at the Church parking area that’s right there and the access to the land is even better!
Anyway, we had a great time running our large dogs and also enjoyed a stop at the Golden Door Farm Stand on the way home, just a few hundred feet down the road! Fresh baked focaccia and gorgeous veggies and various other delicacies! Fun afternoon!Reegan R.
Reegan R.
September 2023
Stephanie’s place is NOT an agricultural land parcel. The Sniff Spot is next to it and perfectly fine to run your dogs. We had a great time.
There was some confusion when we entered the shared driveway and the folks next door didn’t understand how Sniff Spot worked (they do now and everything is fine). You can simply unload dogs at the Church parking area that’s right there and the access to the land is even better!
Anyway, we had a great time running our large dogs and also enjoyed a stop at the Golden Door Farm Stand on the way home, just a few hundred feet down the road! Fresh baked focaccia and gorgeous veggies and various other delicacies! Fun afternoon!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55This is a nice quiet and really big area to have your dog roam around. Only down side is that it is not fully fenced and I have a husky who loves to escape but I just brought my 100ft leash with me. Also it would be nice to have clear instructions of areas to avoid. Other then that place is nice!!! andrea c.
andrea c.
October 2023
This is a nice quiet and really big area to have your dog roam around. Only down side is that it is not fully fenced and I have a husky who loves to escape but I just brought my 100ft leash with me. Also it would be nice to have clear instructions of areas to avoid. Other then that place is nice!!!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55I loved this Sniffspot! It was super huge and the perfect place for my sheepdog to run around. We had the best time, although it was hot so my dog was feeling super lazy but there’s plenty of shade! Soojin H.
Soojin H.
October 2023
I loved this Sniffspot! It was super huge and the perfect place for my sheepdog to run around. We had the best time, although it was hot so my dog was feeling super lazy but there’s plenty of shade!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Really great open space for my dog to play fetch and just generally run around - no stress for either of us :) really appreciated the signs that point you where to go - we’ll definitely be back!Jen C.
Jen C.
October 2023
Really great open space for my dog to play fetch and just generally run around - no stress for either of us :) really appreciated the signs that point you where to go - we’ll definitely be back!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Great property to roam! It got quite hot and there’s limited shade, but that didn’t stop my two pups from having a great time! There was a dog that passed by during our session, and part of the property is not fenced in, but luckily we saw the dog before our dogs did and we’re able to leash them up till the other dog was out of sight. Hannah S.
Hannah S.
November 2023
Great property to roam! It got quite hot and there’s limited shade, but that didn’t stop my two pups from having a great time! There was a dog that passed by during our session, and part of the property is not fenced in, but luckily we saw the dog before our dogs did and we’re able to leash them up till the other dog was out of sight.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Host is very accommodating!! I accidentally booked a slot that was going to be during nighttime because i forgot about daylights savings. She texted me before i got there wondering if i would be ok walking at night and if not i could reschedule. I decided to wait because my dog gets a little more sketched out when it is dark out and she let my reschedule!! also from what i could see with flashlights the place is huge and very nice. very nice picnic table to hangout at as well sofia g.
sofia g.
November 2023
Host is very accommodating!! I accidentally booked a slot that was going to be during nighttime because i forgot about daylights savings. She texted me before i got there wondering if i would be ok walking at night and if not i could reschedule. I decided to wait because my dog gets a little more sketched out when it is dark out and she let my reschedule!! also from what i could see with flashlights the place is huge and very nice. very nice picnic table to hangout at as well
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Had a great relaxing visit. I have two large breed dogs and one is reactive. Saw no other dogs. The other reviews were spot on so I knew exactly what to expect and brought a good amount of water. Would not recommend for dogs with no recall as half property no fencing and is very close to quiet roadkathleen n.
kathleen n.
November 2023
Had a great relaxing visit. I have two large breed dogs and one is reactive. Saw no other dogs. The other reviews were spot on so I knew exactly what to expect and brought a good amount of water. Would not recommend for dogs with no recall as half property no fencing and is very close to quiet road
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Great spot for dogs and people to explore . My dogs were so excited to see the creek and got a good drink out of it . For non experienced hikers , make sure you bring a stick with you in the way back to your car . There is some terrain that’s steep but just for a short length . Thank you for sharing your beautiful land . Maribel S.
Maribel S.
November 2023
Great spot for dogs and people to explore . My dogs were so excited to see the creek and got a good drink out of it . For non experienced hikers , make sure you bring a stick with you in the way back to your car . There is some terrain that’s steep but just for a short length . Thank you for sharing your beautiful land .
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Instructions were easy to follow! Huge area to roam, my pup had a great time sniffing! So much to sniff! I would only suggest to host to mow as the weeds/ grass are pretty long. Grace p.
Grace p.
November 2023
Instructions were easy to follow! Huge area to roam, my pup had a great time sniffing! So much to sniff! I would only suggest to host to mow as the weeds/ grass are pretty long.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Had a very relaxing outing. The directions to the property were easy to follow. Lots of big trees and open space for my dog to explore. We walked along the mowed pathways and wandered through the more wooded areas. It is only fenced on one side, which could be an issue for some dogs, but it is large enough that you can avoid the perimeter and still have lots of space to explore. Definitely bring water for your dog. There was quite a bit of activity at the nursery which meant a few vehicles coming and going on the shared driveway. Since it rained yesterday there were mud puddles on the driveway but the rest of the field was pretty dry. I would definitely come again as it was very peaceful.Megan G.
Megan G.
November 2023
Had a very relaxing outing. The directions to the property were easy to follow. Lots of big trees and open space for my dog to explore. We walked along the mowed pathways and wandered through the more wooded areas. It is only fenced on one side, which could be an issue for some dogs, but it is large enough that you can avoid the perimeter and still have lots of space to explore. Definitely bring water for your dog. There was quite a bit of activity at the nursery which meant a few vehicles coming and going on the shared driveway. Since it rained yesterday there were mud puddles on the driveway but the rest of the field was pretty dry. I would definitely come again as it was very peaceful.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Beautiful, wide open spot! My dogs had a blast. There are paths mowed through the field which made it easy to walk around and navigate. The directions are super clear and we had no issues finding the entrance. I will just mention, as others have also noted, one side of the field isn’t fenced so this may not be the best spot for dogs who have a tendency to run off and won’t recall. We also did see one person walking an off leash dog near the road - not sure if it was a neighbor or passerby - it wasn’t an issue for us, but I’m guessing people may walk their dogs that way. Kristiene G.
Kristiene G.
November 2023
Beautiful, wide open spot! My dogs had a blast. There are paths mowed through the field which made it easy to walk around and navigate. The directions are super clear and we had no issues finding the entrance. I will just mention, as others have also noted, one side of the field isn’t fenced so this may not be the best spot for dogs who have a tendency to run off and won’t recall. We also did see one person walking an off leash dog near the road - not sure if it was a neighbor or passerby - it wasn’t an issue for us, but I’m guessing people may walk their dogs that way.
55My dogs had a blast!! A very safe space for my dogs to run, walk, and explore. Tracy B.
Tracy B.
October 2022
My dogs had a blast!! A very safe space for my dogs to run, walk, and explore.
How do Oceanside's private dog hiking trails work?
Private rentals by the hour
Our hosts are locals that are renting their yards and private land to dog owners
Trust and safety first
Spots are designed for safety and both hosts and guests are reviewed after each visit
Designed for private play
Only the people and dogs in your booking are allowed in the spot during your visit
Reactive dogs welcome
Many of the spots we list are designed with sensitive dogs in mind
Become a Sniffpass holder!
Get discounts on all bookings at all spots by buying monthly credits! Learn more!
FAQ about our Oceanside dog hiking trails
Are dog hiking trails safe?
While public dog parks have a number of safety issues, such as aggressive dogs, inattentive owners, disease transmission and general cleanliness, Sniffspot dog parks are much safer than a city or county park. With a Sniffspot off-leash area all bookings are private for just you and dogs you bring with you and we require all dogs to be vaccinated (or have equivalent titers). All Sniffspot locations are vetted and reviewed by guests so you can find the perfect place for you and your dog. 93% of reviews on Sniffspot visits are 5 stars. Our hiking trails tend to be outside the city, which lends to more privacy, but it is also important to follow typical hiking safety precautions, such as potentially having trail maps.
How do I know if a dog hiking trail works for my dog?
Sniffspot provides the tools to find the ideal spot. Start by applying basic filters, such as fencing 6 feet tall and distractions, to find a dog park with trails that works for your dog. You can also filter by size if you are looking for a certain acre park, an expansive off-leash dog park. If your dog doesn't have good recall, you can visit one of our fully fenced dog hiking trails. If your dog is reactive to other dogs, you can visit one of our dog hiking trails where there are no dogs audible or visible nearby. Since you are looking for trails, make sure to check photos to see if it the spot has flat trails or gnarly trails. You can also browse by specific amenities, if you are looking for a view or a beach, for instance, or other activities or fun features. You can check whether the spot has off or on street parking, the regular park hours, whether it has paved trails or a modern restroom.
What are the requirements to bring my dog to a Sniffspot dog hiking trail?
In order to hike the trails, we require that all dogs have basic vaccinations or equivalent titers. We do not permit dogs with a bite history. We require that guests sign our waiver and agree to follow our safety rules.
Will there be other dogs at the Sniffspot hiking trail at the same time as me?
Sniffspot only allows one booking at a time and any host dogs are required to be kept away from the spot during visits. We also enforce 30 min time buffers between bookings.
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