Our History with the GGNRA

People have walked with their dogs off-leash on the coastal lands of the San Francisco Bay Area for centuries. The Ohlone people, who lived in the area before Spanish settlers, had dogs. There are written records of people walking with dogs off-leash in these areas in the 1800s. Today, we love to hike the trails at Fort Funston with our dogs, play fetch on Ocean Beach, or share a swim at Crissy Field, all located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).

The GGNRA initially welcomed dog walking on less than 1% of its total land. But over time, National Park Service staff managing the land tried to further restrict where you could walk with your dog, especially off-leash. The dog community fought back, finally succeeding in forcing the Park Service to withdraw the proposed dog management plan that would have included those restrictions.

SFDOG will continue to monitor the situation to ensure you can continue to enjoy walking with your dog in the GGNRA.

Posts by SFDOG News

SFDOG Files Lawsuits to Stop GGNRA's Anti-Dog Walking Crusade

SFDOG joined with other dog and recreation groups in filing two federal lawsuits against the GGNRA. We thought this fight was over. We were wrong.

SFDOG NewsDecember 12, 2019

Letter from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

On October 18, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote to support SFDOG’s efforts in opposing the GGNRA’s illegal rule changes to restrict off-leash recreational dog walking.

SFDOG NewsOctober 18, 2019

SFDOG's Comment to Oppose the GGNRA Superintendent's Compendium

The Official SFDOG Comment on the 2019 GGNRA Superintendent's Compendium describes how the agency unlawfully used the Compendium process to make significant and highly controversial changes to dog walking in the GGNRA.

SFDOG NewsOctober 17, 2019

GGNRA 2019 Superintendent's Compendium

The National Park Service never gets tired of trying to chip away at our ability to walk in the GGNRA with our furry companions. On the Friday before Labor Day weekend, the GGNRA released a Superintendent’s Compendium that attempts to implement parts of the withdrawn Dog Management Plan—but without a public input process.

SFDOG NewsSeptember 5, 2019

Sample Letter to Object to the Superintendent's Compendium

Sample public comment - I am writing to object to the 2019 Superintendent’s Compendium for the GGNRA. A compendium is meant for the introduction of minor noncontroversial changes to national parks and national recreation areas.

SFDOG NewsSeptember 4, 2019

GGNRA 2019 Compendium – At a Glance

New Dog Walking Restrictions proposed for San Francisco and San Mateo Counties

SFDOG NewsSeptember 4, 2019

Our History with the GGNRA

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