55Directions provided made it easy to locate. Nice, large field with paths mowed. There are a lot of gopher holes so watch your step. Several large trees in the area to provide shade. Puppy had a great time sniffing and sprinting around.Al T.
Al T.
December 2023
Directions provided made it easy to locate. Nice, large field with paths mowed. There are a lot of gopher holes so watch your step. Several large trees in the area to provide shade. Puppy had a great time sniffing and sprinting around.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55This is truly a private dog park! Not only did our dogs enjoy their time sniffing, running, and fetching but my husband and I got our laps in! We’re definitely coming back! SJ B.
SJ B.
December 2023
This is truly a private dog park! Not only did our dogs enjoy their time sniffing, running, and fetching but my husband and I got our laps in! We’re definitely coming back!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Such a great Sniffspot! Secluded but not too far from the freeway either. Wiggles had so much fun sniffing everything. We'll definitely be back :)Olivia P.
Olivia P.
December 2023
Such a great Sniffspot! Secluded but not too far from the freeway either. Wiggles had so much fun sniffing everything. We'll definitely be back :)
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55So spacious! Great for multiple dogs. Would recommend. I wouldn't say it is 20 acres though, the open field seemed more like a couple of acres, and the rest seems to share space with a campground it seems? Just make sure the dogs stay in the field. Overall, we will come visit again!Rachael H.
Rachael H.
January 2024
So spacious! Great for multiple dogs. Would recommend. I wouldn't say it is 20 acres though, the open field seemed more like a couple of acres, and the rest seems to share space with a campground it seems? Just make sure the dogs stay in the field. Overall, we will come visit again!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55We had a great time with Turbo - just what he needed for his training as a rescue pup! Stefanie was very communicative with us, and has even offered to help us with Turbo's leash reactivity training - thanks Stefanie!Jane M.
Jane M.
January 2024
We had a great time with Turbo - just what he needed for his training as a rescue pup! Stefanie was very communicative with us, and has even offered to help us with Turbo's leash reactivity training - thanks Stefanie!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55My dog loved sniffing all over the field. I found it really easy to find with Stefanie’s written instructions. As long as your dog has some recall/doesn’t bolt as soon as you take them off the leash, you’ll be fine with the fencing. It’s such a large, open space! Faith C.
Faith C.
January 2024
My dog loved sniffing all over the field. I found it really easy to find with Stefanie’s written instructions. As long as your dog has some recall/doesn’t bolt as soon as you take them off the leash, you’ll be fine with the fencing. It’s such a large, open space!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Great space! Nice and wide open and appreciated the mowing. Especially since my dog decided he didn’t want to walk through the field stuff lol. My lil man had a lot of fun! Amber H.
Amber H.
January 2024
Great space! Nice and wide open and appreciated the mowing. Especially since my dog decided he didn’t want to walk through the field stuff lol. My lil man had a lot of fun!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55First Sniffspot experience, and what a great area for your dog to explore and romp around in! Felt plenty big. Would be a perfect spot for multiple dogs. It was really peaceful for us hoomans too, and there are a lot of big trees providing shade. Didn’t have any issues navigating it with Stefanie’s directions. Highly recommend! Mel A.
Mel A.
January 2024
First Sniffspot experience, and what a great area for your dog to explore and romp around in! Felt plenty big. Would be a perfect spot for multiple dogs. It was really peaceful for us hoomans too, and there are a lot of big trees providing shade. Didn’t have any issues navigating it with Stefanie’s directions. Highly recommend!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55This was our first time using Sniffspot. Our 2 golden retrievers were so happy to be off leash. The field is big enough to wear them out. Great location. We will be getting a monthly subscription Ronit M.
Ronit M.
January 2024
This was our first time using Sniffspot. Our 2 golden retrievers were so happy to be off leash. The field is big enough to wear them out. Great location. We will be getting a monthly subscription
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55I found the property easily and once inside the gate I saw the Sniffspot sign near the table. I feel its a great spot to walk around on the mowed paths and practice recall training with dogs. I was not comfortable letting my dogs run off in the tall overgrowth .There are lots of places my dogs liked to sniff so the spot lives up to its name. Lots of room we will visit again.Jessica K.
Jessica K.
November 2023
I found the property easily and once inside the gate I saw the Sniffspot sign near the table. I feel its a great spot to walk around on the mowed paths and practice recall training with dogs. I was not comfortable letting my dogs run off in the tall overgrowth .There are lots of places my dogs liked to sniff so the spot lives up to its name. Lots of room we will visit again.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55clean lovely spacious field
Friendly hosts
My dog loves it here
She stays on a long lead because it is not fully fenced, but it's not a problem for usMichele S.
Michele S.
February 2024
clean lovely spacious field
Friendly hosts
My dog loves it here
She stays on a long lead because it is not fully fenced, but it's not a problem for us
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Great spot!!! I stopped here with my dog on our way on a trip out of town and it was perfect- 30 minutes in a huge open field to tire him out is just what I needed! The instructions for parking and where to go were super helpful. Keep in mind there are a lot of unfenced parts (as mentioned in the listing) but my dog doesn’t leave my sight so it was a total non issue for us. Also remember to bring water- I forgot my dog’s in the car because I’m used to there being water bowls at a lot of SniffSpots and my dog was trying to drink from the puddles 🤣 overall wonderful spot if your dog likes to RUN! We’ll definitely be back!Katie D.
Katie D.
February 2024
Great spot!!! I stopped here with my dog on our way on a trip out of town and it was perfect- 30 minutes in a huge open field to tire him out is just what I needed! The instructions for parking and where to go were super helpful. Keep in mind there are a lot of unfenced parts (as mentioned in the listing) but my dog doesn’t leave my sight so it was a total non issue for us. Also remember to bring water- I forgot my dog’s in the car because I’m used to there being water bowls at a lot of SniffSpots and my dog was trying to drink from the puddles 🤣 overall wonderful spot if your dog likes to RUN! We’ll definitely be back!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Oh my goodness BEST SPOT EVER!! VERY PRIVATE, TONS OF ROOM TO ROAM. If your dog may be a runner, that may be an issue as it is a HUGE spot and not fully fenced. But for the well behaved, active pup---or well behaved, RESPONSIBLE OWNER of a pup who still may need some guidance, this is the PERFECT SPOT. THANK YOU for sharing your space for the dogs out there trapped in tiny yards in San Diego and over crowded dod parks. Audrey M.
Audrey M.
February 2024
Oh my goodness BEST SPOT EVER!! VERY PRIVATE, TONS OF ROOM TO ROAM. If your dog may be a runner, that may be an issue as it is a HUGE spot and not fully fenced. But for the well behaved, active pup---or well behaved, RESPONSIBLE OWNER of a pup who still may need some guidance, this is the PERFECT SPOT. THANK YOU for sharing your space for the dogs out there trapped in tiny yards in San Diego and over crowded dod parks.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Super easy to find and easy instructions to follow! My dogs loved running around here! It was very comforting knowing they had so much space to safely roam. Thanks so much for having us!! Nicole F.
Nicole F.
February 2024
Super easy to find and easy instructions to follow! My dogs loved running around here! It was very comforting knowing they had so much space to safely roam. Thanks so much for having us!!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55This was one of my most favorite sniff spots we have been to! Beautiful property and so much space for my dog to explore. He was exhausted after we left. Jillian R.
Jillian R.
February 2024
This was one of my most favorite sniff spots we have been to! Beautiful property and so much space for my dog to explore. He was exhausted after we left.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Stephanie’s place was absolutely amazing! So fun to see my dogs enjoying off leash freedom that they don’t get without a sniff spot! The grounds were well maintained and although not fully fenced, the trees and greenery helped make it feel more enclosed. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be going back on a regular basis! rosie H.
rosie H.
February 2024
Stephanie’s place was absolutely amazing! So fun to see my dogs enjoying off leash freedom that they don’t get without a sniff spot! The grounds were well maintained and although not fully fenced, the trees and greenery helped make it feel more enclosed. I would highly recommend this place and will definitely be going back on a regular basis!
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55This was easy to find, easy to park, and gave my dog lots of space to run around in! It was clean and well maintained while still having a natural feel to the grass and plants.Arleen P.
Arleen P.
February 2024
This was easy to find, easy to park, and gave my dog lots of space to run around in! It was clean and well maintained while still having a natural feel to the grass and plants.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55My dog had so much fun running and sniffing everything! It’s also not far from the freeway which made it very easy to get to. We’ll definitely be returning. Samantha D.
Samantha D.
March 2024
My dog had so much fun running and sniffing everything! It’s also not far from the freeway which made it very easy to get to. We’ll definitely be returning.
Stefanie's Private Dog Park In San Marcos | Sniffspot
55Chose this place as my pup’s first sniff spot experience and I could say I’m very pleased with the location & experience! Location itself is very cute, outdoorsy almost like going on a mini hike/nice walk. It felt great not having to worry too much about my dog’s reactivity. We were able to enjoy some time outside, relax & have fun. Only suggestion we would have, is to clear out more of the field from the high weeds/foxtails to be able to utilize more of the space and not feel like you have to stay on the trail. Otherwise great first experience! Thank you again Stephanie!Amairani O.
Amairani O.
March 2024
Chose this place as my pup’s first sniff spot experience and I could say I’m very pleased with the location & experience! Location itself is very cute, outdoorsy almost like going on a mini hike/nice walk. It felt great not having to worry too much about my dog’s reactivity. We were able to enjoy some time outside, relax & have fun. Only suggestion we would have, is to clear out more of the field from the high weeds/foxtails to be able to utilize more of the space and not feel like you have to stay on the trail. Otherwise great first experience! Thank you again Stephanie!
How do Valley Center'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 Valley Center 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 can I find dog hiking trails in Valley Center?
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.
How much do Sniffspot hiking trails cost?
Dog hiking trails in the Valley Center area range from $9.0 and $9.0. The least expensive dog hiking trail is Big Ole Yard. The most expensive dog hiking trail is Big Ole Yard. Each host sets their own price, so you can check the price on the specific Sniffspot dog park listing.
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Check out Sniffspot dog hiking trails in nearby cities