Tucked away in a corner of San Francisco’s Hunter’s Point neighborhood (it’s just a block or two past the end of Dog Patch if you’re more familiar with that area) is a hidden gem called Heron’s Head Park. My buddy happens to be a 90-pound tuxedo colored pit bull named Magoo, and we’ve been coming to Heron’s Head for lunchtime walk for years.
We love to get out of the office for an hour and clear our heads (don’t tell Mark, but even as much as love working at Pet Camp it’s still nice to get away) by walking the paved pathway leading out to the bay, or traversing the dirt trails that wind along the edge of the saltwater marsh, home to several varieties of beautiful birds (and the occasional skunk!) Because it’s a wildlife refuge, your dog must be leashed but you can still have a great, nature-filled walk and get some good exercise. If your buddy must be off-leash, there is a small dog run to let him or her chase a ball or meet some new friends, but Magoo and I prefer doing the whole leashed loop and ending up at India Basin Park which is a quaint little children’s playground and barbecue area that connects with Heron’s Head further into Hunter’s Point.
We go to Heron’s Head on our lunch breaks, for pre-work walks at 6 o’clock in the morning, for post- work downtime at 7 p.m., and my personal favorite, early Sunday morning strolls when nobody else but fishermen are out and about.
If you and your dog are lone wolves like Magoo and me, check out Heron’s Head for your next trek. But please, don’t spread this around too much; Let’s keep it a hidden gem just a little while longer!
And of course, always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings when walking your pet.
This is a guest blog by Michelle Barerra, Pet Camp’s Head Honcho
Do you have a dog than needs more than an on-leash walk? Pet Camp has the most outside dog play space of any pet care facility in the Bay Area. Perfect for dogs that want to play all day, need more structured play, or even need to play on their own. It’s no wonder Pet Camp is the San Francisco Bay Area’s most awarding winning overnight and doggie day care.