Sellwood Riverfront Park with your dog
Sellwood Riverfront Park is an 8.17-acre City of Portland park with a designated dog off-leash area, paved and unpaved paths, a dock and Willamette River access. Off-leash permission applies only inside the signed area; leash up before moving through the rest of the park.
Use the signed off-leash area
Portland's current off-leash rule lists Sellwood Riverfront Park as open during posted hours. Keep no more than three dogs with you, maintain unobstructed sight and voice control, carry a leash, and promptly leash your dog when a Park Officer asks. Outside the designated area, city code requires a leash no longer than eight feet.
Current Portland off-leash rules ↗ · Official park rules for dogs ↗
Check the river before water play
Portland describes Sellwood as a popular dog-and-river destination and tests E. coli at the park dock weekly during the summer season. Check the current result before contact with the water. Bacteria results are only one safety signal: cold water, currents, debris and harmful algae can still make an outing unsafe. If the water looks green or has a surface coating, stay out.
Current Check the Rec results ↗ · Official river access and safety guide ↗
Plan around posted hours
The current park page lists general park hours of 5 a.m. to midnight, while a separate City early-closure policy lists Sellwood Riverfront Park as closed after 10 p.m. The current off-leash rule says to use the posted hours. Because the official materials differ, follow the signs at the entrance and avoid relying on an old saved schedule.
Address and park amenities
Use SE Spokane Street and Oaks Parkway, Portland, OR 97202 for the official main entrance. Portland lists an accessible restroom, picnic tables, a boat dock, riverfront views, and paved and unpaved paths. The City's river guide also notes a large parking lot and bike access from the Springwater Corridor.
Get directions ↗ · Official park page ↗
Pack for a riverfront dog outing
- Bring a leash, waste bags, fresh drinking water and a towel.
- Display current license and rabies-vaccination tags, and leash up when entering or leaving the off-leash area.
- Keep food outside the off-leash area and remove pinch or choke collars before play.
- Bring river shoes if you plan to enter the water, and keep dogs away from fishing line, boats and active dock use.
- Use the current water-quality result and visible conditions together; when in doubt, keep the outing on land.
Turn a river stop into a Portland adventure.
Save the destination, check conditions and plan the right outing with PawStreak.
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