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Dog-friendly parks in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco County: dog parks, trails, and where dogs can't go

You can walk a leashed dog at many parks and trails here, and there are fenced dog parks in Hernando and Pasco. Beaches, swimming areas, and two of the area's spring parks are off limits to pets. This page lists where your dog can go, where it can't, and how to keep it safe in the heat and near water.

Checked against Florida State Parks, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the county and city sources listed at the bottom. Park rules and closures change, so call or check the linked page before you go. Last reviewed: October 5, 2026.

Fenced dog parks

A dog park is a fenced area where your dog can run off the leash. Here are the ones we could confirm on county websites.

• Anclote Gulf Park dog park, 2305 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday (Pasco). Open every day from dawn to dusk. The park page also lists a fishing pier and a boardwalk to Key Vista Park.
• Land O' Lakes Recreational Complex dog park, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes (Pasco). Open every day from dawn to dusk. Call 813-929-1220. Details are on the complex's page.
• Rotary Centennial Park, 10375 Sandlor Street, Spring Hill (Hernando). The county calls it its first dog park, with three runs: large dogs, small dogs, and service dogs. Open 8 a.m. to sunset, and there's a parking fee. As of October 2026, the county's park page links to a temporary closure notice, so call Hernando County Parks and Recreation at 352-754-4031 before you go.

Pasco's two dog parks have a fence that splits small dogs from large ones, a drinking fountain, and a bag station. Pasco's park rules page suggests you bring your own water bowl, so your dog doesn't share one with a sick dog. All dogs must be licensed and vaccinated.

Citrus County's list of county parks doesn't name a dog park. To ask about one, call Citrus County Parks and Recreation at 352-527-7540, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

County and city parks where leashed dogs can walk

Pasco County lets leashed dogs into many of its parks. Its park rules say the leash can't be longer than six feet, and you have to hold it. Your dog must be licensed, tagged, and vaccinated, and you pick up after it.

Pasco keeps dogs out of buildings, playgrounds, sports fields, shelters and pavilions, piers, swim areas, and beaches. Dogs aren't allowed at all at Sunwest Park, Pasco Palms Preserve, or Jumping Gully Preserve. Only service dogs can go inside county buildings.

Pasco parks whose pages say leashed dogs are welcome:

• Crews Lake Wilderness Park, 16739 Crews Lake Drive, Spring Hill. 727-861-3038. Dogs on a six-foot leash in designated areas.
• Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Boulevard, New Port Richey. 727-942-7439. Dogs are allowed in the day use area and on the hiking and paved bike trails, on a six-foot leash. No dogs in the camping area or on the horse trail.
• Withlacoochee River Park, 12449 Withlacoochee Boulevard, Dade City. 352-567-0264. Dogs on a six-foot leash in designated areas.
• Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson. 727-861-3033. Leashed dogs can walk the fitness trail, which is a little over half a mile.

Inverness welcomes leashed pets in its city parks. The city's Whispering Pines Park page says "City of Inverness parks are pet friendly parks. All pets MUST be leashed." Whispering Pines, at 1700 Forest Drive, has walking trails up to 2.9 miles long, with waste stations along the way. Liberty Park, on Lake Henderson, sits on the Withlacoochee State Trail and has dog waste stations.

Crystal River is the opposite. The city says "Alcohol and dogs are not permitted in City parks" on its Creative Playground page. Its Hunter Springs Park page says no dogs or pets, though service animals are allowed.

Hernando County park pages, other than Rotary Centennial, don't list dog areas. If you want to walk your dog at a Hernando County park, call 352-754-4031 first and ask.

Beaches

Are there any dog beaches near New Port Richey, Florida?

Not in Pasco County. Pasco's park rules say dogs "must not enter" piers, "swim areas and beaches."

In Citrus, Fort Island Gulf Beach in Crystal River posts the reminder "PETS are NOT permitted at the Beach" on the county's beach page. We didn't find a dog beach in Hernando either.

The nearest one we could confirm is just outside the area, in Pinellas County. Honeymoon Island State Park allows dogs "in designated areas such as the pet beach on the southern tip of the island and on the nature trail." Dogs must be on a six-foot leash you hold in your hand. The park is at 1 Causeway Boulevard in Dunedin, 727-241-6106, and charges $8 per vehicle.

Pinellas County says Fort De Soto Park, much farther south in Tierra Verde, is the only Pinellas County park where dogs are allowed on the beach, in a designated area. So Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs isn't a dog beach.

State parks, trails, and forests

Which Florida state parks are dog-friendly?

Many of them, with limits. Florida State Parks' pet policy says "Domestic pets are welcomed in many Florida State Parks." The leash can't be longer than six feet, and you pick up after your pet.

The same policy says "Pets are not permitted on beaches, boardwalks or playgrounds, or in bathing areas, cabins, park buildings or concession facilities." So even in a pet-friendly park, your dog stays on the trails and in the picnic areas.

State parks and trails here whose own pages say leashed pets are welcome:

• Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, 8737 U.S. Highway 19 North, Port Richey (Pasco). 727-816-1890. Pets must be on a hand-held six-foot leash at all times.
• Crystal River Preserve State Park, 3266 N. Sailboat Avenue, Crystal River (Citrus). 352-795-3817. Well-behaved dogs on a six-foot leash, not left alone for more than a half-hour.
• Fort Cooper State Park, 3100 S. Old Floral City Road, Inverness (Citrus). 352-726-0315. Leashed pets are allowed in the picnic area and on the hiking trails.
• Withlacoochee State Trail, a 47-mile paved trail through Citrus, Hernando and Pasco. No fee. Pets are welcome on a six-foot hand-held leash.

Two popular state parks here don't allow pets at all. See the next two questions.

Is Weeki Wachee State Park dog-friendly?

No. Florida State Parks' pet policy names Weeki Wachee Springs State Park as one of the parks that don't allow pets. Service animals are allowed.

If you're planning a day there, you'll need someone to watch your dog at home. You can call the park at 352-610-5660 with questions.

Are dogs allowed at Homosassa Springs?

Not at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The same pet policy lists it as a park that doesn't allow pets. Service animals are allowed. The park's phone is 352-423-5600.

Nearby state lands can work instead. Crystal River Preserve State Park, listed above, welcomes leashed dogs.

Which springs in Florida allow dogs to swim in?

We couldn't confirm any in Citrus, Hernando, or Pasco. Florida State Parks doesn't allow pets in bathing areas.

FWC gives a second reason to keep your dog out of the water. Its alligator safety advice says to "never let them swim in fresh or brackish water." Brackish water is a mix of fresh and salt water, the kind you find where rivers meet the Gulf.

State forests

Withlacoochee State Forest is run by the Florida Forest Service. Its brochure for the Homosassa Tract says "Pets must be under control and on a leash." The forest's campground rules, in the Silver Lake brochure, allow a leash up to 10 feet and say no pets at Crooked River campground. The Silver Lake brochure is dated 2019, so call the forest office at 352-797-4140 to check current rules.

Keeping your dog safe: heat, water, and alligators

Heat and paws. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the national group for veterinarians, says on its warm-weather safety page to avoid asphalt and other hot surfaces "that can burn your pet's paws." It also says not to walk a dog "during the hottest parts of the day." An early morning or evening walk avoids the hottest part of the day.

Short-nosed breeds have a higher risk in the heat, per the AVMA. Signs of heat stress include heavy panting, drooling, being unsteady on its feet, odd gum or tongue color, and collapsing. If you see these, get your dog to a veterinarian right away.

Never leave your dog in the car. The AVMA says cars "can overheat quickly to deadly temperatures," even in the shade with the windows cracked.

Alligators. FWC's 2025 alligator safety notice says to "Keep pets on a leash and away from the water's edge. Pets often resemble alligators' natural prey."

If an alligator worries you, call FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-392-4286 (866-FWC-GATOR).

Your own footing. If a dog that pulls makes walking harder for you, our fall prevention page has tips on staying steady.

Also worth reading

• Recreation for seniors: the overview of this whole section
• State parks, springs and camping: admission, camping, kayaks, and boat tours
• Beaches and paddling: Gulf-side parks, swimming, and kayak launches
• Outdoor safety: heat, storms, and wildlife when you're outside
• Fall prevention: staying steady at home and on the trail

Sources

• Florida State Parks: pet policy; experiences and amenities pages for Werner-Boyce Salt Springs, Crystal River Preserve, Fort Cooper, Withlacoochee State Trail, and Honeymoon Island; park pages for Weeki Wachee Springs and Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife
• Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources: rules and regulations (dog park rules); park directory pages for Anclote Gulf, Land O' Lakes Recreational Complex, Crews Lake Wilderness, Jay B. Starkey Wilderness, Withlacoochee River, Veterans Memorial, and Sunwest
• Hernando County Parks and Recreation: Rotary Centennial Park and the parks directory
• Citrus County Parks and Recreation: parks and beaches list; Fort Island Gulf Beach
• City of Inverness: Whispering Pines Park, Whispering Pines Park Trails, Liberty Park
• City of Crystal River: Creative Playground and Hunter Springs Park pages
• Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources: dog parks; Fort De Soto Park
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC): alligator safety news releases, March 2023 and March 2025
• Florida Forest Service: Withlacoochee State Forest brochures for the Homosassa Tract and Silver Lake Recreation Complex
• American Veterinary Medical Association: warm weather pet safety