This guide is about one thing: where to walk your dog in Plano, on your own time. The city’s largest parks are also nature preserves, so hours, trail conditions and closures matter. We checked each park’s page on the City of Plano’s website on October 30, 2026. Details can change, so check the City’s page before you go.
These are public parks you visit yourself. They are separate from VIP’s neighborhood dog walking service, and VIP does not take dogs to these places as part of a walk.
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Arbor Hills sits on Plano’s western edge at 6701 W Parker Road. The City describes a 200-acre preserve with a paved trail of about three miles and natural-surface trails of about three miles for people on foot. The natural trails are open dawn to dusk.
- Hours: 5 am to 11 pm. On Wednesdays the preserve is closed from 5 am to 2 pm for maintenance and reopens at 2 pm.
- Good to know: the City closes natural-surface trails in wet weather and for a few days afterward. Temporary notice (City page checked Oct 30, 2026): some soft-surface trails near the northeastern bridge are fenced off while plants regrow, and the City expects the fences to come down in spring 2027. These fences are not part of the preserve’s normal hours. The City posts a trail-conditions line on its page.
- Dog rules: the City’s page asks visitors to put pet waste in trash cans but does not list leash rules. Check the City’s page and posted signs before you go.
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve
Oak Point, at 5901 Los Rios Boulevard, is Plano’s largest park. The City lists nearly eight miles of concrete trails and five miles of soft-surface trails along Rowlett Creek.
- Hours: the City lists the park as open daily from 5 am to 11 pm and says the nature trails are open sunrise to sunset.
- Temporary notice (City page checked Oct 30, 2026): through the end of November 2026 the City asks visitors to use caution on the soft-surface trails while a zipline operator removes equipment from the treetops. Construction on a new parking area and restrooms on the east side continues into spring 2027.
Russell Creek Park
Russell Creek Park, at 3500 McDermott Road, is a community park with hike-and-bike trails, a small lake, a playground and a pavilion. It is open daily from 5 am to 11 pm. Athletic fields are for scheduled use only, so stay on the trails and open areas.
Bob Woodruff Park North: currently closed
The City lists Bob Woodruff Park North (2601 San Gabriel Drive) as closed for renovations through February 2027. This is a temporary closure of the North park, not its normal hours (City page checked Oct 30, 2026). The City’s dog park at Bob Woodruff Park (2300 Shiloh Road) is a separate facility with its own City page, so check that page for its current status before you go.
Looking for an off-leash area?
The City of Plano lists three fenced dog parks, at Bob Woodruff Park, Jack Carter Park and Windhaven Meadows Park. Rules and closures are on the City’s Dog Parks page. At the Bob Woodruff dog park, the City requires dogs outside the fenced area to be on a leash of 6 feet or less.
Leave the Preserve as You Found It
Both preserves ask visitors to put pet waste in trash cans, stay on marked trails and leave plants and animals alone. Bring waste bags and keep your dog with you on the trail. The City also reminds visitors that these are nature preserves with wild animals, insects and poison ivy.
When Your Schedule Gets in the Way
On days when a walk to the park is not possible, VIP’s dog walking is a separate service: a private walk in your neighborhood, 30, 45 or 60 minutes long, with a GPS-tracked route and a visit report with photos and/or video afterward. VIP has been trusted since 2001 and serves pet parents across Plano. To get started, Request Reservations or Contact Our Office.
0 Comments