Where does NYC rank among the best cities to walk your dog?

Angela Barbuti
·2 min read
1
Jolie Dudley with her dog Knope and boyfriend, Nicolas Polanco and Risa
Jolie Dudley with her dog Knope and boyfriend, Nicolas Polanco and Risa

New York City’s mean streets aren’t so ruff after all.

The Big Apple ranked fifth on the list of 2024’s Best Cities to Walk Your Dog, according to a study released this week by LawnStarter ahead of National Walk Your Dog Day on Feb. 22.

The company researched 480 of the biggest U.S. cities and looked at amenities such as dog-friendly trails and off-leash parks.

Jolie Dudley of Williamsburg, here with her boyfriend Nicolas Polanco and pup Knope, said she isn’t surprised Manhattan ranked so high. Courtesy of Jolie Dudley
Jolie Dudley of Williamsburg, here with her boyfriend Nicolas Polanco and pup Knope, said she isn’t surprised Manhattan ranked so high. Courtesy of Jolie Dudley

Colorado Springs was top dog, followed by San Francisco, Phoenix and Boulder.

Living in Manhattan is hardly a dog’s life for man’s best friend, said pooch photographer Carmen Gonzalez of Gramercy.

“New York’s got it all — Central Park and its many trails and off-leash hours, Hudson River Park, [where] the walkway is long and you’re by the water, Carl Schurz Park [with] small trails and the wonderful walk by the East River,” she said.

Jolie Dudley of Williamsburg said it makes sense that Gotham ranked so high on the list — since so many dogs are cooped up in small apartments.

“Due to space constraints in Manhattan, daily walks with pups are necessary,” said Dudley, founder of Must Love Dogs and Comedy Inc., an organization that produces dog-friendly comedy shows.

Guiselle Torres of Colorado Springs, which ranked number one on the list, said there are so many outdoor trails there to explore with her dog, Risa. Courtesy of Guiselle Torres
Guiselle Torres of Colorado Springs, which ranked number one on the list, said there are so many outdoor trails there to explore with her dog, Risa. Courtesy of Guiselle Torres

“In other cities I’ve lived in, I had to drive my dog to parks and other dog-friendly places.”

Guiselle Torres of Colorado Springs said she wasn’t surprised by her city’s top ranking, since it’s the perfect place for people — and pooches.

“Colorado people love to be outdoors, so of course, we bring our dogs,” she said. “There are so many trails and outdoor spaces to explore.”

The cities that are for the dogs when it comes to taking four-legged friends for a stroll are Kansas City, Kansas, Montgomery, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee, which ranked the lowest on the list.