El Paso Dog Parks - A Pet Service Directory for West Texas and Southern New Mexico

I am always looking for new places to take the mutts, as the dog park situation in El Paso, Texas is less than a forthcoming. Here are some suggested locations for free roaming your dogs.

The dog area is only 27,000 sq. ft., and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Not to be a critic or ungrateful, but it's like a pebbled dog run, not really fun or sizable for the canines to really play and socialize. Dog owners have to rely on the good ole' outdoors to allow their pets to experience the reality of running free, with voice command, of course.

I have found a few cool places that I take my dogs to as the hot summer has cooled for hikes during the day. I apologize to the weak of heart that some of my suggestions are sketchy.

Sunland Park, New Mexico

Sunland Park, New Mexico has some pretty parks that run aside the Rio Grande. If you can keep the monsters from going in the water, more power to you. If they do enter the river, prepare to bathe them, but I would check with your vet prior to exposing them to the Rio Grande. If I didn't have a young child, I would go there, but I can't keep the dogs from having a dip, and I ain't going to expose my tot to anything, say, potential. You can of course leash em up if you consider the place less than desirable because of the water, and I am sure there are areas away from the river that the hounds can loosen their limbs without a leash.

FOR THE EXTREMELY ADVENTUROUS

Sierra de Cristo Rey, Christ of the Rockies, is the mountain with the cross on it that divides Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. It is 10 minutes from Central El Paso and the terrain there is stunning and diverse. Virtually 10 paces from where you just were, is another unique, geological environment; where red rock turns to white, to gray, to gold, to black. It's beautiful and since there are border patrol suv's cruising and stationed everywhere, it's a cool and a relatively safe place to run the doggage, that is, if you don't go too far up the canyon. It is so great to have free dogs roaming and steering us to the multiverse of terrain and flora. Please have more than one large dog and have a few people with you, preferably armed. Seriously, you have to be prepared for anything when venturing close to the border, there could be some sneaky peeps up yonder, including border agents who do not make a sound when they appear 20 paces away. Only recently was I told I could go up there, all the way to the cross if I brought someone armed with a big gun (don't bring the dogs, as it's over the border). Crazy, eh? Be careful up there. Personally I love the edge, but still make myself  known to every agent in the vicinity that I AM HERE WITH DOGS! .

Sierra de Cristo Rey's address is: 3817 Skyline Ave, Sunland Park, NM. To get there: cross the Rio Grande from El Paso, find the not so visible sign that says, Cristo Rey. You don't need a 4WD to get up there, but look out for pot holes on the dirt road. Pass the 1st set of train tracks and if you have already gotten to the 2nd train tracks, U-turn and park it down a bit farther. If you get lost trying to find it, ask a border agent where it is.

Have fun with these suggestions that were suggested to me.