Beneath the snow-capped vista of Big Mountain, the Hugh Roger WAG (Whitefish Animal Group) Park is the perfect place to unhook the leash and let the four-legged family member run wild.
The dog park, located in the Armory Park complex in Whitefish, opened last June after a four-year public and private collaboration offering the Flathead Valley its first off-leash dog park. The five-acre park features paths, benches, a drinking fountain for dogs and plenty of room to play.
“It is a fabulous place for socializing animals,” said Kate Moseley who was visiting the park with her family and border collie Hopkins. “Everybody is so conscientious here, and it’s safe.”
The park is free to the public and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The park asks that you leash your dogs when entering the park, display valid license and rabies tags and pick up after your dog.
The next project, already underway, is a pavilion shade structure designed by local architect Dia Sulliven. The park’s future plans include a berm and obstacle course, more paved pathways and a pond expansion with bridges and a beach.
For more information on the park, including how to help fund future projects, or to see a map of the park visit www.wagparks.org.
How to get there: From downtown Whitefish, travel east on Second Street off U.S. Highway 93. The entrance to the park is on the south side of the road about a mile from the Highway 93 and Second Street intersection.