We recently took a mini trip with Markus to Abbotsford, British Columbia since the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted a bit. We're currently in Phase 3 of the restart plan, which allows for non-essential travel within the province. We spent a weekend in Abbotsford and got to do a number of activities with Markus. In the middle of all the trails and hikes that we did, we made a stop at the popular Cultus Lake to stretch our legs out.

About Cultus Lake

Cultus Lake is one of those spots in British Columbia that locals love to go camping and spend weekends in the water, hanging out on the beaches and relaxing. Year after year, Cultus Lake is one of those camping sites that get booked up almost immediately for the summers. We have yet to go camping with Markus, but we made a stop at the Cultus Lake Beach Off-Leash Dog Park to enjoy the lake and to get Markus' paws wet.

Cultus Lake Beach Off-Leash Dog Park

• Size: Medium

• Enclosed: No

• Doors: No

• Traffic: Heavy

We had actually meant to visit another dog park in the area (the Cultus Lake Plaza Off-Leash Dog Park), but since we wandered off in the wrong area, we kept on driving and wound up at the Cultus Lake Beach Off-Leash Dog Park. And good thing, because we really enjoyed this park, which is the only one that's along the beach of Cultus Lake. We were so glad to have stumbled upon it.

As it is for humans, the main attraction in this area is the lake. On a nice day, there are plenty of people swimming in the lake and doing other water activities like kayaking or even just sitting in a floatie. The dog area at the Cultus Lake Beach Off-Leash Dog Park itself isn't large, but the dogs are free to go in and out of the water. 

A recommendation I'll make is that if you're planning on bringing your dog to the beach on a hot day, make sure that their paws actually get into the water (even if they don't want to fully get in). The sand on the beach can get really hot for a dog, so being in the water can help cool it off. If you're walking along the beach, just be aware of how hot the sand is and there are also some crush gravel paths a little higher up that won't be as hot if the sand's too much for the dog.

Aside from that, the lake and the surrounding area is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. If you have time or you're looking for a stop for your dog to stretch their legs, consider the Cultus Lake Beach Off-Leash Dog Park. Keep in mind that because this is a beach, there isn't anything like gates to keep the dogs in and it tends to get very busy because of all the people who are playing in the lake.

How to get to the Cultus Lake Beach Off-Leash Dog Park

As mentioned, we weren't originally looking for this beach and we actually stumbled upon it by accident. Finding it isn't too difficult, although it can be missed. If you look up the Cultus Lake Marina on your GPS, the park is right next to it. There's actually public/pay parking there that you can use. If you're coming from the Cultus Lake Waterpark or the Cultus Lake Adventure Park, just keep going down Sunnyside Blvd all the way down and straight into the parking lot.

What we liked

• It's a beautiful and vibrant lake that's full of life and activity.

• It's the only dog park around Cultus Lake with beach access to the water.

What we didn't like

• For reactive dogs, it's not the easiest to separate your dog from the other dogs. Because there aren't any boundaries or fences for dogs, it's possible for dogs to run up to your dog.

Our Recommendation for Reactive Dogs

Because of the size of the beach, it's easy enough to avoid other dogs in the area. Keep in mind that there aren't any gates along the beach and the other dogs are off-leash and running around. It's possible that a dog may come and approach your dog without any warning. Although this area is a designated dog park, there really aren't any boundaries suggesting when it begins and ends.

Before getting onto the beach, there's a path right before it. If you need to find a quieter spot where there aren't as many dogs playing, I'd recommend taking the path down a little bit further down the beach. We did this with Markus and avoided the dogs that were already playing in the water and went to a spot that was quieter. Even with that, it's still possible for dogs to approach your dog and if you're not comfortable, then I would just avoid coming here altogether.

Disclaimer

Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.

Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.