North Beach, affectionately called “Dog Beach” by dog owners, is located north of 29th Street and stretches nearly one-half mile to the Solana Beach border. The area includes the mouth of the San Dieguito River and a stretch of coastal bluff that makes for a lovely walk with or without your dog running ahead.

Dogs on-leash are welcome year-round. The timing rules shift seasonally though, which matters depending on when you’re planning to visit. From the day after Labor Day through June 15th, you can let your dog off-leash during the off-season, which gives them plenty of room to run. During the summer months from June 15th through Labor Day, off-leash time is restricted to early morning—between dawn and 8 a.m. After 8 a.m. through dawn, dogs need to be back on-leash, which makes sense given how crowded the beach gets with summer visitors.

The beach itself has a different feel than the more developed areas of Del Mar. The sand is wide and firm here, and the bluff provides some nice shade if you need to step back from direct sun. There’s real variety to explore—you can walk along the shoreline and let your dog wade in the water during allowed off-leash times, or stick to the upper beach and work your way along the coastal trail. The San Dieguito River mouth adds another element to explore, especially after winter rains when it’s more active.

Parking is available nearby but can get tight during peak summer weekends, so arriving early is worth planning for. The beach itself drains well and has a nice gradient, so even after high tide or rough surf, the sand is manageable underfoot. If you’re there during the summer months and want that off-leash experience, you’ll want to arrive before sunrise to make the most of that early window.