Yorba Regional Park sprawls across 140 acres at the mouth of Santa Ana Canyon in Anaheim, offering plenty of room to explore with your dog on a leash. The park stretches over a mile long with four lakes and connecting streams that create natural focal points throughout the grounds, though dogs aren’t allowed in the water itself.

What makes this place genuinely useful for a day out is the sheer number of picnic tables—over 400 of them, with many shaded—so you’ll actually find a spot to sit and eat lunch without too much hunting around. The park’s layout means you can easily settle in at one of these tables, let your dog rest nearby, and take in the water views and natural surroundings without feeling rushed.

If you’re into biking, the park connects directly to the Santa Ana River Trail, which stretches about 20 miles all the way to the Pacific Ocean. You can ride through the park with your dog on leash, or tackle a longer ride if someone’s staying behind to watch your dog at one of the picnic areas. The trail system through the park itself is extensive enough for a solid walk without committing to the full river trail route.

Beyond the basic walking and picnicking, the park has volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and a physical fitness course scattered throughout, plus playgrounds if you’re visiting with kids. There are seven group shelters available by reservation if you’re thinking about organizing a gathering with friends and their dogs.

Restrooms are available throughout the park, which matters more than you’d think on a longer visit. Dogs need to stay on leash—six feet maximum—at all times, which keeps things organized when the park gets busy on weekends. The combination of water views, shade, and multiple activity options makes it more versatile than a typical neighborhood park, though the leash requirement means it’s not a place where your dog can roam freely.