Hoover's off-leash dog park is at Loch Haven Park. Leashed dogs are welcome at Moss Rock and Aldridge Gardens on set days, and at Brock's Gap Brewing.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Rules and hours come from the City of Hoover, Aldridge Gardens, the Hoover Met Complex and each business’s own website, linked below. Rules can change; check before you go.

Hoover has one fenced, off-leash dog park, at Loch Haven Park off Lorna Road, and plenty of places to walk a leashed dog, from the trails at Moss Rock Preserve to the lake loop at Veterans Park. The catch is the rules: Aldridge Gardens allows dogs only four days a week, and the splash pad and lake beaches do not allow them at all.

Who to call

  • Hoover Parks and Recreation (dog park, parks): 205-444-7703
  • Report a rule violation at Moss Rock: Hoover police non-emergency, 205-822-5300
  • Emergencies: 911
  • City ordinances: Hoover Code of Ordinances

The dog park: Loch Haven

Loch Haven Park, 3469 Loch Haven Drive, is a 17-acre city park with an off-leash fenced area for small and large dogs, a canine obstacle course, a 0.4-mile walking track, a playground and a covered picnic pavilion beside a large recreation field, the city says. The city’s parks FAQ names it as Hoover’s dog park.

Getting there: from U.S. 31, take Lorna Road, turn onto Rocky Ridge Road, turn right at the light onto Wisteria Drive, and turn left at the second stop sign. The park is on the left as you enter the Loch Haven subdivision.

Trails and parks for a walk

  • Moss Rock Preserve: nearly 12 miles of trails. Under the preserve rules adopted in Ordinance 03-1973, pets must be caged or on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under your control at all times. The preserve is open sunrise to sunset; no glass containers.
  • Other city walking loops (the city’s pages for these parks do not post separate pet rules):
  • Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road: an 82-acre park with a 5K crushed-gravel course around the lakes, open dawn to dusk, according to the city.
  • Star Lake, Star Lake Drive: a walking trail around a 4-acre lake; two and a half laps make a mile.
  • Cahaba Riverchase Greenway, 1930 Old Montgomery Highway: a half-mile paved trail along the Cahaba River, with no restrooms.

More on each park is on our parks and trails guide.

Aldridge Gardens: Monday to Thursday only

Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Road, allows walking leashed dogs Monday through Thursday only. Dog walking (and fishing in the lake) is not allowed Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and owners must clean up after their pets. The gates are open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Patios and taprooms

Brock’s Gap Brewing Company, 500 Mineral Trace, Suite 100, invites guests to bring pets, as long as they are on a leash, to its taproom and outdoor beer garden, spread over more than 3 acres with an outside bar and food trucks. Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 3 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Call 205-848-7837.

Other restaurants set their own patio rules. If your favorite Hoover patio welcomes dogs, send us its page through our contact page.

Where dogs are not allowed

  • EXPLORE splash pad at the Hoover Met Complex: no pets on the splash pad, according to the complex’s rules.
  • Oak Mountain State Park beaches in Pelham: no pets on either beach, according to Alabama State Parks.
  • Aldridge Gardens on Fridays and weekends.

Events for dogs

The Ross Bridge Farmers Market’s Barkit Market on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, from 4 to 8 p.m. at 2101 Grand Ave. includes a pet parade and costume contest. See our fall festivals page.

The Hoover Public Library has its own facility dog, Libby, who visits readers at Read with Libby sessions and meet-and-greets; dates are on the library’s event calendar.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a dog park in Hoover?

Yes. The Loch Haven Dog Park, 3469 Loch Haven Drive, has a fenced off-leash area for small and large dogs, a canine obstacle course and a 0.4-mile walking track. Call Hoover Parks and Recreation at 205-444-7703.

Can I bring my dog to Moss Rock Preserve?

Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under your control at all times, under the preserve’s rules in Ordinance 03-1973. The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.

Are dogs allowed at Aldridge Gardens?

Leashed dogs are allowed Monday through Thursday only, and owners must clean up after them. Dog walking is not allowed Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Can dogs go on the Hoover splash pad?

No. Pets are not allowed on the EXPLORE splash pad at the Hoover Met Complex.