Dusty Rhodes Dog Park in Ocean Beach O.B. San Diego

Some people love this little park, and some do not. It is right across the road from Robb Field in Ocean Beach. (Few people know that Robb Field, despite being located in Ocean Beach, is part of Mission Bay Park--or at least it is funded that way).

The dogs are not out of control as they often are at Dog Beach..just down the San Diego River.
From the sign, you can see that, since it is part of Ocean Beach, it needs funding, which is probably not going to come, unless someone from AIG has a dog on vacation here or something!!

Everyone here or almost everyone (never talk in absolutes), cleans up after his or her dog and keeps her or his dog under control. It is a very small dog park, but one that receives lots of use, considering how close Dog Beach is to it. It is a very small part of Dusty Rhodes park, who was a local person who used to do a lot with the OB Planning Board. Long ago, I used to attend meetings of this board, and I vaguely remember him.

Access (one way, in and out) is through Nimitz, and a little difficult to navigate. After you cross West Point Loma or turn right on Voltaire, you have gone too far. By the way, if you do cross West Point Loma, then on the left you will have the 3 baseball fields--one is actually named for my neighbor in upper Ocean Beach (now called Point Loma Heights)..since he has helped kids with baseball and helped maintain the fields for many, many years. I do not think he would appreciate his name posted here..although he never had the internet for many, many years.
He still has no heat..and no cable tv..(we gave in and have had cable tv for about 6 years now..and did not have it the previous 10, believe it or not.)

With no tv, no newspaper, no internet, and no heat ..you can be as happy as a dog!!!

and you do not ever to worry about losing your hair..well Wendy sheds a lot.. I am saving her hair so I can eventually become a blonde!!! (Have you never heard the expresson.."that person is a Labrador blonde"???)

Getting "High" with your Dog in San Diego

Cowles Mountain is the place with the highest elevation in all of San Diego. Although correctly pronounced like Kohl's (you know--one of the mall retail chains that has NOT gone out of business), most people pronounce it Cow--ls.. I even met one young lady who, along with her friends, pronounced it as "Cow-less". And it is really true--you are never going to see any cows on Cowles mountain. You might see rabbits, an occasional snake (maybe more than occasional in the spring), lizards, birds, and other wildlife. And occasionally you will run into a park ranger, normally an unpaid volunteer.

Although not really a great height or anything, at less than even 2,000 feet, it does take a while to get up the hill. Although there are people that do run up the hill, ru
nning down it is a real problem, as the switchbacks have numerous loose rocks. Try to run down Cowles mountain enough time, and I can almost guarante you will eventually have a broken ankle.

The switchbacks on the ascent are pretty long, but not torturous if you are in fair to reasonable shape. I would suggest perhaps something a little more sturdy than tennis shoes or cross-country trainers, although that is what most people wear. If you have them, a pair of athletic hiking shoes are the best.

And guess what? --you and your dog or dogs are welcome here anytime. The best time would be early morning or late afternoon, as outside of those times, it does get hot. We are talking about only fall-through the spring, as summer is just too hot. Some people climb up Cowles mountain at every winter solstice, but nobody does the same for the summer solstice--just too hot

And your dogs probably get even hotter than you. This is one place that not only do you need a leash for your pooches, but you also need to carry water--perhaps for you also.

Wendy, Baggy, and I will see you soon atop Cowles mountain.