This dog park is very spacious with two divided sections segregating the dogs based on size (this is to prevent discourse amongst big and small dogs and small dogs are NOT required to be in the small dog section always) there are LOTS of shades areas with healthy trees and open spaces which make it ideal for fetch games. Water is provided in the park as well as tables to sit and watch your dog. Dog bags are also provided and in my experience they're always available but bring your own if you can. If you plan on going, dress appropriately. Wear clothes in which you expect to get dirty because even with a grassy and clean park, some dogs will greet you with a slobbery and happy poke to the leg. A lot of the landscape in this dog park consists of mulch and dirt. I imagine the reason is because dogs like to dig ALOT it makes it easier to maintain the park and patch any hazardous holes to prevent tripping and injuries. Although this isn't a very prevalent issue I do wish that the park and its visitors have a bit more decorum and clean after themselves. Not much of a technical issue but a community incentive. I find myself finding waste on the ground more often now. When you're at a park, you're supposed to watch your dogs. Aside from that, after almost of a decade of coming here with my dog I've always found the people super friendly and occasionally I'd find extremely beautiful dogs. read more

We finally made it to Cabin John today. Our dog had the best time, and well probably return again, but there were a few issues. First, it was a mud pit. Wally enjoyed that part immensely, but cleaning a corgi isn't fun. Second, the fresh water for them to drink was not clear- it had a brown tint to it. Third, some of the owners brought dogs who weren't the most friendly... and then didn't pay attention to them when they snapped at other dogs. Positives- pups liked the rock formation. The park was HUGE. There were spots for humans to sit. There were essentially two parks- one for small dogs (under 20lbs) and one for big dogs. It was easy to find. And there were a ton of dogs! read more

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I've gone back to this dog park recently after taking a break from it during Spring and Summer. It's been enjoyable to see old friends and their dogs whilst my dog gets some extra exercise. I've enjoyed making new friends who also share similar interests and such. The camaraderie I have experienced has been great. However, some things also hasn't changed one bit. I've got to stay vigilant about where my dog is going especially when I'm aware that other dogs owners aren't really paying attention to theirs. Twice I got to watch a nasty brawl break out and their owners being oblivious about it. I've also seen owners who literally spent their entire time sitting far on a bench and not do diddly-squat. And I mean that by not picking up after their dogs, or stopping their dogs from mounting, biting, or snapping. Nothing can and should come between taking selfies of themselves with their smartphones I guess. Just to keep myself accountable, I usually leash up my pup if I'm gonna take a break and chat with others. And ya know what? I've received some rather rude remarks from other owners for me doing that. Sorry for my attempting to be responsible and not bother you or your dog in anyway. I so happen to not wanna be a hypocrite. I know it's a dog park and it's a place to let them run free. If he's leashed while I sit and chat, I know I can get going if I want to in case of a brawl, or I'd know my dog didn't start a fight, pooped without my knowledge, or what have you. Anyhow, I digress. Based on my recent observations in the past few weeks, I suggest puppy owners go there during the early morning hours for socialization or past 9am on weekdays for less people for anxious dogs. Most folks during those hours tend to be more conscientious and I enjoy their wisdoms on dog ownerships. read more

Cabin John Dog Park - My hound sniffing the climbing rock. - Dog Parks Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Yay for dog parks in Montgomery County! Now if only there were Doggie Bars my little pal and I would both be lushes. My guy had a great time socializing with dozens of pint-sized pooches today. The park had their "official " Grand Opening celebration with a Howl-O-Ween party today from 9-12pm. It was a blast to see so many doggies in disguise. My pooch peed on his costume (I think on purpose) so he didn't stay in it for long. Without it on it made it easier for him to chase his new friends around the naturally landscaped grounds for small pooches (under 20 lbs.). The adjoining fenced in area is for the big boys and girls and was packed with excited pooches. The park is FREE and opened regular park hours, sunrise to sunset. However, it is closed from 9-11 am every Tuesday for weekly maintenance. Your well socialized four-legged best friend will love it here and so will you. read more

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Cabin John is our favorite dog park in the area by far. It's great that there's a separate section for small dogs - I believe the cut off is 25 pounds or so. Really awesome spot for your dog to run around and meet some friends! read more

Cabin John Dog Park - Cabin John Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This place is great for dogs. With the trees, rock agility feature, water faucet, and large space it really was great for my two dogs. They ran so much with the other dogs they'll sleep for days. People seem very respective to pickup poop and also attentive if an issue arises between two dogs. Out of the numerous parks in the DMV area this is one of the best ones I've found. read more

Cabin John Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Great location, we went today and the exercise area was super clean. Waste bags accessible all around the park. Pathways to the area was very clean and safe. Lots of parking and the 'small dog' area was quite big. Water fountains were working and clean water was available. There's also tables to sit and a dog climbing area. Big open spaces for dogs to run around and play. Even the areas at the far end where dogs go do their business was clean. I highly recommend this place for your pets if you're in the area! read more

Cabin John Dog Park - @lordbodie excited - Dog Parks Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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This is a great dog park especially if you have a very large dog. The park must be over an acre with an amazing wooded backdrop. There is a small dog area adjacent. Our Pyr puppy loves this park and always sleeps well heading home. The run itself is clean and has a shaded pavilion with a picnic table as well as a few benches scattered throughout. There is also a water fountain for humans there canine friends and plenty of pickup bags on site. As with any dog park the owners of what we call Little $#|+ Dogs or LSDs. Will often try to invade large dog territory and stir up trouble. The LSDs will always try to attack the largest dog and then the owner will start in on anyone who will listen. But I guess that is just a universal problem. I recommend wearing Wellies after a good rain. The mulch in the run can often hold a great deal of moisture. read more

The family and I love this park. Clean and family friendly environment. Our four legged friend love coming here to enjoy the outdoors. read more

This is a great dog park. The best one in Montgomery County hands down. It's in a great location, surrounded by beautiful trees and trails. It's almost always pretty clean. The dog park is split up for large and small dogs. I have a small dog that doesn't do well with too many large dogs so this park is absolutely perfect. The small dog park is pretty generous in size for accompanying small dogs. The large dog park is definitely more popular, but my small dog had a blast exploring and watching the large dogs play. The park is well kept and has a nice bridge to cross to get to the park. The people that bring their dogs here are nice for the most part and take responsibility for their furry family members. Parking is plentiful. But like others have stated previously, drive slow or else you'll miss the entrance AND the parking lot. My pup Chewbie definitely approves! read more

I have a new puppy and need to introduce socializing. After her shots and okay from the vet, I decided to Yelp dog parks. This one had great reviews. I will agree, the people who I came in contact with are pleasant and dogs seem to play well with others. For pet owners an overhead cover with benches as well as sitting stones by the climbing area. It's a no-leash park! Nice. One side is for 20 lbs. below and the other side are for over 20 lbs. The place was clean and there was enough room for running around and a high fence seperates the two areas; dogs can interact through the fence. They also have a "Mutt Mitt" station to help with any clean ups. The place also has a climbing station on both sides for additional exercise. I really enjoyed my first dog park experience here. I will come back for sure! read more

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Great dog park! Very spacious with plenty of room for large dogs to run. Lots of dogs there for my boy to play with. Poop bags and trash cans on hand, clean park. The one suggestion I have is to add more of the wood chips/shavings to help with the mud. There was plenty by the gate but not farther back into the dog park and we left muddy. Overall great experience and he's happy so I'm happy too!! We will be back. read more

Cabin John Dog Park - This is MAKAVELI in the Big dog area today. - Dog Parks Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This park is big. It has separate small area for small dogs (if I remember correctly, dogs weigh 25lbs and under) and much much bigger area for bigger dogs. I took my dogs when they were tiny pups to the smaller one then moved into big dog area after they got bigger. The reason why I give such bad rating is due to several things. 1. Muddy: this park is really spacious but it is soooooooo muddy. There is no grass and just woodchips and mud. I always wipe down my dogs before putting them in the car and it takes forever to wipe them down decent enough to be somewhat acceptable. 2. Aggressive dogs and owners with no manners: of course it is a dog park and you would see any types of dogs and people. But every single time I was there, there were always fights. And the owner of the attacker dog is either nowhere to be seen either pretending to be not the owner or too busy chatting with other dog owners that he/she has no clue that it was their dog attacking other dogs or they walk up slowly and berate the victim dogs' owner that it isn't a big deal bc dogs will be dogs and little fight is not a thing to be stressed about. (Just like how some would say "boys will be boys" to brush off any wrongdoings) 3. Poops everywhere: I really don't get it. If you are at a dog park with your dogs, you should be monitoring your dogs closely to make sure they are okay and to see if they poop so you can pick up after them. There are poop bags! The owners are soooo busy chatting and chatting that they don't know they are getting in trouble, pooping, eating some other dogs' poop and etc. Maybe they are the type of people who let their kids roam free and don't care what their kids do in the playground and just chat with other parents. I dunno. Just cant deal with ignorant and irresponsible people like that. I certainly don't like the crowd here, whether it be dogs or their owners. (Makes sense because dogs take after their owners). I will not be coming back. I saw a big fight break out today and that was it for me. I just can't risk that with my dogs. My dogs are there to have fun, not to get attacked by aggressive dogs and irresponsible owners who do nothing. read more

THE DOGS: 1. Dilyla - 9 yo long hair chihuahua mix who was my sister's until she was about 4-5 yo, a little antisocial to strangers (ppl and dogs alike, she don't discriminate) but a total sweetheart to ppl she knows and love. 2. Jett - 7 mo powderpuff Chinese crested who's a little wimpy and a little shy. He's still trying to figure out what to do with himself and what to do with those big BIG dogs. THE PARK: A wonderfully spacious park separated into big dog and small dog compartments filled with mulch, trees, rock climbing areas. There's a good number of dogs throughout the day (more big dogs than small dogs) but the peak hours are after work around 4 - 6 pm and on weekends. Bags available in each compartment for you to pick up after your pups and I guess ppl do a rather good job. The park is kept really clean, in fact the park does maintenance between 9-11 am on Tuesdays. THE LOWDOWN: Dogs need to be registered to the park through Montgomery county and receive a little green tag. Now most dogs do not wear or own these tags and if you do not have any on hand, the park managers can kick you out. I have seen this happen. My old dog is happy because she has enough space to wander around without being bothered by other rascals trying to play with her and my small wimpy dog is happy because he's protected from the big bad dogs. . . Sigh I love their imperfections. read more

Great dog park, but some of the owners need to learn better manners. I've been going here for years - and have a review from 2012 on here - but the last two times I've visited, I witnessed very loud arguments between humans. From my view in the peanut gallery, it seems like the conservative old guard isn't adjusting well to a new generation of dog owners and their beloved, mixed breed rescues. The first incident occurred when an old lady brought her little dog into the big dog area, and then got really upset when a big dog started playing - naturally - like a big dog. The big dog was a rescued pit bull who was very sweet, and this lady started screaming and then WHACKING the poor dog with her umbrella or cane. The big dog's owner got justifiably angry with her outrageous behavior and got right in her face, telling her off and protecting his own dog from her violence. This is Bethesda so I'm sure old ladies who live there are used to everyone just accepting their "eccentric" behavior - but this guy was having none of it. Good for him for standing up for his dog. If owners of little dogs are too paranoid to let their dogs roughhouse with the big dogs - they should stay out of the big dog area. It's very simple. The second incident was even more troubling because of the very obvious racism involved. I met a Latino couple with two rescued pit bulls, and a Latino man with a pit bull puppy. They had just gotten into a big argument with - you guessed it - paranoid owners who told them - and I'm not even kidding - to "GO BACK TO THE GHETTO" with their vicious dogs. WTH?!?!? These very nice people (and their very sweet dogs) all live in Montgomery County, and they have to put up with this crap from other residents. One thing I can't stand about supposedly 'tony suburbs' is this kind of elitist, racist b.s. that is more common than we think. The dog park is just a microcosm of society at large, it seems - and it's such a pity that such a nice dog park is sometimes spoiled by the rotten attitudes of the humans who bring their dogs there. We should all learn a lesson from our dogs, who don't discriminate against pit bulls or their owners just because of what they look like. read more

This is the best dog park I've found in the DC area, and one of the best I've seen in any metropolitan area. It's the newest of the dog parks in the Montgomery County park system, and you can tell they're definitely learning with each one they build. Unlike the other parks that are only about half an acre, this one is just over an acre in total. We showed up this weekend, since it was finally a nice, not freezing cold, day and there were around 30 dogs present pretty much the entire 2 hours we were there. It was pretty muddy, since all this snow that's been sitting around for a month finally started to melt, so we didn't take pictures yet, but you can bet once Spring comes around we'll be out with the camera to take lots of pictures of our 2 huskies, Bocuse and Sakai (French chefs, look em up!). Big dog and little dog owners alike will both be happy with this park, as they have a fenced area for each of them. There is also, thankfully, a middle "entry" area which is fenced in too, and acts as a catch area for dogs who happen to sneak through the gate as other dogs are brought in or out. They've also put in a dog water station, that is easy to fill with just a touch of a button. If you happen to forget your clean up materials, they've also got a box on the fence with disposable doggy bags. read more

4.5 stars (Although my dog probably gives it 5) Despite living in DC near a lot various parks and some small dog parks, the brand new Cabin John Dog Park beats them all out. Cabin John Regional Park has been around forever and has always been a good place for kids, I know I went there dozens of times as one, and now its a good place for dogs. Well, a better place for dogs. There are two portions of the dog park. A larger area for dogs 21 lbs or larger and a smaller side for 20 lbs or smaller. The two sides are completely fenced in with water bowls, rocks to climb on, trees, sticks, previously leftover tennis balls, what more could a dog want. I've taken my dog twice now and he has a blast. There is plenty of room to run around, play with other dogs and drop a nice dookie in the leaf piles near the back of the park. This place isn't metro accessible, but is definitely worth the drive ( guess this DOESN'T MATTER, since dogs cant ride the metro, yet). I haven't noticed any major problems with dogs fighting. This is a great place for young puppies looking to get some energy out or older dogs who want to stretch their legs out. read more

First of all... I would just like to say, if you don't understand how dogs play than please don't bring your dog here. And please watch after your dog. This is by far the best dog park I've been too. Very well maintained. There is plenty of space for dogs to run around and I love the middle rock bridge that they can jump and stand on. I will say that even with the mulch it can get very, very muddy so definitely bring a towel for your car and expect to give your pup a bath after. I've never had any bad experiences and we will be back. read more

I just adopted my rescue dog about a month ago and have been trying to socialize him with other dogs. I read great things about Cabin John Dog Park on Yelp and they're all true! Since I've only been to this dog park, I can't compare it to any other ones so I'll list what I like about it. -separate areas for small and large dogs. This is a must if you want to protect your small and slow moving dog from the more active and larger dogs. -lots of space! Both sides have trees, shrubs and shaded sitting areas for the dog parents -lots of free parking -free poop bags -a double gate to prevent dogs from escaping -attentive and friendly people This is a great use of my Maryland tax money! :) read more

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Excellent facility, well laid out and they separate the big dogs from the little ones which is nice. Things for the dogs to climb on and run under. read more

Love it Great spot Shady Friendly Lots of room to run Nice benches Lots of parking read more

Can't see why anyone would give the less than 5-stars. It has a fantastic dog park, great playgrounds and open areas to hang out on. There's also a ton of parking. Everyone we bumped into and talked with was also really friendly! read more

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While this might come in 2nd to the Shirlington Dog Park, it's still way better than most dog parks you'll find in DC. My dog loved climbing on the rock bridge and there was ample room to run and play. Because of the size and shape of the park, it's a challenge for some patrons to see where their dogs "eliminate" so be aware of where you step. It's really scenic and a nice place to chill while your dog blows off some of that pent up energy. read more

Cabin John Dog Park - Big smiles! - Dog Parks Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Our first visit to this dog park and I'm not impressed. Watched one adult large male purse a 6 mos. female pup relentlessly and the owner did nothing to curtail it. I suggested to the pup's owner that he move her to the small dog side, he did so and the pup looked happier. This park is nice but with the upgrades that the Olney Park just got, Olney is much better. They actually have a group that monitors the park and makes sure that poop is picked up I witnessed two dogs poop in the middle of the large dog area and not one owner picked up behind their dog. It explains why when you come here the park stinks of feces. read more

I love love LOVE it here!! Got my dog as a rescue a few months ago and he was recovering from heart worms so he was on crate rest for most of the time. I felt bad my place is too tiny for him to run in and I had no fenced yard so someone mentioned dog parks. Looked this place up and so I went this morning. IT WAS AWESOME. Lots of parking and since I went early it wasn't too hot. Two fenced areas, one for bigger dogs the other for smaller. We went to the bigger area and immediately he got bombarded. One dog had to assert her alpha dog mentality at first but afterwards she was a complete sweetheart. My dog got along with everyone! Owners police their dogs really well so if it seems like the dogs are getting too rough they all call back their dogs. People are so nice here, I felt like I fit right in and so did my pup! Great way to get him to exercise and stay socialized. So much space to just roam. Will definitely be back every weekend now. read more

Cabin John Dog Park is a great travel destination for the family and your best friend. With rock climbing, plenty of shade, and even a Starbucks up the street, you can't go wrong spending a day here with your furry friend. https://youtu.be/Tw3d0qrQJrQ read more

Super friendly people. Well mannered dogs. Rocks to climb on for the dogs. Provides supplies for clean up and benches to sit at. My dogs love it. Water fountain for humans and dogs. I HEAR that it is WAY crowded after 5 PM- I don't know- I have never dared to venture there at that time. read more

Cabin John Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Visiting Bethesda, brought yogi (papillon) with me. Found this dog park near hotel. Large and enclosed area. Clean with trees around. Appears well shaded in summer time. Dog water fountain present. Dog waste bags also available. read more

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This place is way bigger than I expected. Separate fences in areas for dogs over or under 21 pounds. There is running water and poo bags. It's covered in mulch and has a rock climbing thing in the middle which is nice for pictures. There are a few benches for people. We met some nice couples. Owners looked mostly 30-50 years old. Prob not a bad spot to meet someone if single. We went on a Sunday and saw around 50 other dogs. There was plenty of parking but there's about a 150 yard walk from the parking lot to the dog park. read more

The best option in the area that I am aware of. Others have covered the details. - Nicely maintained, nice setting within Cabin John Regional Park - Large, for a dog park in this area - Benches and shade - Water fountains, poop bags - Plenty of parking - Nice people and dogs for the most part - Rock structures for playing on and under ++ - At off-hours (e.g., midday mid-week, just at dusk) the park can be empty, or nearly so - User-supplied water bowls and tennis balls, and occasionally a well-used toy or two Not Cons, But More Like, Comes-With-The-Territory: - The trash cans for poop bags can get stinky on warm days, especially by evening on summer weekends - Some dogs just don't do well in dog parks, and some people appear not to understand this. And the more dogs present (nice weather on a weekend), the greater the likelihood, it seems, for friction or an altercation. read more

This a great dog park. There are always tons of dogs looking to make friends, and the owners are good about picking up poo and breaking up fights. There is a 20lbs and under for the small dogs, but my 18lbs frenchie plays in big dog land. You DO need a permit to play here. So if you don't have one get one from Bethesda as its pricey if you get a fine. Minus one star for the ground being 100% mulch and everything looking like poo- got to watch your feet. read more

Always alot of dogs here. Sides are separated for big and small dogs. Only thing that sucks is it's so muddy here. So be prepared to give your dog a bath when you get home read more

This is an awesome dog park. I also like the Shirlington Dog Park but this one has several advantages: there is a thick layer of chips that is replaced on a regular basis, the water bowls are self-draining (which helps keep the water fresh), the folks there will call-out dogs that are getting too aggressive, and the kids and dogs love the rock sculptures. There are separate fenced areas for big dogs and small dogs, although the big dogs area is much busier. My dog has picked up ticks from patrolling the fenceline. I take away a star because the Montgomery County website states that only Montgomery County licensed dogs are permitted, I think effective September 2010. I haven't tried to return, so I cannot verify that this has been enforced. My dog is liscensed with the City of Rockville, which is located in Montgomery County but is a different government agency and therefore not transferrable. Very disappointing. read more

I recently moved here from the Midwest and was expecting much more out of this park from reading all of the reviews. It's okay. Well taken care of and clean. But, my dog and I aren't really into the wood chips and rocks set up. I have a small dog that likes to run and play chase. But, almost every time we have gone there the other dogs seem more intent on sniffing the pee on the the rocks than playing. And if your dog poops while you are there, good luck finding it to pick it up. The brown wood chips camouflage it! I love how it's located inside of a larger park with walking trails. When the dog park gets boring or too aggressive, we just go for a long nature walk through the trees. Maybe we were just spoiled with or former park. But, I'll be sad if this park is really the best dog park in the DC area. We'll keep going, though. It's close to our house and gives the puppers a chance to socialize. read more

Nice dog park, and typically nice people. Problem is it's a cesspool of sickness. Make sure your dogs have all of their vaccinations, which still won't guarantee anything, but might save his / her life. Had a really bad experience recently. My dog drank water from a hole that had filled in right in the middle of the park, along with a few other dogs. 24 hours later he became extremely ill. Vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite. A $500 vet visit later, he's on the mend... I hope the other dogs who drank from it are ok. Be mindful that in addition to the cesspool, sick dogs do go there. Watch out for Giardia, parvo, etc. read more

The park seems cool, if a bit muddy. There's a rock mound for the small dogs to climb on and run through. Will go back when "Beta" isn't there. Watch out for Beta and her mom. Beta looks like a large breed puppy and "plays" by grabbing throats and pinning other dogs to the ground. Beta's mom doesn't watch her or clean up after her. read more

Awesome park that offers a large space for both small and big dogs. Separate areas for both based on weight and there's an extra gate on the outside for double duty protection. We noticed everyone coming in and out of the areas was aware of other dogs and make an effort to make sure the curious doggies didn't slip out when entering or exiting. They had water and free poopie bags which is really generous. The area itself isn't just random gates land but had neato rock structures and was really deep for those pups who like to run their hearts out. Free parking and all the perks of a well kept park. read more

This is a great dog park. My English Setter is a hunter and has lots of energy. The large dog section is huge and Max was able to race around the perimeter at his top speed. He loved it as he is not allowed off leash on our walks because he'd be gone. He thoroughly tired himself out and love the freedom to run. The space is clean with mulch on the ground--there are rocks for the dogs to climb on and fresh water available. On today's visit there was one dog who was a little agressive but his owner took him away as soon as it appeared to be a problem. We will definitely be back. I only wish there was a park like this in Silver Spring. read more

My dog loves coming to this park! He is a friendly little pomeranian and he plays on the small dog side. It is a nice set up with the extra catch gate outside of the two sides. One time when we were here an elderly lady and her helper took a long time opening the gate and walking out, and in that time my curious dog walked right out with them, but because of the catch gate, he was just fine :) There is water for the dogs which is great! The owners here have always been attentive to their dogs which I appreciate. I have never seen any aggresive dogs here. This is a great park! read more

Nice dog park w/ friendly people. I used to go to Heurich Dog Park, but Cabin John is a relaxing pleasure because the problems I had at Heurich are absent here -- mainly pitbulls and other breeds that owners can't control. People here control their dogs. Unlike Heurich, I've never seen one dog fight. What can I say ...? Montgomery County == polite people, polite dogs. It's relaxing, and I really enjoy spending time there. BTW, do NOT wear "good" shoes. There's no grass, and the 4 or 5 times I've been there, it was muddy and mulchy. read more