Ambience: Downs Park is one of those hidden gems that feels like a deep breath. It's spacious, peaceful, and full of variety. Whether you want to walk along the waterfront, sit on a bench with a view, or just let the breeze hit your face while your kids play. It has a little bit of everything. I've been here at least 5-7 times and still haven't explored it all! Playground: There's something for every age group from a sweet tot lot for the little ones to a multi-level climbing structure with twisty slides that kept my oldest busy for a while. There are swings, a merry-go-round, and plenty of open space to run around or play. Scenic Walks & Waterfront: We usually park near the visitor center (convenient and close to everything!) and stroll down to the pier or relax on the benches with that peaceful waterfront view. You'll find grassy picnic spots, a pier with folks fishing, and even a small beach and separate dog beach. The trails are partly shaded and the breeze coming off the water makes it feel extra calming. Stroller-Friendly: Yes, it's stroller-friendly! The trails are paved, but heads-up: it's not totally flat there are some hills. Still, it's very walkable and manageable with a stroller. Great for littles who need a nap or just want a ride. Extras: Bathrooms are located inside the visitor center, and there's a quiet garden area called Mary's Garden if you need a tranquil reset. I've always had friendly experiences with the park staff when entering and asking questions. Parking is $6 per car and there's usually plenty of space, especially if you don't mind walking a bit. Why I Love It: This park has become one of my go-to spots when we need a peaceful outing. Between the water views, the open space, and the mix of kid-friendly and adult-friendly features, it's just easy to love. Perfect for picnics, gentle mornings, or letting your thoughts wander while the kids play. read more

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This dog beach is smaller than the one in Annapolis, but still is nice. I came here on Memorial Day and there was quite a lot of dogs. The dog beach rules are pretty much the same as with any other dog beach. Children under six years old must be accompanied by an adult. No human or dog food allowed on the beach. Humans aren't allowed to swim in the water. And of course, no aggressive dogs. I do wish there was a wash station either at the beach or nearby, which would be very convenient to both human and dog. read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Dog Beach Rules - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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This park is truly a hidden gem--the views of the water are absolutely beautiful, and it's a peaceful spot to spend the day. It's clearly well cared for, and if you're just looking to take a walk, have a picnic, or enjoy nature, it's hard to beat. However, as someone who rented one of their pavilions for my son's graduation party, I did run into a few frustrations that are worth mentioning. While I completely understand the need for some basic rules, it felt a bit excessive not to be allowed to play music or have any alcohol, especially since the pavilion we rented was pretty secluded from the main areas. If you're offering spaces for people to celebrate big milestones, I believe there should be a little more flexibility for things like background music or toasts. There were also restrictions on how we could hang decorations, which made set-up a bit tricky. Having some pre-installed hooks or hangers could really help make decorating easier without causing any damage to the space. Overall, the park itself is stunning, and I'm grateful we had such a beautiful setting for the party. But if you're planning a celebration here, just be prepared for some strict rules that might affect how you envision your event. read more

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We took our dog to Downs Park Dog Beach for the 1st time today and had a good time. He usually doesn't like water, but he was brave and waded around! He enjoyed himself and the other dog owners were watching their dogs carefully, so we were at ease. You walk through a fence down to the beach. It is small (see pics) but we appreciated that we could see everything happening. A few areas for improvement: -Have a rinsing station near the dog beach. We found out there is a hose/spigot outside the visitor center, so we will use that next time, but would be nice to have one right as you get out of the beach. -Fence off the right side of the park in the water. Our dog considered swimming away but came back. Having a fence would help prevent this. The rest of the park has lovely paved trails and bay views so you can do other things besides the beach (we weren't sure he would want to go in the water). And there are clean bathrooms. Overall, worth the $6 admission fee and we'll go back again! read more

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What a lovely park! Water that sparkles like blue topaz, beautifully kept ground, quietness that I don't experience often in DC?! Plus friendly polite people?! What not to love at Downs Park? How did I not know about this gem for the nearly 2 decades I've lived in this state?! I was blown away by the quietness and the lovely scenery here upon arrival. I was able to enjoy and walk with my dogs without bikers and mobs of runners passing by. A lot of regional parks in my area feels like there's Boston Marathon of sort going on just to walk through the trails. NOT HERE! It has close to 7 miles of beautifully maintained wooded trails that also allows for the ocean view for parts of it. The park also has a dog beach with fences around it. It is a bit smaller compared to Quiet Waters Dog Beach but it offered a beautiful view regardless. Another great feature that I really enjoyed was the friendly folks walking their dogs or with family. I appreciated people being conscientious about social distancing without the awkward pause, stares, and odd waltz we sometimes have to do in the narrow streets and trails of DC parks. I forgot what it's like to actually have ENOUGH spaces to walk in a park and be able to exchange quick pleasantries during passing. I visited in the morning hours and my oh my. I had no idea how much I actually enjoy sitting on the bench by the Chesapeake Bay, and all I hear is the waves clashing and my dogs happily panting. The parking area also has bathrooms, fishing pier, boat pier, scenic overlook benches and a small theater. Although it's $6/vehicle for entry, you can get an annual pass, or senior citizens pass for a discount and/or enter for free with a military ID. All in all, I can't recommend this beautiful park enough! read more

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It's located within the park with a cute little beach area ! A little small but it's fenced in so no worries letting your pooch go and just have fun! Some shade and a bench and a long driftwood to sit on as well. Your dog will definitely have fun! Just go! We'll certainly go back and take advantage of the hiking trails and bring a picnic with us. read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Frolicking on the water - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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Took my frenchie here for her first water experience. The sign at the first parking lot says the dog beach is to the right, so we parked there. However, we soon discovered after continuing to walk and follow signs, that the dog beach is closer to the second parking lot and I wish we'd parked there instead. Once we found it, it was easy to get into, but could stand to be bigger. There were at least 12 other dogs as well as their owners, and most of the owners were in pairs. If we go another day, we will stay longer and do more walking around the park. We really only went for the dog beach and $6 per car isn't a bad price to pay when you're also supporting the parks. read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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My daughter and I were able to explore Downs Park during the free entrance with a library card week; the park is a very large space, full of paved trails, pavilions, playgrounds, and park benches to enjoy bay views. There is a garden area to wander through, as well as a small off beaten path that leads to an aviary and an open field. The majority of the part focuses on lounging by sitting on the water compared to being an active park with activities, hikes, or trails. There is also a dog park (though on the smaller side) While it was a nice few hour experience to sit on the water with baby-I wouldn't frequently visit, as there wasn't a lot to do- nothing really draws me to the park as beautiful must go again (especially with a $6 admission fee) read more

Small, but perfect place for dogs to be able to splash around in the water. The area was clean, and all the dogs were well behaved. Was worth the hour and a half trip we took to get there! read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

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Downs Memorial Park (3.5 miles) So much fun! We biked a short 3.5 miles around Downs Memorial Park Trail($6 per car to enter). The park had a very small amount of hills. It was mostly flat or downhill. This park has beautiful views of the water, tons of shade, and fresh air along the trail . This is a very quiet trail with bikers, walkers, and runners. Take your time and enjoy the serenity. We took our bikes to the dog beach located along the trail . There were only 2 dogs there. They were so cute. We were able to social distance from the 2 dog owners but eventually they left... leaving us to have our own private beach experience. There's no swimming in the water. We just played and relaxed in/near the water . It was amazing . The dog beach is fenced in so you don't have to worry about your dog running away in the park. The beach, however, is not fenced in so you will have to watch your dog to make sure they do not go out too far while swimming. I will say that the few dogs that were there naturally stayed in the shallow portion of the beach near the shore. The beach does have a few random toys for the dogs to play with such as frisbees and tennis balls. FYI: the beach is very small but there are a few places to sit or bring your beach blanket. I would recommend bringing swim shoes for obviously reasons such as possible poop and rocks . Also, I've heard that their are several issues with ticks in this area. Be sure to bring bug spray and check your doggies for ticks. read more

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Cute little dog beach off the side of the park. Well maintained, no garbage seen. The water was very blue when we went. Park entrance via car was $7-8. It is busy during summer peak but empty on the off season. read more

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Downs Park & Dog Park is a great local spot. I mainly came to spend time on the doggie beach, as my dog is a #1 fan of the sand and salt water. Normally we take her to a spot om the Jersey shore. It was our first time at Downs, and we weren't entirely sure what to expect. The Park is full of paved trails, pavillions, and great bay views. There is a large stage for events and venues for special occasions on the premises as well. The park is more of a lounging, bbq-ing, family day outing type place, rather than one for hiking or beach-ing. Quite a few people seem to take out their kayaks and boats on the water. The Dog Beach is SMALL-- like only enough room for no more than 2-3 large dogs to run around and play type of small. That day, it was very crowded, and we felt pretty uncomfortable given the pandemic, so we waited until the crowd lessened. Additionally, dogs often venture past the gated enclosure, and there were several runaways (although were later returned safely). The whole area seemed ill-designed and thought out. I wish it were bigger. We only ended up staying for 5-10 mins before it got too crowded again. Maybe we'll try it out again one day! read more

Perfect waterfront escape for the furbabies. They have a relief area along the fence, sand for fetch and waterline for swimming. You can easily teach/guide your dog how to swim here--bring your water shoes! read more

How have I not written a review for Downs Park? We buy yearly passes, which for Anne Arundel County residents are $40. In less than 6 trips the pass pays for itself and includes Downs, Fort Smallwood (Pasadena), Quiet Waters (Annapolis), and Kinderfarm (Millersville). Fort Smallwood has a public beach, but the beach area is usually crowded on hot days. There are some walking trails, basketball hoops, playgrounds, a boat launch, fishing, and picnic tables. The park is generally clean but can be quite chaotic at times. Quiet Waters has summer concerts, a small kayak launch area (bit of a hike), butterfly gardens, and a dog park. If I'm being honest, Fort Smallwood and Quiet Waters are the two I go to least. Kinderfarm has a great playground, animals (goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, cows, ducks, pigs, etc.) and a nice walking loop. There's frisbee golf, some horse riding trails (I think), athletic fields, and a small pond for fishing (catch and release). Downs is probably my favorite out of the four. It offers a great views of the Chesapeake, a dog beach, nice playground, a basketball court, gardens, and tons of walking trails- paved and unpaved. Across from the main entrance is the "North side" of the park, which has more trails, a basketball court, and kayak launch. You can access it by asking the person at the front entrance to open the gate to the other side or parking near the dog beach and walking over on the wooden bridge. The only down side to the park is they turn off water to the faucets, meaning you might be walking, stop for a drink or to refill your water bottle and you're out of luck. I get that they can't keep them on all year long, but when it's almost 80 degrees in September/October and the water is turned off, that seems read more

This is one of my favorite local parks and will soon be one of yours too! Yes, there is a $6 entrance fee, but the scenery and atmosphere of Downs Park is simply the best. It provides an absolutely stunning view of the Chesapeake Bay, with many benches by the water to watch the waves and reach inner peace in. The perfect place for picnics as well, with shady areas, a garden, and various trails to wander around in after snacking on a charcuterie board. If you are more of a meal person, they also have grills and tables for your convenience. Come here as soon possible--- You're missing out!!! And did I mention the breathtaking pictures you'll get here? read more

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Very nice park! Great views of the bay. The park offers great trails that are shaded. There is a dog beach park for dogs to enjoy the bay. Plenty of parking and places to enjoy the park. I love going to walk, ride my bike, sit and enjoy the views, and read. read more

We had a good time visiting the dog beach portion of the park. Most of the dogs were very friendly and our boy had a blast. The beach is quite literally covered with rocks and sticks so it was very uncomfortable to walk around on. I even cut the bottom of my foot on a rock. The fencing definitely needs repaired, but thankfully our dog didn't try to run off. Would probably visit again, but disappointed in the condition of the beach. read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

My daughter had her wedding at Mothers Garden here. While it is very beautiful and peaceful dealing with the park was quite difficult. We were given bad information at every turn. The worst being after being told they had speakers in the outdoor area my daughter was told they did not have speakers or speaker hook up and that we would have to bring our own sound system. So we did. Two speakers connected to a lap top. Set to play music as the bride walked down the aisle. After it was all set up and the system was tested we were told we could not play music in the park. I can not tell you how livid I was to hear that. However after speaking with someone in the office it was allowed. So my suggestion is if you choose to have a wedding here double check all information and get as much as you can in writing. :) read more

Beautiful spot on the Chesapeake! The dog portion of the beach was tiny. Not really too much room for lots of dogs off leash on the weekend. I have an American Pitbull Terrier and a Stafforshire terrier and the looks we got when we opened the gate we're astonishing. So instead of putting everyone- my pups included on edge; we found our own little spot and had the dogs enjoy the beach in our own private inlet. Next time we'll try Lake Anna. read more

Love this spot! Hubby enjoys and Toffee loves the dog beach. This park has beautiful views of the Magothy. Many trails, playground, and clean restrooms. read more

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Small little dog beach most of the time dog are pretty friendly. If ur dog is aggressive or dog selective pls leave them at home and don't ruin the fun for everyone else! read more

This review is for the doggy beach. Not sure why this park has such average/bad reviews, it's honestly beautiful, huge, and the doggy beach is pawesome (see what I did there?). We have a 7 month old puppy that we've been dying to take to a beach, and it hadn't occurred to me to look in nearby Maryland (we live in DC). I'd been pestering my husband to pick a weekend to go to Dewey or Rehoboth, when a neighbor (and mom to my puppy's best furfriend) suggested we take a day trip to this park. Well, what a great idea that was!!!! We went this past Saturday, about an hour and a half (or so) drive from DC. It costs $6 per car to get in, and then once inside the place is huge. The doggy beach isn't very big but man, is it fun!!! It's fenced in, which is obviously necessary for dogs, and there's a small, but very good little stretch of beach. We spent about 2 and a half hours there! There were lots of dogs but not SO many that it wasn't fun. All dogs there played very well together, shared their toys, and overall everyone had a blast. I definitely want to go back this summer. My dog LOVED it, it was his first time swimming and he was really into it, we were so glad!! We came with 3 other dogs and their owners, so 4 dogs total, and it was just an awesome time. After all the dogs had swam till their hearts desire (one didn't swim, he preferred digging holes in the sand, which we then covered, don't worry), we had a little picnic at some nearby shaded picnic tables. Oh, they also have a hose where you can attempt to clean your dog post sandy beachy mess (we tried but our pup is a goldendoodle, and no chance a little hose action will get rid of the sand embedded in his fluffy hair!). All in all this park is lovely and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a doggy beach. read more

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Took my engagement photos here. They turned out beautiful. So many beautiful areas to take pictures. Trees, flowers, beach... etc I will def be back to enjoy a picnic once the weather heats up. Playground for the kids. Military get in free. :) read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

Bottom Line: Downs Park is a beautiful county park located along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay that offers something for visitors of all ages and capabilities. Downs Park, run by the Anne Arundel Department of Recreation & Parks, is a wonderful asset to residents of the county. The park is over 200 acres and truly has something for everyone. My favorite park of this park is the barred owl tucked away just off a paved path. But, in case you don't think you'd be so smitten with a feathery owl batting her eyelashes at you, there is plenty more to see. Here are some other amenities that make me a huge fan of this park: - Awesome panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay. It's neat to see a mix of large ships and small watercraft making their way to and fro the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. - For the best views of both the bay and the shores of the park, walk out on the fishing pier. Anglers will need a permit but bird watching and picture taking is free. - There is a horned owl and red hawk that keep the barred owl company. These birds of prey are impressive! Watch the squirrels scamper across the top of their enclosure and tease them. (Darn squirrels.) - Whether you are traveling by foot, bike, stroller or wheelchair, the paved paths make it easy to enjoy Anne Arundel County's nature. - Kids will love the fun playground equipment. - Canines get to frolic in the bay at their very own Dog Beach. - Sports enthusiast can launch a kayak, shoot hoops or spike a volleyball. - There are lots of pavilions, complete with grills, that can be rented for private parties. But wait, there's more! Down's Park also has summer concerts. Also, I believe there is a garden that is popular for weddings and a youth camp ground. The price of admission (currently $3 per car but may increase in warmer months to $6) is a bargain for the beauty this park has to offer! read more

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The dog beach deff gets pack but it as a good time. It is a cute park to go to. Beside the dog beach, there is a lot of trails and has a beautiful scenery. I would probably pack snacks and make a day trip out of it. I left after an hour because I was hungry lol it is $6 to get in the park. It is very clean and beautiful there! read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

My dog and I have been searching everywhere for somewhere to unleash and frolic in the summer sunshine. This is the place to do that and more: multiple picnic areas with volleyball courts, plenty of parking and paved woodland walks make it a perfect spot to splash in the Bay or chill under the shade of a tree. We will be regulars read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

One of my favorite parks in MD. It has a great pier, dog beach and walking trails. It's stunning and beautiful. There are enough place to sit and have a picnic or barbecue. Also in the park is a camping area near the entrance. Also, the bathrooms are very neat and clean. Another great thing about the park is that it's not crowded, even on weekends and holidays. And although the park is far from where I live, it's definitely worth the trip. read more

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Beautiful place. Awful staff. Very, VERY rude. Rude to the point that it actually made me want to write a yelp review- which I never do. Good luck if you're ever heading here. read more

My dog loves this beach, but unfortunately it is not completely fenced -- meaning that it is possible for your dog to escape into the main park. When you have a large, enthusiastic dog who loves to chase deer, this is a serious problem. Second problem, the stairs do not have an adequate rail. May not be a problem if you are young and have healthy knees, but if your knees are less than perfect and you need a rail, the flimsy one in place there is unsafe. Parking is more than adequate and the beach isn't usually overcrowded. read more

wanted to bring my two dogs and my paddleboard, was told I could bring my paddleboard, but couldn't get in the water...

This park is always a mini-vacation for me. Every time I walk up the slight incline from the parking lot and see the Bay spreading out before me, my breath is taken away. A wonderful refuge. read more

Downs Park and Dog Beach - An escape from crazy times. - Dog Parks Near Me - Pasadena, Maryland

Love having a place for rolls to bring their dogs to run and play in the water. Located close by.

I came from Baltimore city to see if my dog likes the water. FYI parking is $3, which isn't really that bad, for the amount of stuff there is to do at the park. The dog beach itself, is very small and not very well-maintained. The water wasn't very clean, it may have just been this time of year also so I'm not going to judge it base it on that. Overall, it's a nice park and the beach is okay. Since there's nothing better or closer to the city, most likely come back read more

We have been searching for a place for awhile to take out dogs. Our one loves the water the other hates it. We took them for a doggy "vacation Day" and they loved it. It was also the first time we've ever taken them off their leashes and let them run & play without fear of them running off. Absolutely no way for them to escape the enclosure. The got a nice little walk around the park to dry off after we went to the cleaning station. We are already planning our next visit with them. read more

This was a pretty park in all. The beach portion was not totally fenced in - if we were actually at the beach. It was very difficult to locate to be honest. The park was beautiful and the rangers were helpful but in general it wasn't easy to navigate. read more

We visited the dog beach with our Chihuahua today. There were about 7 other dogs when we arrived. All the owners practiced social distancing. The dogs played well together. The beach was very clean. read more

Beautiful day for a stroll. Not overly crowded. People respectful of social distancing.

My dog had a fabulous time, and slept the whole way home. My only quibble is that the entrance to the dog beach isn't well marked. We eventually found the sign behind some trees. When you enter at the ranger station ($6, singles appreciated) go long until the road dead ends. The lot on the right is slightly closer, but it doesn't make a big difference. Pick up a couple of poop bags by the bathroom to save having to grab them in a hurry later. The dog beach itself is down about 18 stairs, and totally fenced in (except for the water). Big logs around the perimeter to sit on. I don't know what counts as crowded. We were there about 3 hours on a Sunday and there was a rotating cast of about 15 dogs the whole time. Didn't feel crowded to us. Cool mix of dogs, mostly laid back people. Two sweet retrievers helped teach my dog how to swim in the bay and not be afraid of waves. Another old dog just made the rounds getting scratches from everyone. One guy brought a bunch of "very expensive" dog toys and then got grumpy when other dogs would touch them. Don't be that guy. We're planning on going back next weekend. This time I'm bringing sunscreen, water for me, a couple of towels for the car (oops), and a full phone battery so I can take more pictures. read more

Bae and I took our baby girl to Down's over Labor day after Ally T went and LOVED it. It was only about 50 minutes from our house which was nice. The park in general is super cute. Tons of families picnicking, riding bikes, kayaking. Feels like you are so far from civilization! The dog park is tucked back on the north side of the park, a little bit of a walk from the parking lots. The beach is ok sized, not huge but not small. At one point on our trip there were about 30 dogs down there, which was too many IMO. But its super cute to see the retriever type dogs swimming out the fetch tennis balls, and other dogs just playing in the sand. Our pup didn't LOVE the ocean (shes smallish and the waves kinda overwhelmed her) and was a little standoffish in general, but I think she enjoyed herself. I will say that there were probably 3 people who kept their dogs on leashes which was honestly so perplexing to me. It created a somewhat dangerous situation with dogs running all around and getting caught in the leashes. Why come, ya know? Also, someone legit brought their toddler and was soooo into taking pics of the toddler near the dogs. Ummm really? you have no idea how these stranger dogs are going to act towards your kid. Also, these dogs get rough with each other, chasing each other around, wrestling, its just not a good environment for the kiddos! In summary, keep leashes and children away! LOL read more

Downs is a great park with lots of paved trails to walk, run and bike on. They run through the woods and provide shade for those that like it. The dog beach is a lot of fun for your four legged friends, but just make sure your dog is friendly with a bunch of other dogs before you go. The area is enclosed by a fence and is pretty small, think less than 50 yards long. So when it's busy there are a lot of dogs everywhere and a fight can breakout quickly if your dog doesn't get along with all types of other dogs. read more