Great place for dogs to run around and take a dip in the cool water. Bring your dogs here to exercise and socialize read more

My dog loved every second. The setup is amazing with high, steep hills serving as a natural fence to keep the dogs corralled. There's plenty of space for the dogs to run and then play in the water. My only heads up - the bridge to the parking lot isn't gated. If your dog gets adventurous, they may end up trying to head that way. read more

Glencarlyn Dog Park - The creek in the park - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great dog park with a mix of flat, wooded hill trails, and a clean stream for the pups to cool off in. Had no bad experiences in all the times there with dog parents really watching after their pups. While it is pretty secluded, it is an unfenced dog park so make sure to have good verbal commands between you and your doggo. read more

Definitely one of the best dog parks I've ever been with Barley. He was able to fun, play, and swim all in one place. We will be return next weekend. Definitely make sure your dog is well socialized for this park. If you pet has a fear of water this may not be the place. But there are plenty of sidewalk place to walk you dog but on leash. read more

See all

So much dogs and fun in the creek and woods for the dogs!! Great socializing too, safe but some dogs aren't always the nicest and can bite your dog. I'm not sure wh read more

Glencarlyn Dog Park - Winston having fun in the creek - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My girlfriend took me here for a hike and it was so adorable to see so many dogs off leash enjoying the park and swimming. I'm glad they have an area for them to be able to be free. Relaxing place as well! read more

Great dog park, that isn't necessarily a fenced in area but a large piece of hillside land with a stream for dogs to play in.

Awesome dog park until my dog got attacked! Watch out for black lab owned by asian dude in his 20s. read more

Great park for big dogs. I have a small dog so it was a little scary for him but I think he enjoyed it. read more

See all

We loved taking our pup to this park, which has an off leash section where dogs can play in the creek! For having so much dog traffic it was clean and nice, the creek having a wide run with different speeds and depths for different pups (it was our girl's first water foray!) All the other owners of the 10ish dogs that came through while we were there on a Saturday afternoon were friendly and responsible, and pup had a great day. read more

Glencarlyn Dog Park is a ways away from where I live, but when the weather isn't too crazy cold, it's such a great place to take your pup. There are certain parts that are considered off leash- there's a cute little pond area where the dogs run around freely. If your dog can't handle being off leash, please keep them leashed- they can run off past the hills and trees, and get lost! I love seeing my dog so happy. He loves this park and for a dog that doesn't really swim, he loves bouncing around in the water. read more

Wonderful park! Nice and shady, and although there aren't real barriers, if you can trust your pup to be off-leash, the dogs mostly play near the cool water. The area sits in a lower area than the rest of the trail, so your dog would have to go pretty far uphill to be out of sight. I've only run into nice, responsible dog owners here as well. A few folks helped me and my social puppy adjust to the park well. We will definitely be going back!! read more

It's a bit tough to find on the map but you'll eventually find it. The dog park area is a bit hard to tell since it's not gated but it's on a small clean creek with shallow water that's perfect for any size of dog! I took my pup there swimming for the first time, and he immediately got used to the water by watching other dogs. I wish the owners can be more responsible by picking up after their dogs. If you have dogs who are super runners, don't worry, because the only way to get out is to cross a small bridge. I haven't seen any problems with my dog and others. read more

Another awesome dog park. A great stream / creek for the dogs to play in. And plenty of just space for them to run around. It's a nice wooded area, so there's a lot of sniff and explore and find. My one big complaint is all the dog poop everywhere. It's a shame that people aren't picking up after their dogs and making things messy for everyone else. And this is the one thing that makes me give this 4 stars instead of 5 stars. It can be a bit tricky to find, but we managed. Take the 2nd entrance and drive down the small path. And just keep on driving past all the parking lots and picnic areas until you literally can't go any further. And then that parking lot is the one closest to the dog area. Everyone there was friendly. All the dogs were well-behaved. My little guy had a total blast. Excellent dog park and worth the drive and hunt to find. read more

What a great place to bring your dog to the dog park is not fenced in so you have to be trusting of your dog not to run! I enjoy bringing Rocco here the water is so much clearer than that the Shirlington dog park there's picnic areas where you can actually grill!!! bathrooms and a playground. read more

See all

Great place to meet new dogs and dog parents! Shallow and deeper areas for all types of dogs.

The dog park is not fenced in but it is a great park with a river for dogs to play in.

We love Glencarlyn Dog Park! It's not fenced, so it's only for dogs that won't run off. It's a large, wooded oasis for your dog to play, and it has a stream to frolic in. The water seems much cleaner than a few miles downstream at Shirlington Dog Park. For more on this and other NOVA dog parks, check out our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4IQVBPdHCY&t=80s Please like and subscribe! read more

I shouldn't be writing this review. I should keep this not so secret place to myself and not share it with anyone. That said, this is one of my favorite places in the DC area. I grew up in NC, and while I don't miss the culture, the accents, or the constant sweet tea references I do miss terribly the state park system and just the nature areas that are offered there. I love DC, I live in Arlington near the Pentagon, and while I love the urban offerings I do sometimes miss sitting in the middle of the woods by a quiet stream. Luckily, while riding my bike along the Four Mile Run trail I found this place. After a long day at work I'll go for a ride and found myself here, sitting on this bench that's situated where another creek joins Four Mile Run. There's a dog park there too where you'll find people with their beloved animals hanging out, often messing around in the creek, and just enjoying the day if it happens to be nice. It's a happy place, and one that I'd keep all to myself if I was a selfish individual, but alas I am not, and so I hope if you're looking for a quiet peaceful place to take a deep breath in to the soothing sounds of water over rocks... then this is the place. read more

I've been biking past this green valley on the W&OD for a long time, and often wondered what was going on down there so on a whim I threw the wife and kids in the car and we decided to find out. The kids immediately joined the many dogs splashing in Four Mile Run. The water was remarkably clear for an urban stream, almost seemed like we were in the mountains. There is also a picnic area, bathrooms and small playground. Getting here by car is a bit tricky. Take Carlin Springs south from 50, turn left on 4th and then meander through a neighborhood staying on 4th until you find the narrow, one lane road that winds down to the parking areas. It is also directly accessible from the W&OD and 4 Mile Run trails. read more

If you have a dog that is friendly and does not go into attack mode as soon as it sees others of its kind, then you should definitely look into bringing your dog here. This place is an amazing dog park. It is definitely the best one that I've been to. There is so much room for you and your dog to do your thing. It's located in a quiet wooded area next to a stream. Every dog that I've seen here looks like they are loving life. A huge plus is that every time I've been here, the other dog owners have all been really friendly and courteous. If you live in the area, do yourself and your dog a favor and check this place out. You will not regret it. Oh and the parking lot is a little tricky to find the first time you're there. Do not turn down the first road that goes into the park. Continue on the next road that looks like it is going down into the park area. The road is right before a dead end and another small gravel parking lot that overlooks the road leading to the dog park. You'll then continue down this one lane looking road until you can drive no further. There, you will find yourself in the parking lot closest to the dog park. read more

Best dog park in the DC area in my opinion. This dog park is basically a off-leash walk in the woods with your dog. There's a creek for your dog to play in, and plenty of room to run around. The best part is that its a relative secret right now. It may just be that its location is off the beaten path (literally), but theres never a crowd. Negatives include no fence, and its very rocky. The open dog park area is quite large, and it is surrounded by a creek (which is good for keeping dogs contained) and a hill with walking paths. Any wanderlust-y dog like my beagle will probably try to explore the woods and trails and you may have a hard time getting him or her to come back. Second, because its in the woods and near a creek the place is littered with rather large rocks. Small dogs may have problems running around near the water especially; slipping on the rocks. read more

Wonderful park!. Lovely dogs. Great for off leash exercise and getting your dogs feet a bit wet.

Highly recommend this as a dog park. It is quiet, somewhat tucked away, and an awesome pooch paradise. Sort of hard to get to but even if you park in the wrong place like we did the hike to get to the dog area is pleasant. Slight warning - last time we were there our dog had an encounter with an angry raccoon who seemed to wake up from its slumber to hiss try to bite dogs. read more

This park is a good alternative to Shirlington Dog Park when you want more peace and quiet and cleaner water. There is a section with a large waterfall so be careful with your dogs in that area. There is also broken glass thanks to some idiots who leave their trash next to the water so also be aware of that. Otherwise, it's a very nice area to sit and some rocks and throw sticks for your dogs to chase. You can also park near the Park Glen condos and just walk onto the trail from there. read more

See all

Love this place. Difficult to find at first, but once you get there, it's an amazing park set away from busy roads and in the back of a neighborhood. The park has no fence, so your dog will have the opportunity to run around into the trees as if you are on a hike. The park is separated from the bike/walking path and the small parking lot by a creek. Patrons supply grocery bags for poop scooping. I prefer this park to the fenced in parks as it allows my cattle dog mix to run and explore the wooded area and play with other dogs in the same place. read more

Great dog park! Hidden gem! We went for my doodle's 4th birthday and he had a blast swimming and chasing his ball in the creek! Lots of room for your dog to run off leash :) read more

I went to this park in hopes to have a lot of fun with some other dogs, but no one was there! Maybe it's only populated on the weekends? I went on a Wednesday between 6pm and 7pm... empty. There is no fence so I am not sure it's the best spot... but the creek looks cool. It's deep in the woods... but you can drive down to the parking lot. Be careful though! Narrow drive. Not my favorite... but pretty. I'd rather go to Shirlington one. :/ read more

Visited this place and it was awesome to have a place where your dogs could play in the water. Full of stones and rocks so dress accordingly. It would be nice to have poop bags and a trash can since it's a dog park but otherwise a wonderful park for for you and your dogs for a little dip in the creek. read more

This is truly a wonderful place to take your dogs. There's a little bit of everything - trails to wander into the woods, squirrels to chase up trees, a creek for some wading and a clearing to throw the ball. Plus, easy close parking. There are NOT poop bags so please be a dear and bring some along. I've never seen more than a handful of dogs there at a time which I prefer because it stays a bit calmer. read more

Glencarlyn Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

If you can find this hidden gem your dog will thank you! It's tucked away just off the 50 and there's ample room for your dog to run through the trees and splash through the creek. Beware, there is no fence so make sure ahead of time that your dog has mastered "come" and isn't a flight risk. Lots of squirrels and things to chase and bark at. There is a designated dog area across a small wooden bridge, there are some signs that will tell you where this area begins though there's nothing keeping the dog in that area. Again, be sure your dog is well trained before coming here. read more

The best dog park in the area for sure! It is not fenced, so only dogs that have been trained and have a solid recall are here. Lots of hills to hike and a nice stream if your pup likes the water. read more

It's a little tricky to find this place but once you do you and your doggies will be so happy! It's not much of a swimming destination, but the dogs can splash around and play to their heart's content. The nice part for the humans is that the park is in the woods so it is shaded. Even on a 90 degree day it is comfortable at Glencaryn. As a bonus, when the dogs are done playing in the water you can spend some time walking on the paved trails to dry them off before getting back in the car. I just wish the road down to the park wasn't so sketchy! (i.e. You spend the whole time praying that another car doesn't come along!) read more

Ok,, so the best way to get here is to take the narrow service road from S Harrison St and 3rd St S. Go down the hill, then veer left at the fork at the bottom of the hill. There is a parking area there. Then the dog park is on the right, on the other side of the creek. That is the off leash area. There is a beach and stream for the dogs to wade in or they can go up the ridge through the trails through the woods. I give this park only 4/5 because it is tough to find and the dog park is not fenced in - just open woods. read more

Great dog park- Two years, no issues - Then this year few bad apple owners, who have either not trained their dogs or dogs are inherently aggressive, to the point where in 2 days there were 3 dog fights. Aggressive dogs, literally went for the throat, in one case biting owner trying to pull them apart. The next day, another dog attacked a puppy , pup is on ground crying. Ten minutes later, another large dog, 70 lbs or so, attacks a 10 lb dog, 10 lb runs for safety, get chased and large dog on top of it. Not playing, but?? These owners have to take the poor dogs to different venue for their exercise. They cannot help it, they were bred that way. NOt going back. Hopefully, if this happens again, someone will call park ranger/police. read more

This isn't a dog park at all. The stream is nice, but if you want to take your dog swimming and socializing, Shirlington is MUCH better. There is no fence, so dogs can run anywhere, no fresh water (besides the stream - who knows whats in it), nowhere to sit, and practically no one else there. It's more for hiking off leash, if that's what you're going for. read more

LOVE this park. I was nervous about bringing my dogs to an "unfenced dog park," but it is located in a pretty secluded area and there is usually enough excitement near the water to keep the dogs from wanting to run up into the hills. We tend to spend most of our time in the water, but there is also a flat dirt/sand area where many other dogs run/play fetch, and we have explored some of the trails nearby. It's a nice escape from the city. If your dog has solid recall and doesn't stray too far, you'll love it. If your dog is a big explorer, there are plenty of trails you can hike (on leash if you prefer) or head for one of the other dog parks in the area that is fenced in. From what we've seen, people here are more attentive to their dogs than other parks in the area. I suppose the people that are willing to hike and splash around with their dogs are more involved and generally not the type to plop down on a park bench and read/get on their phone/not watch their dog. Only semi-downside - there is no water fountain here. We try to bring our own water bowl, since we prefer the dogs not drink ALL of the creek water. read more

Once you find the actual dog park portion of the park, it's awesome. As others have said, don't go down the first entrance road that your GPS will direct you to. Use the second "road" (paved, but more like a goat path) and follow it all the way to the end. That's where the dog park is and that's where you'll find the ONLY sign in the entire park indicating that there even is a dog park there. They need signs elsewhere in the park with arrows pointing towards the Dog Park area. One of the rules on the dog park sign says "Leash your dog before leaving the fenced area". There IS NO FENCE in ANY park of the entire park, so what does that mean? I think the intent is that your dog should only be off leash in the actual dog park area but since there's no clear guidance, there were a lot of dogs off leash in other areas of the park and that could lead to problems as there are a lot of bikers whizzing around. We went on a Friday and there were about 8 dogs there. I think that's a good number, so we'll probably make this our every Friday park during the summer. I'm sure it's much busier on weekends and I can't imaging trying to make it down or back up the one-lane road when it's crowded. read more

Love this place for my dog. He loves running through the trees after a ball and splashing in the water. Recommend your dog have good recall to come here since there is no fence. read more

It's a very nice dog park but the open concept does not work for my dog. The creek is lovely and most of the dogs and owners are friendly. Because it's adjacent to a picnic area and the bike path there are restroom facilities. Undortunately my dog is too distracted at this park to remember to pay attention to "come"! read more