This area of the South Mountain Reservation has a Dog park with art installation garden. The Wildflower Sculpture Park was closed when we visited. Free dog park. Parking lot on site. read more

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A* dog park located in the South Mountain reservation, this is split into a small dog park and a large dog park, the large dog park allows all dogs. Both sides have water available for the dogs and a number of different obstacles for them to run around on off-leash and areas to drink, but also some random puddles. Owners have to keep an eye on their dogs, so even if they are social sometimes they can fight. Almost all the dogs I've met here have been pretty nice though. Lot of bugs at the edges, though, especially in the muddy areas, and I killed a tick I saw, too, so you have to be careful. Parking can get quite busy at peak times. read more

South Mountain Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

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There are a lot of things to like about South Mountain Dog Park. I especially like the dedicated dog drinking fountain and spigot with a hose attachment. Dogs can wear themselves out chasing each other in the large enclosures. They have a large dog enclosure (25lbs+) and a small dog enclosure. The small enclosure has pea peebles which cuts down on the mud and does not puddle. The large dog enclosure has some grass and dirt areas. Both enslosures have ample areas where the dogs can run with jumping platforms and obstacles. The park has trees lining the perimeter which aford shade and some benches for the owners to rest on. During the week you will see a lot of dog walkers (aka dog cartakers). If you put dogs together in a given area a lot of bad things can happen. Fortunately, I have never witnessed any bad events. They do have a time-out cage but I have not seen that used either. What I have seen is a lot of responsible dog owners. Adjacent to the park is a sculpture park and wildflower field. Iparticularly like the trails in the South Mountain Reservation. They are well marked and you and your dog can comfortably walk or run together. read more

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Best dog park around! I travel from Jersey City to go here in the mornings about three times a week with my pup and the dogs are great. They don't play too rough and when they do, the owners do intervene. All of the owners that I have met are responsible, Kees and eye out for their dog, and cleans up immediately afterwards. In terms of amenities, the water fountain, pool and agility equipment are great fun. There is also ample shade for the dogs and owners. The only down side is that big dog owners frequently bring their dogs to the small dog side. As someone with a 10lb dog, I'm always worried about the big labs and golden retrievers being too rough with her. We even had one lady's doodle get too rambunctious playing with my dog and the lady told her dog to go play with the bigger dogs in the small dog side. If you need to tell your dog to go play with bigger dogs, perhaps go to the large dog side. I wish people entered the appropriate enclosure but besides that, I love brining my dog here and she also has a great time! read more

First time taking my dogs here and I can say we had a great experience! My dogs enjoyed their time . I love how it's very gated and you don't have to worry about your dogs taking off . The park is very big and nice . Definitely will be going back read more

We go several times a week for exercise, and there is generally a group of regulars from the area, so the dogs know each other and make friends. I prefer to go at the quieter times of the day. It's so helpful to have the access to the dog park but also the hiking trails, which my pup loves. read more

Awesome dog park that I highly recommend! It is clean and has plenty of space and bags to use, too. The runs are spacious enough so that dogs can step out of the action and step back in whenever they want! Definitely abide by the Large and Small Dog sections that the park has set up -- I went for the first time today with my dog (large mixed breed) so we went to the Large Dog area which was totally the right move since the play can get pretty rough when there are a lot of dogs. read more

Fun! Clean. Friendly pets and owners. 2 separate parks for big and small dogs. Lots of free tennis balls for dogs. read more

South Mountain Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

Great dog park! Other friendly owners and pooches for you dog to socialize with. Waste bags available. Exercise equipment for dogs to climb on. Big and small dog areas like most dog parks have. My only complaint is you need to watch the areas that are overgrown with weeds and that accumulate water after a rainstorm, they get muddy. You can find them mostly near the fences. Otherwise this, and the one in Brookdale Park In Montclair are the nicest in the area. read more

This is a pretty awesome dog park. It's nowhere near as big as Echo Lake (where I usually go), but there are four things that I really like about this dog park: 1. All of the dogs seemed to be very laid back / well behaved. 2. Both the small dog area and the regular area seemed to get a decent number of dogs. (At most dog parks I've been to, the small dog area tends to be relegated to being a penalty box for whichever dog gets beat up by the others, like the Nintendo game Blades of Steel.) 3. They actually have little obstacles for the dogs to play on, like little doggy playground equipment. 4. The ground is actually small rocks, as opposed to dirt or grass. That's nice if it has rained recently, or if you brought a ball for your dog. I'll definitely try to bring my little guy by here again. read more

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Looks like a nice dog park and well maintained. Small dog park is closed for renovations. Wonderful trails around to explore

Excellent dog parks (one for smaller and one for larger dogs) inside South Mountain Reservation. Plenty of room for the dogs to run around and some obstacles for them to get additional exercise/agility on. Only issues are the occasional jackasses that leave the gates open or let their kids climb on the obstacles. read more

I'm dropping a star bc it's hell trying to get the park maintained. For example, about a year ago they changed the bag dispensers inside the park. Now inexplicably they can no longer get the bags that fit those dispensers. But they threw the old dispensers away. So no bags. This has been about a year now. I love the dog park but is this really a totally UNSOLVABLE problem?? There is 1 dispenser left from the old days and it sometimes has bags in it--but it is OUTSIDE the enclosure. Oi. Vey. See photos. read more

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Awesome park in the middle of the forest. Plenty of room to run around in. Plenty of bags to use. Dogs seem to be very friendly. There are lots of balls all over the place and gym equipment for the dogs. Excellent park! Lots of thought went into this park. If you have the opportunity to bring Fido here, you'll be well rewarded read more

South Mountain Dog Park - Plenty of waste stations for our furry friends - Dog Parks Near Me - Maplewood, New Jersey

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The South Mountain Reservation dog park is my go to spot where I know my dog will get a safe and stimulating experience. I've never had a bad experience at this park as far as other dogs go. Most irresponsible or inexperienced dog owners do not come here, especially in the winter and during the slow hours (weekdays 10:00-3:00). Speaking of, if you want to go there for the first time, try to take your dog during these hours so that he/ she will be able to explore the area without being overstimulated in a new environment. Special perks: *There are many trails surrounding the area that offer pleasant views of nature and a sense of privacy if you want it. *There is a sculpture park right next to the dog park that is definitely worth a look if you enjoy the arts. *There is also a gated wildflower sanctuary that looks beautiful in the spring and summer time. However, no dogs are allowed in this area! The only problems I've ever had here: *Sometimes the mess bag dispensers are empty, so come prepared and bring your own! *During the winters, the gates to enter the big dog park sometimes freeze shut. read more

One of the best dog parks in Northern New Jersey, that is a model for future dog parks. Things it has going for it: - Separate large and small dog runs - Water in both dog runs (dedicated dog drinking fountain and spigot with hose) - Plenty of shade in both dog runs - Adequate seating - Obstacles for dogs to play on - Poop bags provided in both dog runs - Time out area in both runs - Pea gravel as ground cover - Dedicated parking - Great fencing, gates, entrances and plaza - Nice size dog runs - Leash holder in entry areas for both dog runs - Port-a-potty near parking Things it has going against it: - If anything maybe more seating - Gets a little busy on weekends Like I said earlier this dog park is the model for future dog parks. It has every basic item a great dog park should have. Dog runs/parks I have been to so far: http://www.yelp.com/list/nyc-metro-area-dog-parks-runs-queens read more

Love this place. If you go during the week and before noon you can meet up with the dog walkers and the pups the watch over. My Juniper loves when there's fur friends to play with followed by a nice little hike in the reservation read more

One of the nicest dog parks in the area! The County of Essex did a good job in designing the layout and maintaining the facility. Placed within the South Mountain Reservation, it's surrounded by trees and away from the roadway. Also, the dog owners who come here are pretty responsible and know how to handle their pets in a dog park (you know what I mean if you've ever been forced to pull apart a dog fight caused a canine who unfortunately has not been trained well or has been irresponsibly thrown into a dog mix by its owner even though it has known to act out aggressively). read more

Very spacious and well kept dog park. It gets a little more run down during the winter-- as far as trash cans not being emptied and bags running out, but overall its a great space, some fun things for the dogs to run on and there are sections of grass, gravel and dirt which allows a more real feel for the dogs than a lot of paved dog parks. There are some great trails around the outskirts if you want to walk your dog through the woods-- also super fun. read more

We took our border collie to the park today for some exercise- we had heard a lot of good things about the park. when we got there, we were impressed by its size, and how clean it was. Our dog played with a ball, and did some agility training. We weren't there too long when we heard a lot of growling coming from the entrance. A woman was bringing a pit bull into the yard, and it was acting aggressive toward some of the other dogs. Rather than leaving, she brought the dog in. It was pretty calm for a few minutes, but then it lunged at my dog and bit down on her snout. We yelled at the woman to grab her dog, but all she would say is "I'm pregnant! I'm pregnant!". I was trying to get my dog, and my daughter was in hysterics. My wife called 911, and finally another brave owner came by and pried the pitbull's mouth open with a stick. As soon as the dogs were separated, the pitbull's owner took off as soon as my wife told her the police were coming. We managed to get a picture of her license plate, though. We took my dog to the hospital, where she needed stitches over her eye, on her lip and on one of her legs. We are currently working with the police to try to find this woman. We will never go back to this park. read more

i love this place! i live literally right around the corner from this dog park and i bring my dog here almost every day after work, and atleast 1x during the weekend. they have 2 fenced in areas just like any other dog park: a large dog area and a small dog area. me and my dog go to the large dog area. some things i love about it: -ample poop bags located at the entrance -poop bags are really great quality! poop stink doesnt seep through onto your fingers when u pick up dog poop! -ample amount of trash cans located around the park -dog bowls with a water hose located inside -doggy time out area for those that need it! haha -dog agility structures (my dog doesnt use it, but other dogs love it!) -rock / stone foundation so when you pick up poop, it doesnt smear into the grass (pet peeve of mine, pun intended) -adequately shaded throughout all parts of the day! everyone there is incredibly friendly and obviously is a dog person. i've struck up some great conversations with people there, and since im new to the area, it helps me meet other people from around the area too! the dogs are all very very friendly there. you wont really see any mean or aggressive dogs here! my dog and i run too, and i love that we can stop by the park, let him play and sniff around, and then run some of the trails around the south mountain area. great place for your dog and for you! highly recommended if you live around the area! read more

Talk about a FANCY Dog Park! I've never seen one so beautiful and spacious! Everyone looked really happy to be there, Dogs and Owners. They had so many activities for the Dogs. There were also beautiful sculptures around the area to look at, local artists. Great place! read more

Great place to visit. Dog parks, picnic areas, walking trails some not for dogs. Took my dog to the Small dog area and he really enjoyed it. Gravel base makes for easy clean up. There are watering stations and hoses in case they find some mud. read more

My dog and I recently started going here and it's really a good time. The enclosures are nice and there are trees, agility equipment, gravel, big rocks, and all sorts of different things for the dogs to explore and play on. They even have a "time out" pen for when dogs get too riled up, although I've not seen anyone use it! It's both beautiful to look at with the statue and fancy entrance, and fun for the dogs. My dog always enjoys herself and loves making friends. It's nice to take a break for a walk in the reservation on the trail behind the enclosures too. This park isn't as muddy as some others, although the big dog section is more likely to have puddles and mud. My only criticisms is that a lot of people will bring large dogs--and I mean big Shepherds, Labs, and Pit Bulls, into the small dog section. For some reason people rarely ask them to leave even though the sign clearly says "under 25 lbs". It's one thing if it's just a medium sized dog, but if my pup was a Chihuahua I think I'd be kind of nervous a huge dog might hurt her even by accident. And of course like any dog park there's some people who can't control their dogs or shrug off bad behavior and behave badly themselves. However that's a problem you'll run into anywhere. As far as other dog parks I've seen, it's pretty great! read more

This is an awesome dog park. Perfect location, wonderful pet parents, and the perfect playground for your furry little/big one...

Water fountains, pickup bags and little "agility" course on both sides. Plenty of parking. Nice and clean. There are plenty of trails around the park if you feel like takings hike with your dog instead. Very nice! read more

Really nice dog park. Incredibly spacious. Most dogs are friendly there although there are the occasional people who bring their big dog into the little dog park. read more

This dog park is really nice, I loved it. Benji ran around till his heart content.. He definitely was tired. The other pet parents were pretty nice also, that's always a plus..definitely will be going back especially since I live less than 20 min away. read more

Great dog park! A large variety of dogs and humans. Very clean and friendly. Loved that they offer water for the dogs and agility courses. Bring your own poop bags because they don't have any. read more

TheSouth Mountain dog park is probably the best dog park I've ever been to. There is Kaieteur small dogs and big dogs which I really like too there are a lot of experience dog trainers there and my dog met a lot of friends I would totally recommend everyone to go there it's the best place ever read more

Poorly maintained and park was solely gravel. Was hoping for some grass fenced area for my puppy to run in safely. And safety was not in store for my pup as she was basically attacked but four dogs and owners did nothing to stop their dogs. Never going back there. read more

I grew up in the area and was visiting from MA. found the dog park on Yelp and my pup and I loved it! They had agility equipment in both the large and smaller dog sections that was sized to fit! read more

This is just a truly amazing dog park. I love the obstacles to and make my little guy walk up and down the ramps. It was fun to see you him through the course. I wish I lived closer so I could go more often but I will definitely be back again. read more

I love this park, yet the last time I was there it was me, and a young couple with 2 dogs. My dog is friendly and their dogs started literally mauling my dog. Vet said he was literally 1" from death. It's not the parks fault. Yet unfortunately, we're all at risk from people with dog rings bringing dogs to a park for "practice". Even the state police contacted me. Everyone was very kind. When I was carrying my dog off bloody, I didn't have the wherewithal to copy any information of the other people who were smiling and uninterested in our plight. The park is great...as always, just watch your dog...I watch mine, am not on a phone or chatting...he's my kid:)...I watch yet well...always be careful!! read more

I took my dog here for the first time today, and it was a great experience - the park is separated into big dog/little dog areas, complete with time-out corners, and plenty of doggie doo bags available. The dogs there were very active, but very friendly to my "newcomer" pup - the water fountain is closed for the winter, but folks were generous with sharing water and toys. Will definitely return! read more

Visited the dog park with my son and our two dogs, a husky mix Blizzard and my lap dog Vanna . A very nice park, all the pets and the owners we met were very friendly. There were quite a few dogs in both the small dog park and the big dog park. We didn't want our dogs separated so we stayed in the big dog section which worked fine. We found the poopy bag dispensers, so you definitely want to bring your own. Our dogs had so much fun I would love to move to Maplewood just to be close to it. It was a 40 minute drive today from Bridgewater but it was well worth it. read more