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Philadelphia Dog Owners’ Guide to Timber Creek Dog Park
- Carrie Maria
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
A few weeks ago we headed over to Timber Creek Dog Park in Blackwood, NJ with our dog, Tui. We haven't been in a few years as our late dog (Jax) aged, but we knew that Tui was ready for the magic: 9 acres of fenced-in, wooded trails where pups can run off-leash, plus a sprawling 128-acre park surrounding it. A mere 22 minutes from our house in South Philly, makes driving to Timber Creek only a marginally larger time investment than going to a local dog park (which takes us 10-15 minutes to walk to.)
From the moment we parked, we knew it was a good decision. (And there was a coffee truck parked at the entrance to the trails for the sleepy humans in search of their caffeine fix!) As soon as we unclipped Tui's leash inside the gates, he was off — darting through the trees, digging holes, and finding sticks to munch on. It is a wonderful place for dogs to safely roam and socialize off-leash in a woodsy-setting. It's also a great place to work on recall skills. We brought treats with us to work on his recall in a high-distraction, yet safe setting.
A Little History
Timber Creek Park wasn’t always a haven for pups. Before Camden County bought the land in 2003, it was known locally as “Slim’s Ranch,” a horse farm tucked into the Timber Creek watershed. The county transformed it into a public park, keeping much of the natural woodland intact.
Today, Timber Creek is more than just a dog park. The larger property has paved and unpaved trails, picnic pavilions, a playground, and even a small amphitheater. We hit up the playground and bathroom with our daughter after our wooded romp. (And an ice cream truck visited while we were there. Ice cream AND coffee trucks? Yes please!)
Along the creek and pond, you’ll find herons, egrets, turtles, and the occasional osprey circling overhead. It’s a nice reminder that we’re sharing this green space with plenty of wild neighbors.
Trails, Trees, and Happy Pups
What sets Timber Creek apart is its wooded, fenced dog area. Instead of the usual open space "dog park" that many of us are used to, this park feels like a mini-hike designed for dogs: twisting trails, plenty of shade, and little hills and logs to scramble up and down. It's SO large you forget you're actually secure behind a fence. We saw groups of dogs playing chase and others sticking close to their humans. There were probably 50+ dogs in the enclosure (hard to tell really!) but it never felt crowded. There were times we couldn't even see another dog!
You can also leave the fenced in area and head to criss-crossing trails and the "dog pond." Expect to see LOTS of dogs on these trails, some leashed and some off-leash. If your pup struggles with off-leash greetings, be ready to call out to other owners to leash their dogs. (We found that outside the fence, about 25% of the dogs were off-leash.)
About That Pond…
One thing worth mentioning is the pond. (It is in the park, but outside of the 9 acre enclosure.) While it looks inviting — especially on hot days — it has had some harmful algal blooms in recent years. When we visited a few weeks ago (September 2025), there were posted warnings about toxic blue-green algae found in the water. These blooms can make dogs really sick if they drink or swim in it. When we visited, we kept Tui (and our daughter) well away from the water just to be safe. If you go, it’s a good idea to check for posted signs on the trees around the pond. (They were very visible and hard to miss.) We have been to the dog pond in past years and were bummed Tui couldn't experience it this time. (Maybe next trip! Pictured are our late dogs, Jax and Lola, splashing around with other pups.)
Final Thoughts
Timber Creek Dog Park is the kind of place you can easily spend a whole morning. The trails are shady and peaceful, the dogs have room to run, and there’s a sense of community among the regulars who come here. (You could tell that some folks knew each other as they clustered around some folding chairs by the enclosure entrance.)
For us, it was the perfect mix of exercise and exploration. Tui was happily exhausted by the time we got home (the best kind of tired) and it was well worth the bridge toll from Philly. We love our local neighborhood dog parks. But this suburban one is pretty special. We’ll definitely be back.
If You Go
📍 Location: 236 Taylor Ave & Chews Landing Road, Blackwood, NJ (website)
🌳 Size: 128 acres total, 9-acre fenced dog area
🚰 Amenities: Trails, pavilions, playground, restrooms, water fountains
🐾 Tips: Bring water, watch for algae bloom advisories, and prepare for muddy paws