It's great! Our first ever dog park ‍ Our 6month old lab is all about the energy, so having somewhere so close to us is awesome. We like to go during off hours so it's not as busy! Water bowls, hose, poop bags, and random stuff all around for the dogs to play with. It's a little more than half gravel and a little less than half grass, and plenty of shade. read more

Grist Mill Dog Park is located in the perfect secluded area of Mount Vernon. It boasts tons of space, parking, and trees galore. It's nicely tucked away though so it's not overrun at all times. You have to park near the entrance to the park, by the large barn structure. That area has tons of fields and trails that go off throughout the forest. It's really a nice spot. Down the trail a little ways is the dog park. It is entirely fenced in and has a two gate locke system to get in and out safely. There is a TON of space with trees sprinkled throughout. It's plenty of room to really flex your top speed and get out some energy. They have tables and benches around as well making it even nicer to hang out. There's also free access to water with large bowls for the pups. Lastly they have a lot of balls and toys all over the area that are up for grabs. Jersey always has a blast tearing around the park at top speed and greeting every single dog and human over and over again. read more

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Great dog park with trees and a good water source. Plenty of room to run with shade to keep you and your fur read more

Grist Mill Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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My favorite dog park in Fairfax County (and I've been to most. I guess I'm apart of the Weekend Morning Group. (Our own verison of the Doggie Breakfast Club??). I wake up early on the weekends specfically so I can get here with my dog. I socialize as much as he does. Most of the dogs are friendly and great to be around. If you go there enough, other dogs will get to know you and don't mind listening to you. It's one of the few dog parks with an actual water spicket which is great during the summers. You dont have to lug in milk jugs of water. It does to get shut off during the winter, but people are usually good about bringing water. Also, there's a kiddie pool that's great for the dogs to cool off during the summer. They don't provide actual bags (like South Run does). There is a place for people to drop off bags, but its not a garuntee any will be there. The reason I'm giving this for stars instead of five are for two reasons: 1. It does suck there's no grass and is all gravel. If you come here during the 24 hour period after it's rained, there's no way your dog will come out clean. Also, there's only a little amount of shade. During hot summer days, I'd say at least 3/4 of the park has the hot sun bearing down on it. 2. There's always a parking issue in the Fall when soccer season hits. Soccer moms over take the lot meant for the dog park and it's frusting and annoying having to fight for a spot. Once soccer season is over, there's plenty of parking. read more

Grist Mill Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Hits: fenced, water pump within the park, bags available. Misses: no grass, cluttered with tennis balls, discarded tug ropes and once squeaky toys. Humans tend to sit and let their dogs run. Judith recommends: not going when it has rained (you AND your dog will need a bath), meeting up with similar sized dogs for play and running with your dog during play time. read more

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No small dog area! Not all dogs are big, I was excited to take my pup here but when we arrived we had to turn around because there were too many large dogs and no seperate small dog area! I should have read to description more clearly. read more

Great park with great people! Everyone is very friendly and watches their dogs closely. I love how there are always toys for the dogs to play with. The water fountain is my favorite feature! Doggie pools for those hot summer days and endless water supply. Lots of seating and shade too. Tons of poop bags and the high fence is a plus! The only con to this park is the creepy Ukranian girl that is at the park constantly with no dog. She makes me feel very uncomfortable and upsets a lot of dog owners. She feels the need to pick up every puppy that comes in and makes the whole experience of being there with your dog very awkward. Aside from that, I love this park! read more

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Great place to go. Spacious, with a lot of benches, two big water bowls and a water hose, and two dog pools. I will definitely be going more often. Sidenote, there was these two big hungry looking ladies who were sitting there when people started to show up and looked as if the new crowd ruined there time. The ladies dog was clearly out there too long and was ready to go. The dog was probably out there for two or three rounds of fresh dogs coming and going. Talking bout "we're leaving" all loud...BYE!!! 20 minutes is enough time for your dog to get some exercise, not all day while you sun bathe and sweat read more

This park is so cute! It has a little baby pool and a hose. I brought a gallon on water cause that's what I normally do at other parks but when I got there and went to fill the bowl, it was already full! I went on a Sunday around 1:30 and there was no dogs at all there so my two pups were alone for bout an hour til a sweet little German shepherd pup came and kept them distracted for a good extra hour! The park is beautiful though, just not a lot of grass but there's benches and trees and plenty of shaded areas. I'll definitely take my pups back. read more

Grist Mill Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Large fenced area with gravel (no grass) a few tree patches and three benches - 2 at the entrance and one in the middle of the park. You can see the entire fenced area so it's easy to keep your eye on your dog as it runs around. Lots and lots of balls are all over the park so if you forget to bring your own - don't worry. There's more than enough to pick up off the ground. A kid pool was added several months ago that really helps the dogs get cooled off. Although, if they're like mine and they want to go run a bit more after jumping in the pool you end up with dried mud all of your dog. There's water available and many water bowls left around the front area that can be refilled, but the area near the water tends to get flooded and creates pools of mud. If you're not watching, your dog may opt for a mud bath rather than using the often crowded kid pool with the less-than-clean water available for cooling off. Usually some bags hanging on the gate, but it's always a good idea to bring your own. Overall, it's a good open area to throw/chase a ball, but with the lack of grass it's best used on a cool spring/fall day when it hasn't rained, but the ground isn't so dry that your dog has a dust cloud chasing it as it runs for the ball. read more

This is a nice friendly local dog park. I came here for the first time with my dog couple days ago. The park is nicely fenced off and a good size park for your dog to run around freely with other neighboring dogs. All the people here are nice and friendly. Lots of benches for dog owners to seat and wait while their fur baby plays with other dogs. It also has a nice little water pool for the dog to play with. My dog loved it here!!! :) would definitely come back again! read more

I am always looking for new dog parks to take my furbaby. This is a very decent size park, it does needs some attention though. I don't think it had any grass and so when it rains it gets very muddy so you can only imagine how the day goes. I also wish they had a separation for big and small dogs. I took my 10lbs one day and I had to leave because someone with a 100lb+ dog showed up and he was trying to play with my dog, but he was too much for her so we had to leave. read more

We are new to the area and our dog has never lived in a big city so it is really nice to find a safe place for her to run and play while making new friends. read more

Grist Mill Dog Park - Making new friends, our first trip to the dog park. - Dog Parks Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Glad to refer our guest to the nearby - Gristmill Dog Park!! :) We love being a pet friendly hotel, but I know sometime all a pup wants to do is to run run run, and frolic with new friends! Plenty of parking, just within 2 miles from the hotel. Water feat. great for our hot and humid days, plenty of new doggie friends to meet, especially after 5 pm. We accept large breeds many are military family members, so we always recommend this park to our guest! - Irine S. Sales Manager Candlewood Suites Alexandria Fort Belvoir. 8847 Richmond Highway Alexandria VA 22309 (703) 780- 1111 http://goo.gl/maps/QuTDt read more

Our pups absolute favorite place! We love how there's always other dogs to play with and everyone is always friendly.

Awesome place on the weekend mornings and after 5 on the weekdays. Friday can be pretty slow though.

Great, wide open park, lots of shade and room for your dog to run. Would come here again as it seems always have a few dogs around. No grass though - just gravel and dirt so when it rains, it'll get muddy. read more

Great dog park because it is so big, parking nearby. Plenty of plastic bags and trash cans, and water plenty. Downside is no grass, but makes for easy cleanup. On a Sunday afternoon, about 10 dogs, so not crowded at all. Several benches for sitting. All in all a winner. read more

Grist Mill dog park is a nice one! I've been to three in the area within the last month, (new dog) and this one is the only one with sufficient shade and water. My only issue is that it hasn't been busy. Why, I don't know. Compared to the other two parks, this one is the nicest by far (if you don't insist on grass. However, My dog and I have been alone the majority of our visits. Kinda a bummer since she loves to play with other dogs. I really like this park and hope more people will visit. After all it's the dogs that make the dog park! read more

Here to agree with all of the great reviews for this dog park. It's very large and though it's a fenced in area, it has the feeling of an open woods area with many trees. The reason I'm really writing this review though, is to agree with the person who mentioned a creepy Ukrainian girl who hangs out at this dog park. She comes without a dog and has no reservations about approaching you, trying to touch your dog, or following you back to your car. I understand she may love dogs and may be harmless, but this girl gives me the creeps. Keep an eye out for her but other than that, this is a great place for your dog to play! read more

Seems like a nice dog park, but we just took our dog there for the first time and encountered 2 very aggressive dogs. Both dogs were pinning my dog down to the point where she couldn't move or stand up and get away. When she attempted to get away, they would growl and bite at her face. When my husband went to grab our dog, one of the dogs nipped at his hand and wouldn't stop growling. Mind you, all of the dog owners saw this and did nothing to help. After my husband got bit, FINALLY the dog's owner stepped forward to claim her dog. We left and our dogs paws were dripping blood from being tackled so hard by the 2 dogs. Not sure I'll return to this park. We've been taking our dog to dog parks since she was 6 months old and she's never once encountered aggressive dogs like this or left injured. read more

I love the size of this dog park. I feel like it being all gravel really hurts my dog's feet. He ends up with his paw pads bleeding from all the running. His paws have gotten more tough since we started going though. The kiddie pools and water dish area are a nice touch. It's not a busy dog park which makes it a pointless trip if I go on a week day and my dog is alone. The afternoons of weekdays have some people but the most crowded time is on the weekends. read more