Bren Mar Park - Alexandria, VA
Bren Mar Park: Dog-Friendly Trails & More in Alexandria, Virginia
Bren Mar Park in Alexandria, Virginia, is a pet-friendly destination offering picturesque trails and natural relaxation just minutes from the city. Dog owners and families alike enjoy the park’s short but scenic hiking paths that wind beside a gentle stream and through lush forest. While dogs are welcome throughout the park, they must remain leashed as there is no designated off-leash or fenced dog play area.
This neighborhood park is wheelchair accessible and provides picnic tables, a playground for children, and shaded green spaces perfect for afternoon strolls with your furry friend. Bren Mar includes accessible parking but can be tricky to find by foot, with limited sidewalk connections from surrounding neighborhoods. If you’re searching for peaceful, dog-friendly hikes and a spot for kids to play in Alexandria, Bren Mar Park is a great local choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are dogs allowed off-leash at this park? No, dogs must be kept on leash at all times.
- Is there a fenced area for dogs? No, there is no fenced dog area at Bren Mar Park.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, the park has a wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot.
- Is there a playground or activities for kids nearby? Yes, the park offers a playground and picnic area for families.
- Are picnics allowed? Yes, there are picnic tables available for use.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, the park features several short, pet-friendly trails.
- Where is the best place to park? The park provides a dedicated parking area adjacent to the picnic sites and playground.
Reviews
Very hard to find, not clearly marked. Also back in the cut and hard to get to walking. My partner in crime and I and the 1 year old attempted to walk to the park, which, sounds like a normal easy task for anybody anywhere… “a walk in the park” if you will…
… but we would have had to cross a dangerous “almost”-highway, and I’m not convinced there was even a sidewalk that lead to the park.
Not to mention, it was so far back in the cut. There definitely wasn’t a sidewalk leading from the road to the parking area/park. Also, I could see from one vantage point that there was 1 sketchy looking car parked back there with someone just sitting in the car.
It’s definitely the perfect place for someone to do illegal activities back there and not be seen or caught.
Needless to say, we didn’t feel safe walking back in there. Especially with a 1 year old that’s just learning how to walk. It’s a shame because there really aren’t any parks or playgrounds within walking distance of where we live. In fact, that entire neighborhood across from the park (the houses, not the bougie townhouses) doesn’t have a park nor playground. And being that it is surrounded half by Forrest and the other half by highway, it makes getting anywhere not by car, very difficult. It’s a shame, considering how much money the county has, but can’t even build some playgrounds. They have no issue spending MILLIONS on cops that run red lights and sit around in their cars eating donuts, but spend any money on people that could really use it, and they “don’t have it in the budget”. What a joke.
It’s a very nice park. It is not very big, but there is a nice stream that runs through the middle. Not a lot of hills in a very hilly part of Alexandria. There is a playground and a picnic area with parking, plus a porta potty. Trails are pretty but short.
If you want a nature walk close to the city, this is one of your best option. Nice places to walk, not crowded, picnic areas, playgroud, and it is free!
Safe and fun place for kids. The playground is nice, there is a green area and a trail. I just would have liked the trail was accesible for strollers.
I go every time I can to Bren Mar Park because is a beautiful place for take a walk with my dog, and also because it has a lot forest and feel stress out. I highly recommend this this park for a walk in the afternoon after work, and you can enjoy nature!