Off-leash park circuit (county) + brewery

Who it’s for: Dogs that need a true fenced off-leash run, then a leashed patio wind-down. Mix of Chesterfield + Henrico options.

Drive-time band from Richmond: In-metro ASSUMPTION ~15–40 minutes between stops depending on starting neighborhood (not official).

Explicitly not a firsthand visit. Checked 2026-09-23.

Sequenced stops (pick 2 OLAs + 1 patio)

1) Ruff House Dog Park — Rockwood Park (Chesterfield)

• 3401 Courthouse Road, North Chesterfield.
• Spoiler stack:
  • Leash: Off-leash inside fence only; on-leash until inside. Voice control; carry leash; license + rabies proof; no pinch/spike/choke collars inside; no kids under 10 in fenced area; clean waste; fill holes; no aggressive/ill/heat/puppies under 4 months; no food/glass/alcohol/treats in fence.
  • Fees: None stated.
  • Parking: Must use paved lot across from dog park — others towed at owner expense.
  • Hours: 7:30 a.m.–dark.
  • Seasonal: Hours tied to dark; no separate seasonal ban found.
• Sources: https://www.chesterfield.gov/facilities/facility/details/Rockwood-Park-70 ; https://www.chesterfield.gov/ParkRules — 2026-09-23.

2) Short Pump Dog Park — Short Pump Park (Henrico)

• 3329 Pump Road, Henrico, VA 23233. Separate small/large synthetic-turf areas.
• Spoiler stack:
  • Leash: Off-leash inside designated dog-park areas per posted regulations. Handlers 16+ in view/control. Current license tags; no heat/sick/aggressive dogs; no gum/smoking/glass. Outside fence: treat as leashed (confirm Henrico general animal rules if needed).
  • Fees: None stated on Henrico page.
  • Parking: On-site at Short Pump Park.
  • Hours: Park dawn–dusk.
  • Seasonal: Spray park seasonal and pets not permitted there.
• Sources: https://henrico.gov/rec/places/short-pump/ — 2026-09-23.

Alternate city OLA — Barker Field (Byrd Park) or Church Hill Dog Park (Chimborazo)

• Official city off-leash areas. Park sunrise–sunset. Outside fence: city leash law. Exact gated clock hours: UNKNOWN on city pages alone.
• Sources: https://www.rva.gov/parks-recreation/byrd-park ; http://rva.gov/parks-recreation/chimborazo-park ; JRPS rules page — 2026-09-23.

3) Patio — Hardywood West Creek (near Short Pump / west)

• Leashed dogs outdoors; indoor ban except service animals.
• Hours Tue–Sun as posted (Mon closed). Overflow lot unavailable.
• Source: https://www.hardywood.com/west-creek — 2026-09-23.

Patio alternate (Scott’s Addition): Ardent beer garden — leashed outdoors only — https://ardentcraftales.com/visit

UNKNOWN callouts

• Whether both county dog parks require the same vaccination/license proof format day-of.
• Real-time capacity / muddy conditions.
• Chester Dog Park (Goyne) hours not fully pinned on facility page this pass — prefer Ruff House + Short Pump for this sample.

Pack list

UNKNOWN — no outing-specific pack list supplied.

Places in this outing