Powhatan / Midlothian loop + rainy-day patio-heavy fallback

Who it’s for: West/southwest day-trippers who want a state-park or farm-brewery loop on clear days, with a documented patio-heavy fallback when trails are soaked.

Drive-time band from Richmond: Powhatan SP ~45 minutes (official DCR); Bear Creek Lake SP ~1 hour (official DCR); Lickinghole Creek Goochland ASSUMPTION ~35–50 minutes; Scott’s Addition patios local.

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

Clear-day sequenced stops

1) Morning–afternoon — Powhatan State Park or Bear Creek Lake State Park

A — Powhatan State Park (closer; no designated swimming areas) - 4616 Powhatan State Park Rd., Powhatan, VA 23139. - Spoiler stack: VSP leash ≤6 ft; parking $5/$5; dawn–dusk; pets not in buildings/food service/designated swim areas (none designated here). - Sources: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/powhatan ; parking-fees ; pets — 2026-09-23.

B — Bear Creek Lake State Park (lake + trails; pets not on beach) - 22 Bear Creek Lake Rd., Cumberland, VA 23040. Richmond drive ~1 hour (DCR). - Spoiler stack: Leash ≤6 ft; no pets on beach; parking $7/$7; park 8 a.m.–dusk; often at capacity weekends/holidays — early arrival. Snack bar/boat rentals seasonal (closed until Memorial Day weekend 2027 at check). - Sources: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/bear-creek-lake ; parking-fees ; pets — 2026-09-23.

2) Late day — Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery (Goochland) — patio / farm

• 4100 Knolls Point Drive, Goochland, VA 23063.
• Spoiler stack:
  • Leash: Official FAQ — leashed dogs welcome across the farm, indoors and out. Farm guidelines also: leashed dogs in outdoor spaces.
  • Hours: Sat 12–8, Sun 12–6 only; closed Mon–Fri (FAQ). Plan this stop for a weekend.
  • Fees: Pay for beer / food trucks; no cover stated.
  • Parking: On-farm; capacity UNKNOWN.
  • Seasonal: Weekend-only operation is the limiting factor (not a winter dog ban).
• Sources: https://www.lickingholecreek.com/about ; https://www.lickingholecreek.com/goochland-farm — 2026-09-23.

Midlothian connector (optional morning if skipping state park)

• Robious Landing or Mid-Lothian Mines (leashed) — see Outing 07 / schemas.

Rainy-day patio-heavy fallback (sources support outdoor/indoor pet rules)

When trails are flooded or unpleasant, stay metro and stack documented dog patios (still not a firsthand comfort claim):

1. Starr Hill Richmond — first-level outdoor patio only; leashed; FAQ-complete. Hours skew later Mon–Thu (opens 4 pm). https://starrhill.com/richmond
2. Strangeways Outdoor Biergartens — dog-friendly outdoor. https://strangewaysbrewing.com/
3. Ardent beer garden — leashed outdoors only; covered/heated pocket noted between Ardent & Eazzy Burger (visit page). https://ardentcraftales.com/visit
4. Hardywood Richmond or West Creek — leashed outdoors; no indoor pets except service dogs (FAQ). https://www.hardywood.com/faqs
5. Lickinghole — if it’s a weekend and you still want a west drive: FAQ allows leashed dogs indoors and out (useful if outdoor seating is wet). Closed weekdays.

Does not invent covered seating where sources are silent (e.g., Triple Crossing indoor = UNKNOWN; Starr Hill rooftop = not a pet area per patio-only FAQ).

UNKNOWN callouts

• How much of Starr Hill / Strangeways patio is weather-protected day-of.
• Lickinghole weekday special openings — FAQ says closed Mon–Fri; do not assume otherwise.
• Bear Creek parking availability on peak weekends (DCR capacity warning).

Pack list (non-claims)

6-ft leash for state parks, waste bags, parking fee cash/card, towel for wet dogs, backup patio plan if Lickinghole is a weekday.

Places in this outing