Walks with Bear the Dog

Sometimes a good hike doesn’t need to be steep, rugged, or leave you completely exhausted.

Sometimes it’s just about getting outside, enjoying some pretty scenery, discovering a little local history—and knowing there’s a good meal and a cold beer waiting at the end.

That was exactly the kind of day we had at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly, Virginia.

We set out to hike the Ellanor C. Lawrence Perimeter Loop, but made a small adjustment to the route along the way. The standard loop includes some walking along the road, and we decided we’d rather stay in the park and enjoy the trails instead. It turned out to be a great choice.

And honestly? This was just a really enjoyable hike.

🥾 The Hike: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

The Ellanor C. Lawrence Perimeter Loop on AllTrails is an easy trail that comes in at roughly 3 miles with only about 164 feet of elevation gain. AllTrails rates it as easy, and I would definitely agree.

What I really liked about this hike was how flat and relaxed it felt.

There wasn’t much climbing to worry about, so it was the kind of trail where you could actually look around and enjoy your surroundings rather than constantly watching where you’re putting your feet.

The original route does include stretches that run alongside Sully Road and Walney Road. We adjusted our route slightly to avoid the road portions, which made the hike feel much more like a peaceful park walk.

And there was plenty to see.

🌿 Lily Pads, Meadows & More

One of my favorite parts of the hike was the pond.

The lily pads were fantastic.

There’s just something about coming across a pond covered in lily pads that makes you slow down for a minute. It was one of those little details that made the hike more memorable.

The park itself has a nice mix of forests, streams, meadows and pond areas, so the scenery changes as you make your way around. The Fairfax County Park Authority describes the park as a 650-acre property with a history stretching back thousands of years.

And that’s really what makes Ellanor C. Lawrence Park different from a simple neighborhood trail.

You’re not just walking through the woods.

You’re walking through history.

🏡 A Hike Through Virginia History

One of the things we really enjoyed was exploring the historical side of the park.

The land was once part of a farm called Walney, and over the years it was owned by several families, including the Brown/Lewis, Machen and Lawrence families. Ellanor C. Lawrence purchased the property in 1935, and after her death, her husband David Lawrence eventually deeded 640 acres to the Fairfax County Park Authority in 1971 in her memory.

Today, you can see pieces of that history throughout the park.

There are historic buildings and structures, gardens, exhibits and other reminders of the people who lived and worked on this land.

The Walney Visitor Center is another worthwhile stop, with exhibits covering the natural and cultural history of the park. Outside, you’ll find features including a historic kitchen garden, pollinator gardens and historic structures.

I really liked that combination.

A little hiking.

A little nature.

A little history.

🐻 Our Route

We started out following the general perimeter route, but made our own small modification to stay off the roads.

That’s one of the things I like about parks like this—you don’t necessarily have to treat the AllTrails route as a rigid set of instructions. Sometimes a small adjustment makes the experience better.

For us, avoiding the road sections was worth it.

The result was an easy, mostly flat walk where we could take our time, check out the pond, enjoy the scenery and explore some of the historical areas.

🍺 The Perfect Ending: Ono Brewing

Of course, no Walks With Bear adventure is complete without figuring out where we’re going to eat afterward.

For this hike, we headed over to Ono Brewing Company in Chantilly.

And it was a great choice.

Ono has a relaxed, tropical-themed atmosphere and a self-serve beer wall, so you can pour yourself anything from a small taste to a full pint. The brewery describes itself as veteran- and family-owned, with ties to Hawaii.

The beer was good, but for us, the food was the real star of the show.

🍽️ The Family Platter

When we visited, we went with the family platter.

And WOW.

It was basically a smorgasbord of tastes.

There was something different in every bite, and it was exactly the kind of meal that works after a hike—lots of variety, lots of flavor and plenty to share.

We were very happy with our choice.

The food was amazing. The beer was good. And we left very happy hikers.

One note if you’re planning a visit based on our experience: the food situation at Ono has since changed.

Odd BBQ, which was the food vendor when we visited, served its last day at Ono on July 26, 2026. Starting July 27, the brewery switched food vendors to The Roaming Coyote.

So while we can’t vouch for the current menu based on our visit, there is still food at the brewery—and the current vendor is The Roaming Coyote.

That means this is one part of the adventure you’ll want to check before you go.

🥾 Trail Details

Trail: Ellanor C. Lawrence Perimeter Loop
Location: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Chantilly, Virginia
Distance: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gain: Approximately 184 feet
Estimated Time: 1–1.5 hours
Trail Type: Loop
Dogs: Allowed on leash
Our Modification: We adjusted the route slightly to avoid the road sections.

The park itself is open from dawn to dusk, while the Walney Visitor Center has its own operating hours.

🍺 Post-Hike Stop

Ono Brewing Company
4520 Daly Dr., Suite 102
Chantilly, VA 20151

Ono Brewing Company

The brewery currently features The Roaming Coyote as its food partner, so check the current food offerings before heading over.

💰 Budget

Expense	Estimated Cost
🥾 Ellanor C. Lawrence Park	$0
🍺 Beer for two	$10
🍽️ Food for five	$72
💰 Estimated total for two	$82