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Ellanor C. Lawrence Park
5040 Walney Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151, United States
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Jo
Review №1

This is a great place to escape into nature for an hour or two. It used to be a family farm and there are several buildings from that time that are at least partially preserved. Each structure has an informational placard next to it, which offers quotes from the family members about the structure. Its interesting to have some insight into daily life on the farm from the people who lived there. The placards also describe the historical function of each building in detail. The smokehouse is the only completely original building still standing, but the other buildings at least have their foundations still standing, or have been reconstructed. The farmhouse has been converted to a visitors center, but its understandably closed due to COVID.There are also nature trails and a pond where the family used to gather ice in the winter. It started raining pretty heavily while I was there so I didnt get a chance to visit the pond, but from what I saw the trails are beautiful and well-maintained. Id love to go back on a better day and explore this hidden gem some more.Update (9/7): I went back to the park on a day with better weather to check out the pond, and its absolutely wonderful.

Ah
Review №2

New construction to the road leading to EC Lawrence Park has made it easier to get in and out. You can no longer make a left on Route 28 to enter and have to take the exit on the right for Westfields Blvd. The park itself is very busy with many parking on the grass during game times. There is a kid friendly playground in the middle. The turf soccer fields are well maintained. The games today from SYA were fun to watch and their were winners

Me
Review №3

Nice trails to walk on. The trails are pretty shaded ( which is a big plus). Theres a very nice pond to just sit and relax ( also a few picnic tables by the pond) as well more around the visitor area. Very nice and tranquil.

Da
Review №4

Great trails to walk. Very wooded and very hilly. Nothing is paved. There are a lot of tree roots to step over, so its not for strollers or bikes or people with issues walking/hiking.

Da
Review №5

Good place to walk and exercise. Lots of trails, trees and scenery. If there is no one around, you get feel like a primitive walking in the forest thousands of years ago. The only thing though, is you hear noise from traffic and planes, which is a bit distracting but youll probably ignore it after a while. And its FREE, yay!

Em
Review №6

A beautiful park with some great walks. Spaces can be reserved for parties. I love the creek side walk.

Ry
Review №7

Great walking paths, mostly shaded. Beautiful pond and old mill. Visitor center and picnic areas.

Em
Review №8

Great Park. Well marked trail. Good for running and beginners

Ja
Review №9

We were here this time for a Fairfax County Parks event to learn about squirrels. Linda, the Park naturalist who led the event, was delightful and made a great connection with our family. A gem of a park!

Ca
Review №10

Great trails, a few more signs and trail maps to go would be handy. No biking on the trails we went on -- nicely shaded so tolerable even in July. The events sound cool. And appreciated the historical records too. Bonus: bat houses near the pond to reduce mosquitoes.

An
Review №11

This is one of my favorite spots closer to home. The lake with the turtles is so peaceful. There were a lot of people there when we visited last week, and very close together. You may want to visit at off times to help with social distancing and avoid areas around the creek where many children gathered to play in the water.

Ci
Review №12

Great walking trails. Many places in the park may be reserved for personal use.

An
Review №13

Beautiful park with a lot to see. Nice trails, picnic tables, historical sites and more!

Au
Review №14

This is a very large park with a past. Three families have owned the property as a farm for centuries. To that end, there are still historic buildings in the park like the farm mansion, a smokehouse, a mill, dairy, etc. Theres an amphitheater for events and trails that take you through the woods. Its a beautiful, well-kept park!

JC
Review №15

Great turf fields, basketball courts, baseball fields and softball field along with playground and walking trail.

Ma
Review №16

Extensive trails, great for biking, running, or walking. People are friendly but social distance well. Nice relaxed atmosphere.

Le
Review №17

Trails were not too hard with my two year old. It was fun to see the turtles in the pond.

As
Review №18

My favorite park Ive been to in Fairfax, VA so far! Great walking trails!

NJ
Review №19

This is a great, shaded park for both walking, and education. Theres a small garden with bee boxes and old schoolhouse. Also a great picnic stop, either on the ground or at tables, but they go quickly.

El
Review №20

Great place to go an walk around for an hour or two!

Pr
Review №21

Great place for a quick hike, followed by a picnic maybe. Lots of shade.Noticed a bit of dog poop problem though.

Ke
Review №22

Great trails. Not one McDonalds in sight.

Om
Review №23

Good place to go ay soccer. The fields are nice

Li
Review №24

While Route 28 may be roaring from the other side of the trees you really dont notice it until your at one end of the pond. Even then its not terribly intrusive. Its just a somewhat peaceful little retreat amid busy suburbia where you can spend a few peaceful moments with nature. Take a walk around the pond. Contemplate life. Enjoy the lilypads, dragon flies, birds and more.

Am
Review №25

A wonderful local park with hiking trails, a pond with lily pads and creek. I have never seen it to be crowded.

Er
Review №26

Love this park. Conveniently located near my house. Always nice to go for a stroll in a very well kept park.

An
Review №27

Walking Great the Whole FamilyVery good trail

Ma
Review №28

Lovely park with walking trails and streams / ponds

In
Review №29

My first time at these fields and I love the location... However parking lot is a little too dark

Sa
Review №30

Found this beautiful park with a quick google search in Fairfax. It’s a well maintained park (no littering) with nice walking trails, some paved walkways and some dirt road, surrounded with a lot of ancient/historic structures, some that date back 200+ years!There’s bird feeders all around the park, attracting a lot of different birds. We were lucky to see plenty of woodpeckers, cardinals, warblers, doves, blue jays, orioles, finches, even a red breasted grosbeak, and many more.You might run into some very knowledgeable and avid birdwatchers here :)

Ka
Review №31

Just beautiful! Very peaceful at Walney Pond.

ch
Review №32

It pretty but there are no bass in the pond.

Ch
Review №33

Its fine to go and relax and walk around

Ni
Review №34

Beautiful park to walk, jog, walk your dog, etc. Its clean! Even though there is construction nearby, this park is still open and unencumbered for you to enter.

Ni
Review №35

Simple nice walking. Good for kids.

Da
Review №36

Great little park in an ever growing area of congestion. Love it.

He
Review №37

Beautiful place to walk & relax... amazing views. You’d definitely enjoy the trails and the pond. Don’t forget to stop at the visitors center.

Br
Review №38

Clean, easy, good parking. Nice

ar
Review №39

Beautiful trails. Amazing

SM
Review №40

Nice Place.. Good for runing

Ni
Review №41

Beautiful landscaping. Excellent trails. Great spot for the family !! Highly recommend a picnic here

Ma
Review №42

Beautiful place to relax, walk/run and be with family.

Ju
Review №43

Great park,very nice field for any soccer game.

Ke
Review №44

My favorite walking and nature trails since I was a kid.

Bo
Review №45

Great place, been going there for years

Se
Review №46

Its a great place to walk and view

Ha
Review №47

Great place for short hikes.

Ru
Review №48

My favorite park in all of the DMV.

Ha
Review №49

Wonderful trail. Designed for all ages. There are vines for kids to swing on. Great installations in the center of the park with indoor bathrooms available. At either end of the park there are port-a-poties. Good parking, clean park with very nice and accessible trails that are great for young kids! This is definitely our go to for a nice small outdoor hike.

Be
Review №50

Im not sure I would go too far out of my way for this park, but since it is local for me it is great. There are A few historical buildings on the grounds, but the nature is there real draw here. There is an abundance of birds and insects to see and trails to hike. If you are close by, it is definitely worth stopping.

Ro
Review №51

At work

Ab
Review №52

Nice park with scenic trails. Good for dogs and toddlers.

Ja
Review №53

ECL is a great place for a nature walk with beautiful forest scenery and landscapes. There many different trails to explore and a visitors center with exhibits in the historic Walney house. Overall it is a great way to spend a couple of hours enjoying some peaceful nature.

Ka
Review №54

The soccer fields are nice and parking is adequate. There are convenient porta-potties near the parking area. Its easy access from RT 28 at the light, but to exit you have to go North to go back out.

Am
Review №55

Fun and easy trails for the family.

sh
Review №56

Water lilies, kid friendly stream, bful trails

Da
Review №57

Recent improvements to trail conditions and a clean up have made this old favorite a new favorite again. Great place to walk and enjoy nature.

Jo
Review №58

Great trails - good variety, well maintained, and not muddy. Nice nature center too!

Jo
Review №59

Good fall colors.

Jo
Review №60

Even in the cold of winter in, a walk in Ellanor C. Lawrence is enjoyable.

Da
Review №61

Loved the small trails... Intertwined and converging at the visitors center.

Om
Review №62

Beautiful and peaceful trail.

Ja
Review №63

Nice place. Fresh air. We saw some snake close to the building though so you better watch out.

Gr
Review №64

We come here all the time when were looking for a walk in the woods but arent interested in driving all the way out to Shenandoah. The trails can get a little crowded on nice days, but theyre very well maintained and, more importantly, nicely shaded. The educational exhibits around the visitor center are a nice perk!

P&
Review №65

Great trails and history. Kids love the nature center (closed on Tuesdays) and the creek hike (head to the left).

Su
Review №66

Ms. Karen was a great resource . Kids learned and had fun

Re
Review №67

Awesome place to go with family!

Ca
Review №68

Support your local parks they need it!

Al
Review №69

I love this place. Great for hiking with your dog. Its an easy trail walk

As
Review №70

This is a wonderful park. Ive always loved coming here. It has a great walking path, visitor center and shallow creeks. Its a great place for dogs and children and also a great place for photo shoots! My friend took her engagement photos here and they turned out beautifully.

Ti
Review №71

We love stopping by on our way home. Accessible and enjoyable for our family.

Wa
Review №72

Beautiful park very close to Centreville.Trails not very well marked. Do not recommend you walk through it close to sunset.

LI
Review №73

Beautiful park, lots of great trails!

Ba
Review №74

Great trails for walking!

Ca
Review №75

This is a great little park with hiking trails, a historic home, and its outbuildings. If you play Pokemon Go, there are many pokestops and several gyms.

Ch
Review №76

We have been visiting this park with kids for years. At first it seemed inconvenient that theres really three separate areas to do things and Walney Road is too busy to walk along, but now thats part of the fun of coming here. You can park at the pond and walk up to the visitor center, or you can park at the center and walk down. Theres always something to see in the pond, the butterfly garden, the vegetable garden, or the forest path, which is complete with historic markers and structures. The visitor center is interactive and engaging for kids, with live animals, touch exhibits, and a dress up play area. Theres also a small creek along the forest path that my kids cant resist playing in - bring a couple of towels! You can picnic here, or drive one light north on Rte 28 and visit the playground associated with this park. There are two play structures and extensive fields and walking paths with lots of parking. We always manage to make a full, fun day when visiting this area.

Tr
Review №77

Nice walk, saw a deer.

Mi
Review №78

Great place to meet people and take pictures

Ap
Review №79

Visitors needs to use the trash bins, especially at Walney Pond.

Kr
Review №80

Peaceful morning walk, if you wear headphones tonavoid the nearby traffic noise.

Do
Review №81

Nice park with nature and turtles in pond.

Ma
Review №82

Beautiful Place..... Grateful to have such a historic place preserved for ours and so many others enjoyment..... Little corner of Heaven and nature bundled together.

An
Review №83

Its a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the region.

Fi
Review №84

Its a sizeable park with a pretty pond thats full of fish and turtles. If you go to the docks and throw bread the turtles will start coming and then maby the big snappers they have. Its also a great fishing spot if your not trying to fish for catfish( because the snappers will take your bait and just ruin your day just like mine).

J
Review №85

Great place to walk.

An
Review №86

Wonderful trail. Designed for all ages. There are vines for kids to swing on. Great installations in the center of the park with indoor bathrooms available. At either end of the park there are port-a-poties.

An
Review №87

Even during cold weather this is a great meditation location.

Di
Review №88

Nature trails, plants and animals exploration for everyone

Ja
Review №89

Nice park. Lots of new animals

Ti
Review №90

Nature.

He
Review №91

Pretty cool place. Easy to hike. Need to.come back when it is warm.

Li
Review №92

Good parking, clean park with very nice and accessible trails that are great for young kids! This is definitely our go to for a nice small outdoor hike.

jo
Review №93

Nice park for a variety of sports. If you like turf soccer fields, you will like this facility.

Ma
Review №94

Accessible local park, several trails, more

el
Review №95

We love exploring this par. We enjoy the wooded trails, watching for turtles at the pond, and crossing the stream either by bridge or the concrete blocks.

Ma
Review №96

Great place to picnic or take a stroll through nature. Trails arent difficult and theres a lot of tree coverage. Its great for dogs, both large and small.

Th
Review №97

Peaceful, beautiful view and trails.

li
Review №98

Field was in good shape.

Su
Review №99

Trails are well maintained.

De
Review №100

Great place for class field trip. Guides are extremely informative and helpful.

Information
100 Photos
100 Comments
4.5 Rating
  • Address:5040 Walney Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151, United States
  • Site:https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/eclawrence/
  • Phone:+1 703-631-0013
Categories
  • Tourist attraction
  • Park
Working hours
  • Monday:7am–5pm
  • Tuesday:7am–5pm
  • Wednesday:7am–5pm
  • Thursday:7am–5pm
  • Friday:7am–5pm
  • Saturday:7am–5pm
  • Sunday:7am–5pm
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
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