Dog-friendly Winchester: the free dog park at Jim Barnett Park, leash rules in city parks, trails that welcome leashed dogs and patios that allow them.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Rules come from Winchester Parks and Recreation and from each place’s own website, linked below. Businesses change their pet policies; call ahead before you bring a dog.

Winchester has one city dog park, a citywide trail loop and a 90-acre art park that welcome leashed dogs, and a handful of Old Town breweries and a nearby winery that let dogs in. City parks require a leash everywhere except inside the fenced dog park.

Who to call

The Winchester Dog Park

The Winchester Dog Park is in Jim Barnett Park, 1001 E. Cork St. It is free and open dawn to dusk, with play equipment, picnic tables, shade and running water from April to October, according to the city’s dog park page. It has two fenced sections:

Area Who can use it
Small dog park Dogs 30 pounds and under only. Families with children under 16 may come in with a small dog.
Large dog park Dogs over 30 pounds; small dogs at the owner’s discretion. No children under 16.

The main rules:

  • Every dog needs a current dog license and proof of vaccinations.
  • A handler at least 18 years old must come with each dog; no more than two dogs per handler.
  • Leash your dog before you go in and as soon as you come out, using the gated entry areas.
  • No aggressive dogs, females in heat or puppies under 4 months.
  • No prong, training or choke collars inside; no bones or chew treats (training treats only); no glass containers; no smoking; no digging.
  • Pick up after your dog with the bags provided. The water is for drinking only.
  • Park in the gravel lot east of the Lions Pavilion, the gravel lot by the maintenance building, marked spaces in the park or the accessible spaces at the dog park entrance; not on the grass.

Parks and Recreation can remove a dog or owner at any time for safety and can close the dog park for maintenance or a health issue; closures are posted at the gate and online.

Leash rules

The city says Winchester City Code Section 18-11 requires dogs to be leashed in city parks, and that park rule takes precedence over the general city ordinance inside a park (city dog park page; city code, Chapter 18). On city trails, the posted leash rules apply and you must pick up after your dog (Green Circle Trail rules).

Trails that welcome leashed dogs

  • Green Circle Trail. The city’s 6.06-mile walking and biking loop through Jim Barnett Park, Shenandoah University, Old Town and the Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve. Keep your dog leashed and to the right; the city notes other trail users may not know how to pass a dog.
  • The Trails at the MSV, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, 901 Amherst St. A free 90-acre art park with about 1.8 miles of paved trail and another mile of mulch and grass paths, open daily 7 a.m. to dusk. Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails; only service dogs may go into the galleries building, the formal gardens and the Glen Burnie House (MSV trails page).
  • Jim Barnett Park. Paved walking trail, the one-mile Kiwanis par course and the dog park in one place (Jim Barnett Park).

More routes in our walking and biking trails guide.

Patios, breweries and a winery

  • Winchester Brew Works, 320 N. Cameron St.: pets are allowed on the patio only (Winchester Brew Works).
  • Broken Window Brewing Co., 14 W. Boscawen St., and Dividing Creek Beer Co., 160 N. Loudoun St., which has outdoor seating on the Loudoun Street Mall: both are listed as dog-friendly on the visitors bureau’s Winchester Beer and Cider Trail.
  • James Charles Winery, 4063 Middle Road: dogs are welcome inside the tasting room and outside, leashed and attended at all times (James Charles Winery).
  • Historic Route 11 Drive-In, 5890 Valley Pike, Stephens City: listed as pet-friendly by the visitors bureau.

What this means for you

  • Bring your dog’s license and vaccination records the first time you use the dog park.
  • Leash up everywhere in city parks and on the trails, and carry bags.
  • On a brewery visit, ask before you sit inside: several allow dogs outdoors only.

Related: parks and trails, free things to do and live music and nightlife.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a dog park in Winchester, Virginia?

Yes. The Winchester Dog Park in Jim Barnett Park, 1001 E. Cork St., is free and open dawn to dusk, with separate fenced areas for dogs 30 pounds and under and for larger dogs.

Do dogs have to be on a leash in Winchester parks?

Yes. The city says Winchester City Code Section 18-11 requires dogs to be leashed in city parks. Inside the fenced dog park they can run off leash, but they must be leashed going in and coming out.

What do I need to use the Winchester dog park?

Every dog needs a current dog license and proof of vaccinations, and must come with a handler at least 18 years old. Each handler may bring no more than two dogs.

Are dogs allowed on the trails at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley?

Yes. Leashed dogs are welcome on the Trails at the MSV, which are free and open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Only service dogs may go into the galleries building, the formal gardens and the Glen Burnie House.

Which breweries in Winchester allow dogs?

Winchester Brew Works allows pets on its patio only. The area’s Beer and Cider Trail lists Broken Window Brewing and Dividing Creek Beer Co. in Old Town as dog-friendly.