Bull Run Mountains Conservancy

This is one of my go to spots to get a good hike. There is some interesting history here including a civil war battle spot, a mill, old homes, and a couple of cemeteries. There are two entrances, with the main one at the end of the road near the parking lot, that has plenty of parking, and the second one that has minimal side of the road parking.
The trails here are well marked and kept in good condition. There are plenty of options for getting some exercise with nothing too strenuous. With lots of nature around you the whole time it’s easy to enjoy this spot. Make sure you check the kiosk at the main entrance or the website to get a map of the trails.
The only downside is that they closed the main trail that has beautiful views due to overuse. Keep in mind that there is a blend of private property and conservancy at play so it’s hard to argue with the decision to close it.
This is a great place to get exercise, take some nice pictures and enjoy nature. Please note that dogs are not permitted on the trails.
*This place is gun carry friendly, however for conceal carry only.

This was great hike and the day was beautiful. We took a detour off the main trail to walk a closed trail to the overlook… I know. key word closed but we did it anyway. We almost made it to the overlook but Police Rangers were sitting on the trail waiting to turn people back or make arrests. My hiking partner was quick on her feet and respond perfectly to our trespassing… but its a great trail.

I came here with my parents for Mother’s Day, as my mom wanted to go on a family hike. I had never heard of Bull Run Mountains Conservancy prior to last week, but it’s just off of I-​66, tucked away in Prince William County.
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve is 2,500 acres and the Conservancy is about 800 acres of that. There are about 8 trails, although when we went, some of the trails were closed (such as the portion of Ridge Loop Trail that takes you to the overlook at the top of the mountain). It can be a little confusing as to how you actually get on the trail. We, along with several other families, stared at the map for a good while. There was a railroad track in front of us, but we didn’t think we could pass it because there was a locked gate. Most of us walked over to Chapman’s Mill thinking that’s where the trail started and had to double back to the map. Finally, I realized that all we had to do was walk around the fence next to the gate past the railroad tracks to get to the Bull Run Ridge Trail (blue) and Mountain Road (grey). What a d’oh moment for all of us.
We took the grey trail that linked to the Quarry Trail (green) and switched to the blue to end our hike, essentially making an oblong circle. It was a very quick hike, probably under 2 miles. I think most of the trails are fairly short and are between easy and moderate. Even though I personally enjoy more challenging hikes, this one definitely suited my mom’s tastes. The only downsides were that there were some parts of the trail that were extremely muddy and it was very humid in the densely thick forests. The old mill is pretty cool to explore and there are parts of the conservancy that give off a hauntingly spooky vibe, maybe due to the cemetery, the old ice house, and the Civil War historical aspect.

–Out of all the places I have hiked, this is the best trail for me personally. Nothing that works you so hard you can’t enjoy the simple joy of hiking in the mountains. Very convenient next to I-​66. –They are renovating the trails and the information center. Apparently there are some nice views from the top but the trail to the top cuts off due to renovation and you are re-​routed to another trail. Something about the land owners stating the trail is over-​used and upsetting the natural state of things. I can understand that to a point. — Between the railroad and the ruins of old buildings in the woods I totally got the feeling I was in a scene of AMC’s The Walking Dead. A lot of people there but amazingly I only came across a set of 3 in my 2 ½ hour hike. So I enjoyed the quite strangeness of it all.
— I took the blue trail. They kind of merge into one another and could be confusing if you do not have a map. I did not have one.(Box was empty). So I’m on the blue trail then I see red markings… then yellow. No clue where I was going and I didn’t care. Got to the tracks near the pine forest right when the train came by. Everything was perfect. Next time I’ll bring the kids.
— Couple of trails are kid friendly and even baby stroller friendly for the most part.
— Picnic tables down by the mill. River was beautiful and raging this weekend. I could have stayed there all day.
–It is free too, however, please utilize the donation drop box. These trails and the area around the mill are beautifully maintained and we get to have fun for free. Throw in a couple of bucks to keep it beautiful. And give a hoot. Don’t pollute!

9/​12, my son and female friend encountered an adult copper head snake sunning on one of High Point’s Trails…
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I’ve taken Three different trails here and they all are great. Some more difficult then others but nothing extreme.
The view at the top is beautiful and it is one of the closest mountain hikes to DC and NoVA.
There is one trail that is kid friendly and pretty much a straight shot to the top.

My wife and I hiked to the overlook via the blue Bull Run Ridge Trail based on advice from the worker in the Mountain house. He told us that this trail is a little longer but it is not nearly as steep as most of the other ways to the top. She is not a hiker and although she was worn out, she made it to the top, even without good footwear. The blue trail is wide enough to walk side by side and is mostly dirt, gravel, and some larger rocks about the size of an adult fist. Be forewarned that this year the loopers or inchworms have infested this particular area very heavily. If you listen closely you hear what sounds like rain hitting the leaves on a sunny day but it is actually inchworm feces as they eat every green leaf on the trees. These loopers web from place to place and will be hanging in the path. There are so many of them it is impossible to keep them from getting on you but unless you are made of leaves, they will not hurt you. The loopers have also brought out large beetles that like to eat the ones that do not stay in the trees. You will see the black and even some shiny irridescent green ones scurry in the trail in front of you as they look for inchworms to eat. We also saw several lizards. The views at the overlook are great. Hard to believe that you are looking at I-​66 but do not hear it. The rocky points at the overlook had a lot of wood boring bees that resemble bumble bees buzzing around. They buzz loudly and will hang around but they are not aggresive. We must have seen 15 buzzards flying around at the overlook. On the way down we took the blue trail to the yellow Hickory Trail and then the grey Mountain Road Trail to the parking area. The yellow trail is definitely much steeper and only wide enough to walk single file. My wife said that if we had gone up this way that she would not have made it to the top. The yellow trail also has one or two spots where you have to climb over an obstacle in the trail. With the rain that we had last week the grey trail was still pretty wet and a little washed out in places but still easy to navigate. Definitely saw more people later in the afternoon but in total we probably only saw 20 people in about 4 hours. Overall, a nice walk in the woods. I will return and spend more time exploring the building remnants and graveyards.

No lie. Prince William County parks stink! If you wish to visit large tracts of open space, you need to go to state or federal parks or privately held lands. Bull Run Mountain Conservancy is of the latter. 3000 acres or so of green space in the Bull Run Mountains, of which perhaps a thousand acres is available for hiking.
The views at the summit are worth the relatively short hike (about five miles round trip).
As of March 29, 2014, dogs are no longer allowed on the Consevancy.:/ Bummer for Max the puppy! I do notice a lot of complaints about unleashed dogs. Shame to you, bad dog owners! You ruined a good thing for Max!

I don’t go on hikes that often, but yesterday I felt like being out with nature and this place was just what I was looking for.
It’s very easy to find, I just typed it into Waze and it was easy peasy. The parking is free and it’s literally on the side of the road. I really wish I had printed a map prior to going so I could find the Beverley Mill, the Dawson and Chapman Cemetery and the White Rocks Overlook.
I took several different trails and felt like I had no idea where I was going because I didn’t have a map, so that was a bummer. I plan to go again this weekend and this time I will be prepared. I printed a copy of the map on their website —
Although I didn’t have a map, I still got a good work out. The Ridge Loop Trail will definitely get your heart pumping and the sweat glands flowing (don’t forget to take some water).
Although Spring hasn’t arrived yet, I still thought the scenery was beautiful.

Great hike! Close to the city… but even when theres snow on the ground there were a ton of kids, unleashed dogs, and large groups. Not great for solitude but the hike was wonderful. If you dont hike often and want to take the easier of two options to get to the top bear to the slight left at the fork dont take what appears to be the easier route or you may end up with a sore muscle or two the next day.

The Good:
*Good trail markings that correspond to the free maps you get at the trail entrance. The ones we saw online at
seem slightly outdated. Some of the trails on the online maps don’t exist anymore apparently according to the reviewers there.
*No entrance fee
*Nice vistas
The Bad:
* arrived Sunday morning at 9am in October– it was very crowded– parking lot was filled.
* Crazy amount of unleashed Unilocaling dogs and screaming children– there was no way we were going to see any wildlife or enjoy quiet/​solitude.
*The overlook at the top was so filled that we could not find a place to sit down and enjoy the snack we packed while taking in the beautiful natural surroundings.
It was a beautiful fall day, so I get that this might have been a reason for the crowds.
gives this hike a «solitude rating» of «3» out of «6», but today it felt like much more.
Tips:
*If you want a quieter hike up to the top, take the Ridge Loop Trail UP. It is a steeper climb ie. more difficult, ie. less crowded. You can just turn around and back track once you get to top or go down the (crowded) Chestnut Ridge/​Fern Hollow Trails.
*If you just want an easy climb up and are not concerned about crowds take the Chestnut Ridge Trail.
Does anyone knows of a quiet hike? If so, please send me a message. We will happily drive a longer distance and take on something more challenging to eliminate the crowds.

«There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm.»
–Theodore Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt was a big advocate for nature preservation and he felt that without it, he could not have been president. While I am far from presidential, there is nothing more grounding than being amongst the wildlife and walking along those paths less traveled.
I’ve lived in Northern Virginia my entire life somehow this hiking opportunity presented itself to me in my mid-​30s. How many times have I passed the old mill and wondered what was up in those hills? My whole life.
It’s a moderately strenuous uphill hike to reach the postcard views at the overlook. I found it to be a sweet reward and the cherry on top of my sundae after hoofing it up the steep incline. The picturesque views were perfect for having a light packed lunch with friends as we soaked up the cool breeze and sunshine.
The trails are somewhat haunting with the civil war history, the Dawson cemetery from the 1800s, an 18^th century ice house, ruins of old homes and Old Chapman’s mill that was built in 1742. Be sure to make it to the Dawson cemetery to see the tree that has encapsulated part of a headstone. If you poke around on the internet you can see pictures of the headstone, the Dawson family, the trenches from the civil war… but Theodore Roosevelt would rather you see it in person.
Verdict: Charming, historical, haunting, but can’t wait to go back again. Bring water.

Good trails, well marked. On a beautiful weekend day it can be difficult finding a parking place; otherwise, terrific.
If you’ve got time and energy, take a picnic up to the overlook. You’ll get a nice workout and a great view.

Great easy hike. Probably a couple miles out to the overlook which is worth the view. They have lots of trails that criss cross around the park, thus giving you the option to extend your hiking distance. The view was spectactular from the overlook. the trails weren’t too challenging at all but sometimes it was tough to see which way the trail went, which is expected sometimes when the leaves fall.

Pros:
Easy to navigate. The trail is very well-​marked with number system. Pick up a map at the base of the trail which is across from the train tracks. You have to cross the train tracks to access the trails.
Great view. Climb up to the ridge top to see it.
And if you’re looking for a workout, it’s a pretty strenuous uphill climb to the top. I forgot my Garmin, but we were hiking for at least 2 hours. There are easier trails to take if you are not up for the climb.
Wildlife. I saw a turtle just chillin on the trail! Google tells me he was an Eastern Box turtle. Well, this is the only wildlife I saw, but he was cool.
Closeby. This is relatively close to the city/​nova for a hike. It’s just beyond Manassas (exit 40 off 66).
Solitude: It’s not crowded.
Cons:
Muddy. There were patches of mud and water even though it hadn’t rained recently, so wear the right shoes.
Yellowjackets. A few of them decided to buzz around my daypack while we were at the top and would not leave it alone.

I discovered this trail system on
a couple of weeks ago. Feeling eager to get outside and clear my head I packed my day pack with trail food and filled my camelback.
Day of hike — October 30, 2011
Upon arriving at the trail head I saw several cars parked on the road and figured the trails would be very busy. I parked my car and grabbed a trail map out of the sign in box.
Initially, I felt compelled to check out the stone mill and general store. Both were really cool! Part of the excitement in discovering new places like this is imagining how they must have been like back in the day.
After walking down to get a closer look at the creek and enjoying the amazing sounds of the powerful water flowing over the rocks I made my way up to the black trail.
I encountered several hikers on the trail some of which replied back to me when i greeted them while many others did not. Kinda made me think that the majority of people hiking up here were from the city and had little interpersonal skills.
At any rate, I hiked up to the Overlook at took in the breathtaking views. So many incredible colors to admire on the trees and valley below. It was magical! The recent snowfall added to the experience. There were some families enjoying light snacks on the rocks while a couple small children played dangerously close to the cliff. A fall from the top of the rocks would be life threatening to an adult not to mention a child.
After taking a few minutes to enjoy my sandwich and drink I continued my hike on the blue trail past where the point where it becomes another trail. Because it was about 3:30pm, I thought I should double-​back and take the red trail to the quarry road trail.
There were several spots on the trail where my boots actually slipped from the wet leaves and damp rocks. Next time I’ll bring my trekking poles.
Besides a few very large birds soaring at the overlook and a few dozen squirrels, the only other wildlife that I encountered were some beautiful little blue birds playfully hopping around on some tree limbs on the red trail. They were cute!
A couple of times I found myself pulling out my map because I had trouble identifying which direction the trail continued, luckily I picked the right direction each time for the way I wanted to travel.
It was really neat to see the older house foundations and the deep hole in the ground that once provided shelter for blocks of ice.
I made it back to my vehicle with no problems and took a couple of ibuprofens as preventative maintenance for impending sore muscles and legs.
It was fun and I recommend it highly for anyone in the area who wants to get out and take in some amazing views while enjoying the fresh air.

* Excellent trail markings
* Most wildlife I’ve seen so far (turtles, lizards, frogs, etc)
* An overlook with a pretty good view
* Elevation change is not too bad
* Not too many parking spaces, but then again, not too many people on this trail.
* No entrance/​park fee, but recommended donation of $ 5 per person if in a group of over 10 people
Useful Links:
HikingUpward:

This is a great trail. The location is very nice, the trail is not too difficult, and it is never over crowded. I have taken friends, family, and also gone solo many times up this mountain. There is an incredible view from the top rocks (though you do have to go beyond the park boundaries). I would strongly suggest this hike for anyone and everyone who wants to be playing outside.
p. s. Great for trail running too!!!

This is a nice hike with enough trails to provide some variety in difficulty and length, but what is really remarkable about it is the incredible vantage point from the top. I recommend hiking up the Ridge trail and following it just out of the park boundary. As you continue up about a quarter of a mile, you will see a series of rock outcroppings on your left — pick one and sit down to enjoy lunch and the incredible view of the valley below!
If you’re looking for more of a workout (I would say the climb up the Ridge trail is moderate, great for families), take the Ridge Loop trail up instead. The hike up and back is about 5 miles, depending on many side trips/​stops you make, and takes around 3 hours.
Take time to check out the family cemetery and other relics of the mill house down by the RR tracks. The trench from the old stone quarry that was used during the Civil War during the Battle for Thoroughfare Gap is interesting to see as well. Pick up an official map from the trailhead by the parking lot, which shows all the historical sites.
I went on Labor Day weekend and when I arrived at about 9am, the parking lot had maybe 5 other cars in it. By the time I came down around 2pm, it was much busier; I did pass a few groups on the trail on the way down, but I had a quiet lunch up on the cliffs with a big rock all to myself and it was overall a nice, peaceful hike. You can hear some noise from the traffic on I-​66 early on in the hike, but once you get up a bit it is very distant and unobtrusive. Great, quick escape from the city!

I was scheduled to go Hiking on Rose River Falls Trail in Shenadoah but it was canceled due to heavy rains the previous night.
Trailhead: Exit I-​66 at Haymarket and turn right onto Rt 55 west. From Rt 55, turn onto Turner Road. Go over I-​66 and make an immediate left onto Beverly Mill Drive. Bull Run Mountain Conservancy is at the end of the street on the left.
This park has many trails and are in Easy to Moderate category. Walk along the stream is beautiful. I was able to walk almost all trails in just over 2 hours. I was lucky to spot a couple of turtles too :)
The only thing that had me worried was gunshot sounds from maybe people hunting. Luckily no one fired a shot in my direction :)
Great place for a half day hike :)