This national park has been on my list of places to see for two years. Active duty military & their family get free access to this park as well as military veterans and gold star families. They charge $20 for a vehicle (car) to enter this park. Annual park fee is $35 and a better option if you come to the park often and pay for entrance. We were immediately impressed by the scenic drive, low traffic, and visitor center of the park. This is the least crowded national park we ever visited with so many trails to hike & explore. Bicyclists will love the immense bike routes and trails in this park. They engineered the roads with bicycle only paved roads beside the automobile road. Perfect for bicyclists. The visitor center was conveniently located by the Laurel Loop Trail and restroom areas. It was the first place we visited to get information for the park and a stamp for our national park passport book. The rangers were very helpful and showed us locations & trails we might be interested in seeing. We hiked two hours on the easiest trails in the Prince William National Park. We hiked the Laurel Loop Trail, the Birch Buff Trail, the Mary Byrd Branch Trail, the Quantico Falls Trail, and the North Valley Trail. The rugged terrain of some of these trails made it difficult to hike. I actually got holes in the heels of my old boots walking these trails. While we hiked we listened to birds on the trails and identified some birds we never heard before: Golden-crowned Kinglet, other unknown birds - etc. The Lauren Loop Trail had miniature Fairy Homes placed along the trail which was a delight to see. The Quantico Falls Trail was one of the smallest trails and winded down to the Quantico Creek & small waterfalls. We spent the most time in this area sitting on the large flat rocks on the creek watching the falls and the fish in the water. Proper hiking boots and socks are a definite must for these trails even the easiest trails. Prince William's Park has of the most difficult hikes we encountered despite going on the easiest trails we encountered yet it was one of the most memorable and enjoyable times we had hiking. Looking forward to coming back to this park. read more

See all

A long time ago, Prince Wiliam Forest Park would bus in kids from the city to spend the week to enjoy nature at one of their camps. Now those camp sites are available for rent and include a working mess hall and kitchen, two art camps, medic lounge, as well as bunks. My group and I literally had an entire summer camp at our disposal! We came in late April so we dealt with a lot of weather malfunctions, but the area truly is a beautiful space to get away from it all. There is no air conditioning in cabins, but hearing and feeling the wind howling outside was oddly comforting. We had so much space to spread out and run around which was super idyllic until several run ins with wolf spiders. When they say this place is historic ... they truly mean it. The main mess hall area is updated with not one but two walk in fridges/freezers and two fire places. But the medic room looked straight out of a horror film (five stars out of five if we were filming a scary movie!). We scheduled an orienteering tour with a ranger and she was absolutely so fun to work with! She was so patient and did a great job keeping our group of girls on track. The wolf spiders might stop us from scheduling a trip back into their cabins but my sister camps often in a tent and says the entire experience is lovely! read more

This park has always been one of our fave spots to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's a long-ish drive from DC but there's something about how sparse and quiet it is that never fails to draw us over here each time. This is our 5th time back, perhaps the 1st time in spring and I've enjoyed the hike a lot. Note that this is a national park so may be affected during the government shutdown period. We had to go to another park nearby during that period of time. read more

Prince William Forest Park - Hiking Near Me - Triangle, Virginia

See all

This is a great park run by great folks. Loved the paved sites and roads. Easy to find and hand enough to see DC. read more

Lots of hiking trails here and great scenic drive. Very friendly staff here. Definitely worth visiting. read more

Prince William Forest Park - Hiking Near Me - Triangle, Virginia

See all

We stopped by after missing a left turn and feel lucky that we did. What a nicely maintained National Park Forest with ample parking, picnic tables with shades, playgrounds, and nice visitor center! The dogs and I could have easily spent all day in there to trail walk. There were many clearly parked trail entrances that we'd love to come back and explore. I really appreciated the thoughtfully placed accessibility parking spaces and mixed pavements for those with mobility differences. The bathroom building also had excellent slope that was no more than 20 degrees angle. Too often the slopes are at steep angle with convoluted zigzag making it difficult for everyone in need of using it. Not here! All in all, I am so happy for this accidental find and look forward to returning again in the future. read more

See all

40 minutes south of Washington, D.C. is a large national park with a conflicted history. When the national park was created in the 1930s, farmers and residents of Batestown, a small community first settled by those formerly enslaved, were resettled by the government. The park does acknowledge its dark history. Today, Prince William Forest Park is a massive national park that cost $20 per vehicle to visit. Start at the visitors center to get the history of the park and maps. (There's also a little store that sells snacks inside.) Then park in one of the many parking lots that take you to old ruins, a handful of trails and a scenic drive. read more

See all

[Coronavirus review] While open, this park had one of the most obnoxious partial closures I've seen. The entrance roads were blocked to cars, leaving us lined up on the side of the road and walking in. Given this is a big park that didn't have a ton of parking anyway, I struggle to see what was gained in this, and it's not like making us walk on a road to get to the park is safe. Also, they ticketed someone in that makeshift parking; I think for being too close to a stop sign. Signage says the park is in part the site of a reclaimed mine. Some streams flow through it, but there's nothing wildly spectacular on view. The trails had some boards in places but were so waterlogged following our April showers they really needed them in a lot of places. I saw a few bits of wildlife during the three or so hours I spent doing a fairly wide loop, including a relatively harmless but rather sizable black rat snake. Signs warned of bears being sighted in the park, which would surprise me. I walked out tick-free but smelling strongly of lemon eucalyptus. (Quick sidebar; whenever I see someone describe a park as "tick-infested", it's true but also comes off as being ignorant. Virtually any forested area in the U.S. has ticks, as does much of the rest of the world. They're unpleasant. They transmit nasty diseases. Wear repellent. Check yourself. Regardless of where you are.) Given the range of more exciting mountains to the west and water to the east, this park is not that exciting by comparison. However, if you just want somewhere with fresh air and trees and are in suburban Virginia, this is the biggest area available. read more

See all

I recently visited Prince William Forest Park for the first time for a solo early weekend hike. At this time, it is $20 for a pass that lasts a week if you're driving in. I had read online some of the different trail routes and had one in mind. Signage is not a strength of the park, so I ended up doing a different route than planned but still really enjoyed it. There are many spots that double as swimming holes. They have a geology trail and some of the trails go along old mining areas. Camping is popular at this park too, but generally, it's not overly crowded. I hiked on a Saturday morning/early afternoon and ran into only a handful of people. I'll definitely be back to check out other areas of this beautiful resource. read more

See all

Rangers do their best to educate visitors and the trails are well kept. Unfortunately with the volume of park guests there are always a handful of individuals who feels they don't have to follow park rules or abide by laws. read more

Beautiful Forest. Miles of trails and a few hidden gems. If you're going into the water further back in the woods, it's important to remember that Covid has decreased the attendance for a time. Certain areas on the water haven't had as much traffic as they previously did so snakes are more likely to be sunning themselves on the rocks now. I almost stepped on one two days ago .. 5/24. There is also a great scenic, concrete bike path that loops the park. Take a bike and enjoy a casual ride. Pack a picnic, there are no food stops. read more

See all

This is definitely our favorite place to visit when we are in town. So many wonderful trails and places to go to. Plenty of stuff to do for everyone. Definitely recommend this park to everyone who loves some beautiful scenery to hike or just to relax period read more

See all

Came here for a hike last Sunday, a bit confusing since there's no maps. Part of NPS, need fee to enter usually. Road is smooth though, no issues there, and it's one-way so will need to drive the entire loop once you start (and don't miss your parking lot if you're aiming for a specific one!). Trails are confusing to follow, wasn't very interesting since it's just trees and creek. read more

This park is a haven for tree lovers. The rough trails cut through expanses of deciduous forests and it's possible to go quite a few miles without being overrun by northern Virginia's hordes. The farther out you park (along the scenic drive) from the central visitor's center, the fewer the other people you will encounter. The best trails, we feel, are alongside quiet Quantico Creek; they climb up and fall back down some interesting minor elevation. There are deer and plenty of birds to be spotted along the way. Once while hiking, we encountered dozens of racers taking part in an organized race. The history of this Park back to the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps is everywhere evident, from the hewn log bridges to the names of fire roads like "MaWaVi Trail" which is the hip 1930s way of combining Maryland-Washington-Virginia (today we've coined the term "the DMV" for it). The park's developed campsites such as Oak Ridge campground are well-organized and allow nature enthusiasts with fairly minimal camping gear to get away in tents, communing with the wind in the trees, without too much effort. They have flushing toilets and the map indicates camp spots that offer a bit of seclusion--a very helpful feature. There are also some permitted backcountry sites set in the woods to go in with your backpacking gear...and that is pretty impressive within an hour of DC. I appreciate that its within 1/2 hour drive of Alexandria but is sufficiently forested to feel like there is a real nature preserve within easy access. read more

See all

This was my second time out to this oasis of fresh air in the DC Metro. If you want another National Park like this; you must drive to the Shenandoah. There are those that believe $7 is too much to pay for this park. I've heard some say...'I pay taxes, why should I pay again' If you don't think it's worth it...stay home. That way you don't overcrowd and you can use that $7 to put a couple gallons of gas in your tank. I really like that you can drive up to the oneway road and park your car and just walk on the paved road when the trails are too wet. There are several trails throughout the park of various lengths. None that are what i would consider 'primitive. There is a nice 3.8 mile trail you pick up from lot E that will take you by the cascade waterfall. There are plenty of areas for picnic tables. Great two way biking on paved road. There is gravel road for those that want to mountain bike. Very easy access off I-95 or Route 619/Joplin Rd. I really like the criss crossing of the Quantico Creek and the bridges for viewing the water. A great place for families and adults of all ages. People are so much nicer when they are not stressed by competing for space. A great place for attitude adjustment. This should be everyones 'happy hour.' read more

Prince William Forest Park - Hiking Near Me - Triangle, Virginia

See all

Great scenery and pretty trail. I did get a lottle lost at one point when it said I could take a different route but that seemed to not be marked so I just back tracked to the original route. I love it! read more

This is a peaceful and well run park. I've hiked the trails and camped, but mostly I ride my road bike on the scenic loop. Great location and lots of climbing (short but steep hills). read more

I liked it! Appreciated the easy hike but I wish the signs were more clear! We were lost like 3 times so we had to hike longer which was ok but just a heads up for future visitors! Make sure download offline maps on your phone(google map does it) because the map seemed not clear to us...lol We were fine though:) read more

See all

First time visiting this park. Didn't have a lot of expectations as from all I've heard it's not particularly scenic. We drove the scenic loop which doesn't have any view points or overlooks, just trees lining the road, pretty enough when backlit by sunlight. Tried a couple of trails - the Oak Ridge trail is narrow and doesn't seem to have been maintained for some time so extremely wild looking, overgrown and quite muddy in parts. When I checked on the park website it seemed to be a loop but looking at the map at the trailhead (from the Oak Ridge Campground) couldn't quite figure out how it would work, especially when trail markings were not very clear either. It was also extremely buggy. On the way out we stopped at the High Meadows trailhead and walked a bit on that trail which was a lot better than Oak Ridge in that it's much wider, better maintained and less buggy - especially the one on the side of the parking area (which also had some elevation variation). The one thing that made our day, however, was the sighting of an albino squirrel right at the oak ridge trailhead. That was really cool. Definitely not something you'd see everyday or at any other parks. read more

See all

Completed the Laurel Loop. Great scenery and pretty trail. Also had some water streams as well. We did get a little lost at one point when it said we could take a different route but that seemed to not be marked so we just back tracked to the original route. Will definitely be back in the summer time to check out more of the park. Parking was easy and they also have a visitor center. read more

This park is a hidden gem near where I live, in Prince William County. My favorite hike is very simple: follow the scenic drive until you see signs for the South Valley Trail. You can walk along the river for miles and miles, you can make is as long a walk as you'd like because the park is enormous. Make it 2 miles or 9, but it's all along this beautiful river and woods, it's gorgeous. Great place to take dogs (on leash). You can find a few spots to sneak them in for a quick cool off! read more

This is a great place to take the family! My kids are 7 and 4. We hiked literally all day, saw tons of beautiful scenery, and enjoyed every second of it. The park ranger at the visitor center was extremely accommodating to my daughter. She likes to tell lots of stories and provide everyone will lengthy discourses on her live for all things wildlife. The ranger humored her and even showed her some of the centers private collection. Best part, the kids were beat and fell asleep early that night. read more

Sunday around 11am came for a day of hiking $20 for park access but it's good for 7 days reentry or get annuyfor $35 had a good 2 1/2h trail is wide most of way till you get to the falls also has campsite available till end of November will beback read more

Prince William Forest Park - Trail head near picnic area parking - Hiking Near Me - Triangle, Virginia

I've been on the trail along scenic drive. It's a path that goes along a creek that in places you can walk out onto the creek on massive rocks it flows over read more

I was going to give 4 stars for a couple good reasons, but once I got home and recollected my journey I know I'd be silly to not give 5 stars here. First, the history here is amazing. I had no idea until I read the map. Spies, camps, gold and pyrite. Second, the trails are very well maintained. I must mention though, that the maps and posts need some updating. I wasn't the only one scratching my head at some of the trail intersections. The North and The South Valley Trails are beautiful following the rather large Quantico Creek. I was impressed. The North trail was rocks and mountainous, where the South trail was more level and easy going. They talk about the Fall Line in the map and it is very noticable. Impressive. Turkey Run was up and down. Each trail with such different landscape. Everyone I passed or passed me was smiley and friendly. Waterfalls here and there. Third and last, I can see this being a kid/dog nightmare in the summer with everyone in the creek. I'm not good with all that chaos so I probably would avoid coming in the Summer/early Fall. Today my round trip hike was 10.72 miles and 24,854 steps per fitbit. It was a very nice and pleasant place to hike. read more

See all

This place isn't Shenandoah so don't expect mountain vistas here, you'll be crushingly disappointed. Instead what you'll find here is a park that isn't nearly as crowded as some others and has lots of trails through the woods and along Quantico Creek. Some of them go through an old mining area and some other interesting things so be sure and stop at the visitors center on you way in. They're friendly and will be glad to give you hiking recommendations too. They have camping, fishing, and biking here too so it's worth checking out if you enjoy the outdoors and want something beyond happy hour on a Clarendon patio. It's only about an hour from DC and is easily worth the $7 admission that lasts a week. One complaint though, for a place with 13,000 acres you'd think they could add a few more parking spots? read more

See all

This is a beautiful park. There are open and wooded areas. It is a great place to see autumn leaves or to go on a hike. People are mostly respectful and do not litter. Go here if you have the time! read more

Oak Ridge Campgrounds is a nice easy little camping spot close to DC. Cost is $20 per night for camping and 1 time fee of $7 to get into the park 1/3 of the sites are reserved for walkup - self registration which is awesome. The last time we were there there was ample FREE firewood. You just had to ask the campground steward and they gave you a handful. There is a soda machine which is nice. There are about 100 tent sties and I've hardly ever seen them all full. On our last trip we drove over to Po Hick Bay campgrounds which is about 20 mins away, and immediately turned around and went to prince William. What is also nice is the campground map also tells you which sites are good for what kind of groups. http://www.nps.gov/prwi/planyourvisit/images/Oak-Ridge-Map.jpg Even though you are really close to DC you feel like you are in the woods in a little oasis of calm. Also for the lazy - you can just pay your park fee at the self registration at the campgrounds if you don't want to deal with the visitor center. read more

Prince William Forest Park - Map of Oak Ridge Campgrounds - Hiking Near Me - Triangle, Virginia

Beware of Lyme-carrying ticks! We went camping in this park in late May. The camp site we got had a wonderful tree canopy. It's really a beautiful park, but for camping, there are a couple things to keep in mind. The ranger stations provide no firewood and you are not allowed to bring in your own. The other thing was the ticks. They were everywhere!! Not just along paths and through the woods, but all over the camp sites. Most of them were dropping out of the trees and onto our stuff and us--apparently, Lone Star Ticks can do this. We were constantly checking out our bodies for ticks. Unfortunately, one of our party (we all used DEET) found a tick on his body and was subsequently tested positive for Lyme disease. Now, one can't blame administers for having ticks in Prince William Forest Park--obviously, it's not something they can control. But when we checked in for our camp site, there was no notification or warnings about ticks (in writing or verbally). Similar, I could not find anything on their website. Check out the Alerts & Conditions page of their website--nothing. I think it's the Park's responsibility to warn hikers and campers about the problem. read more

* Easy to miss a turn because of the lack of signage * Not TOOO much scenery. Was a long stretch of just trees and trail... * Lots of trails to choose from, though. * Not too far from the city * Not strenuous at all... it's a 'walk in the park'....literally! * It is a national park, so if you have the annual pass you're good. Otherwise it's $5/vehicle, or $3/person read more

As a novice hiker, I was nervous to do the 10-mile loop at Prince William last Saturday, but it ended up being the perfect distance and difficulty for someone who is active but not used to hiking. There were some hilly sections that were more challenging, but overall the hike difficulty was only 3/5. Plus, its proximity to DC is a huge plus so you don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn to get there. A couple highlights were seeing frogs and a garter snake, but other than that, the hike consists of pretty scenery and babbling brooks. Don't forget to check behind your ears for ticks! $7/entrance fee for a hike is totally worth it. read more

Prince William Forest Park - Hiking Near Me - Triangle, Virginia

See all

For a DC resident, this park is a worthy alternative to going all the way to the Shenandoah. There are no mountains or great waterfalls, but for quiet walks in the woods and along creeks this park has hiking galore. Along the way you'll see evidence of beaver activity and quiet, natural beauty to make you pause and ponder. On our most recent visit, we enjoyed learning about the history of pyrite mining in the late 1800s, long before FDR established the land as a National Park in 1936. As usual in our capitalist society, the drive to capture and exhaust the resources left the land decimated, and what had once been a river used to export the iron is now Quantico "Creek." Only a land reclamation effort in 1995 has helped to restore some semblance of what the riverside once looked like. Already looking forward to returning in the spring as everything starts to bloom for the year. read more

See all

Continuing with my national park area centennial review theme, I decided to write about one of the less popular hiking areas near DC. There's something about being outside, just wandering through the woods that really helps me clear my head and relax. I was stressed out about my upcoming cross country move, the adjustment to a new job, and a hundred other little things. I needed to take a break from all the logistics that were constantly running through my head and headed out for a hike to unwind. Prince William Forest offers 37 miles of hiking trails but I've only hiked a few miles of the trails closest to the visitor center. It was a pretty warm Sunday afternoon when I was here, luckily all the shade from the trees helped with the heat. The best part about Prince William Forest is the solitude. I only saw two other people the entire afternoon, both taking runs with their dogs. I didn't see any beavers on my trip but two deer did run 10 feet in front of me on the trail and down into the creek for a drink. Since it was so quiet and there were no other people to disturb them I was able to watch them for quite awhile before they dashed back into the woods. If you want to get out and enjoy some easy hiking without the crowds of Shenandoah or the traffic noise on the trails at Manassas, I highly recommend Prince William Forest. I'll probably be back again this summer, combining it with a trip to the Marine Corps Museum. read more

Prince William Forest Park - Hiking Near Me - Triangle, Virginia

See all

Complete rip off. If you spend $35 on a campsite (no hookup, ground camping), you still have to spend $20 on a one week pass PER VEHICLE to get in the forest. No daily pass option. The guy at the front has his spiel ready the second you pull up and say you're going to the campground because nobody knows they're also getting nailed for a park entry pass. It's footnoted on the website, but isn't obviously for a reason. So they have you bent over a barrel. read more

I LOVE this park. It's an amazing bit of serenity in a crowded part of the country. I come here regularly during warmer months to hike the trails. There is a fee to park which seems fair enough since the grounds are kept in great condition and the rangers have always been extremely friendly and helpful. I generally take the longest loop along the water. During all of my hiking, I've only encountered small groups of people--no overcrowding which is huge for me. I can't stand places that have more people than the mall. That's not relaxing to me. There are tables around for having some pre-/post-hike food which is nice. I haven't tried camping or the cabins, but it's crossed my mind. I assume it'd be pleasant. read more

Beautiful in the fall!! Went for a trail walk in November. Great to bring your dogs. Constantly see other people while on the trial so you do have a sense of "safety". Bringing a trail stick is not a bad idea at all. Sometimes it's difficult to see where to step especially when the leaves have fallen. Sometimes you don't even realize how high you are until you stop to enjoy the scenery. read more

See all

I visited Prince William Forest for the first and only time (so far) in February 2020 (about a month before the pandemic started) and absolutely loved it! The park has a wonderful walking trail and you walk over lovely quaint bridges over a body of water, as well as alongside the creek which runs through this park. There are various trail choices with various difficulty levels. The trail we chose was an easier one and was about a 1-mile loop, which took us about an hour to complete. It was lovely to be out there on a crisp February day. I would love to return again! We attempted to go back somewhat recently, during the beginning of the pandemic, but their parking lot was closed, so definitely check their website to make sure that they're open before visiting! The park is about an hour south of Washington, D.C. read more

Do you like beavers? Then you will love Prince William Park. You can see beavers swimming around in the water while you're hiking. This park is huge - like, 17000 acres huge. It would be hard to be bored here, whether you want a day trip, a picnic, or a weeklong camping trip. There are miles and miles of trails, and while some are marked or featured in guide books, it's easy to break off from the trails and go on the "less traveled" ones that are very dense in vegetation to see what the woods are really like. When you enter the park, you get a pass that's good for a few days (7 I believe). If you want to go hiking, you can drive up to one of the trails and start walking (wear long pants!). If you want to go camping, you can drive up to the campground which is VERY low-key. As in, pick out a spot that's not taken and put your money in an envelope and stick it in a box. That's it - just the honor system, so make sure you bring cash. There's a grocery store a little ways out from the park in the nearest town, so if you need to, you can pick up campfire essentials there. The park rangers are helpful in pointing you where you need to go. I would definitely come here again! read more

Torn between two and three stars for this one. We showed up somewhat late last night due to unforeseen traffic and bad directions. I had called several different numbers associated with the campground several times each over the course of the afternoon to confirm our reservation and ask about showing up late, but no one answered any of the numbers I called. It was dark when we got there, and we spent a lot of time searching for a visitors' center or anyone who could check us in or tell us where to go. Nothing. (We missed the sign for the visitors' center on the absurdly long and poorly-lit drive to the campground because it was too dark to see it.) We found our site ourselves and set up in the dark. There was a bit of dry wood around for a fire, but only barely enough for an hour. The entire campground was very wet and muddy. The woods are gorgeous; although our site was disappointing (there was a maintenance road which ran right through the back), many other sites looked perfectly nice. The bathrooms are excellent and clean. My biggest concern is that we simply didn't see a single employee the entire time we were at the campground. read more

If you are itching for a nice hike and don't want to spend ages in the car - Prince William Forest Park is an excellent option. You won't find any beautiful overlooks or waterfalls, but this is a lovely forest and offers a huge network of trails. I love the flexibility of a trail system like this. It's easy to design a hike that provides exactly what you're looking for, be it a short walk with your kids/dog/whatever or an all-day hike. This is a well-maintained park with clearly marked trails and very helpful rangers, who will happily assist you in plotting a route. As an added bonus, you pass right by Mom's Apple Pie Co. in Occoquan on your way back to DC... just saying. read more