bull run mountains natural area preserve

Came to BRMNAP [as those in the know seem to put it??] today after Googling "What to do in Prince William County". It might be colder than a well digger's ankles, but it was worth braving the elements. There's about six miles of hiking trails in this park, with lots of Civil War ruins and history. This is the location of Chapman's Mill; home to confederate and Federal skirmishers taking pot-shots at each other from the roof of the still-intact mill house. It's easy to imagine blue and grey marching through these woods, over the ridgeline-- pausing in the creek to cool off. The hiking does change elevation frequently, though not what I would consider extreme. If you are planning a trip with someone who has respiratory difficulties, this wouldn't be a good choice. Though each trail is short, they are not at all boring. We enjoyed seeing all the frozen water, but I imagine this is going to be beautiful in the Spring/Fall!Quick Tips: There are two bathrooms at the trail head. Also, you must sign in/sign a waiver before embarking on your hike. Wouldn't want to get lost and not have a ranger find you!The Bottom Line: We drove 40 minutes from Alexandria to try this and weren't disappointed. Bring water and a camera, and enjoy the scenery. Would recommend to anyone within a 1.5 hour drive.

Nature made this place “Excellent”. BRMNAP made it “Good”. To return to excellent, the recipe is pretty simple: remove the signs and the constant oversight. There are signs (and guards) to keep your dog away. Signs to keep your feet away. In each of the three times I’ve visited there was something to make me and my family feel unwelcome. From attendants warning of the cold summit winds (please), to the guards shooing my pup, to closing of trails for “restoration” when they are truly pristine. Certainly there is thanks in that the trails are semi-public. Better yet - make them public; especially given that they are the closest true hiking to the DC area.

If you don't mind parking far away then it is actually worth going. This is the first mountain that I've been and I've been here at least three times. It's not place you should go if you want to spend a short amount of time at because it's not enough time to really explore anything. For the reason of not having enough time to see everything does make you want to come back. The trails are really rough and sometimes narrow so you have to be careful and wear shoes that are comfortable. This place is definitely a challenge and you will definitely get a workout.

I love hiking in BRMNAP! Its a decent hike from the parking lot up to the summit and I get a lot of satisfaction checking out the local history via Chapman's/Beverely Mill ruins. My kids always enjoy exploring the ruins as well. We've been four times this fall and I'm planning on getting out there again today for a quikie (provided the weather holds out). There is a secret to the parking situation. If you're not "in the know" then you'll park further away from the trailhead then is necessary. Thats the only hint you're going to get out of me! No real facilities here so be sure to prepare for hydration/food needs and the "bathrooms" are Portapotties. If your kids enjoy trains stick around for an upclose and personal drive by as you have to cross unprotected tracks in order to access the trails. Ample places to picnic near the Mill. Hiking here is great but checking out the ruins is a MUST - up close and personal!Last note: A previous reviewer mentioned dogs not being allowed. As the owner of FOUR dogs I'm cheerful they aren't allowed. I do not enjoy being on trails and coming up on a dog and its owner - leashed or not. The unleashed pups are worse but given that most trails aren't exactly four lane highways I do not relish the idea of squeezing past a dog who's temperment I don't know - especially when I have my little ones. Responsible dog owners get it - others are just kidding themselves. There are plenty of places you can get exercise with your dog - numerous battlefield, area rec trails, etc.

This is a moderate hike to a very rewarding overlook. I took the Forest Glen to the Mountain Ridge to get to the summit and found that trail easier to follow and less steep than the Holly Ridge trail that I took back to the parking. It is an easier, closer and cheaper alternative to old rag but given the lack of rock scramble, I'm REALLY bummed they don't allow dogs and am confused as to why!

The hike to the White Rocks Overlook is just four and five miles round trip, depending on which route you take. The easiest and most direct route is to take the Mountain Road and Bull Run Ridge trails - a little more than four miles out and back. But for a more scenic route I recommend taking the Hickory Trail in at least one direction. You can turn it into a seven or eight-mile loop, too. Just print out a copy of the trail map that can be found online before you go as one may not be available at the trailhead. Access to the preserve is free, but you will need to fill out a form before heading out on the trail. This way the preserve can keep track of how much usage its getting and plan for trail maintenance and such, which is carried out by dedicated volunteers throughout the year. Be sure to observe leave no trace ethics and carry out any trash you carry in. I was there yesterday and saw some trash up at the summit, which was pretty sad to see. I tried to carry some of it out, but some of it was down on some precarious rocks below the summit where the migrating hawks were nesting, so I just had to leave it there to spoil the next visitor's view. By the way, I gave this a four star rating because while the summit is amazing and worth it on its own merit, I didn't find the vegetation or understory of the forest to be impressive. It's young to medium grown and heavily grazed by deer. Otherwise, though, I loved the hike and will be back several times this fall to be certain.

With the gov shut down, putting the kibash on hikes in a lot of parks, I found Bull Run Mountain NAP/Conservancy, and boy am I glad I did. This hike is a pretty short distance off I-66 in the Northern VA area (15 min from Manassas). The hike is free, so long as you fill out a waiver form. We opted for a 5 (or so) mile trek. Trails are marked with a number system that is pretty easy to follow. I would call (depending on the trail and you accent/decent) this place an easy to moderate type trail system. I'm sadly out of shape and the accent to the ridge line, with scenic overview at the White Rock Cliff was rather tiring for me at points, but alas I did it. The views from the top are beautiful as you over look some piedmont, with farms, rolling hills, and the Shenandoahs off in the distance. Trails were pretty well maintained, although parts can be pretty rocky. We went on a Sunday in early October here, when the Redskins had a bye week, so I think that may have had a play in why it was so busy on the trails, plus the 90 degree weather. All in all, I plan to come back many a time, as this is a great place, to see some history (ruins from civil war era), VA forest life, and get a solid workout, all for free!

We decided to hike this as a family last weekend and were pleasantly surprised at how great a hike this turned out to be. the weather was fantastic in the upper 70s. the loop we chose was almost 6 miles long, but our 11 yr old didn't seem to notice. We hiked to the overlook where we ate subs from Santinis. I sat with my legs dangling over a ledge looking at the Shenandoah Mountains in the distance as a couple of hawks circled nearby. Along part of the hike are some Civil War era ruins: an old house, a grist mill, an ice house and a cemetary. We will definitely do this hike again.

The forest trails which climb Bull Run Mountain provide an enjoyable hike for all ages. Enjoy the history of the area and especially enjoy the view from the granite cliffs at the top.