Prince William National Forest Park has Everything You Could Possibly Need for an Outdoor Adventure.

Camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and learning are all things that you can do in this fantastic state park.  Prince William Forest not only has a long history, from early settlers to mining, but it is also beautiful. Prince William Forest Park is a 15,000 acre nationally protected park with over 37 miles of hiking trails. The trails all vary in difficulty, meaning that people of all skill levels are welcome. There is an entrance fee to get into the park; $20 per vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, $10 for individual walk and bike-ins, and $35 per person for a year pass. All of the day passes are valid for 7 days. This is a park that is going to keep you coming back to discover and try new things.

There are 16 overall in the park, from walks in the woods to river trails. Our favorite hike is the High Meadows Trail, which has a great variation of scenery and even an old farm that used to operate on the property. The farm still has some foundation left and the family graveyard is still standing. The trail starts at Turkey Run Education Center, mostly covered in trees, and then brings you into a high, more sparsely forested meadow that is gorgeous, especially in the fall.  Eventually, you’ll hit Parking Lot H (which conveniently has bathrooms), before hitting the South Valley Trail which will eventually bring you back to the Education Center. This hike is best with slightly older kids or with adults prepared to wear or carry their little ones, as the whole hike is about four and a half miles.

The Laurel Loop Trail is probably the best hike in the park with younger kids. It begins at the Pine Grover Picnic Area (where there is parking and bathrooms!) before starting you on the Birch Bluff Trail and then connecting to the Laurel Loop Trail. The entire hike is beautiful and eventually takes you to Quantico Creek, where your kiddos can dip their toes in if it’s hot outside. You’ll also cross over a small beautiful wooden bridge on this hike. The trail has informational plaques along the way which make great stopping points for toddlers who need a little break. The entire way is shaded which is great in the summer. The loop is about a mile and a half.

Some of the easier trails include the Quantico Cascades Trail (the shortest trail to the cascading water along the creek), Piedmont Forest Trail ( a 0.2-mile rubberized trail with benches), and the Crossing trail ( a 0.5-mile trail with many historic features). Some of the harder trails include the South Valley trial (the longest trail in the park at 10 miles), Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine trails ( a short yet moderately difficult trail with views of the Cabin Branch Mine), and the Birch Bluff Trail (a 2.2-mile loop around the water with various obstacles). I would recommend starting your day at the visitor center and asking them what trail best suits your and your family.

If your kids like to bike and you have bikes that can go through gravel, we recommend biking Lake One Road! The whole thing is nicely shaded and there is a great picnic spot at the end. The whole thing (out and back) is a little less than 2 miles. There is also fishing in two creeks and four man-made lakes throughout the park.

Safety is very important here, and it is key to plan out your trip and follow park rules. Make sure to stay on the marked trails, bring sunscreen and lots of water, bring a map, and watch out for slippery rocks, specifically by the creek. For those who want to see the park without having to hike, they can drive down Scenic Drive, a 12 miles round trip starting near the visitor center. Free parking lots can be found all along this drive. There are restrooms at the visitor center, Oak Ridge campground, and Turkey Run Ridge campground. Picnic tables and covered pavilions are a great place to stop and eat, but make sure to bring food in as there is nowhere to get food inside of the park. 

The park has two campgrounds, Oak Ridge Campground and Turkey Run Campground, that are open in the summer and the fall. They are pretty basic and not very private especially in the summer when the campgrounds are packed, but the sites are beautiful and provide a great getaway from the city. They both have bathrooms, grills, and picnic tables, and you can make reservations on recreation.gov. If you’re in an RV, Prince William Forest RV Campground also has spots, but the sites feel very developed. The park also has cabins that you can reserve if camping isn’t your thing.