Prince William Forest Park, Park Site in Triangle, Virginia
Park Site

Prince William Forest Park

Triangle · Virginia

Overview

About Prince William Forest Park.

Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm. In 1936, Chopawamsic Recreation Area opened its gates to house children's 'relief' camps during the Great Depression. Renamed Prince William Forest Park in 1948, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers, bikers and nature lovers. Discover Northern Virginia's best kept secret!

Arts and CultureBikingMountain BikingRoad BikingCampingBackcountry CampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup CampingRV CampingCompass and GPSOrienteeringFishing

Weather

Prince William Forest Park experiences all four seasons. Spring and fall are generally comfortable with precipitation possible. Summers can be hot and humid with average temperatures in the high 80s and with sudden thunderstorms possible. July and August are the hottest months. Winters can be cold with average temperatures in the winter of 41 degrees with variable precipitation. The main park roads can close due to snowy conditions, though cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing are permitted.

Key Facts

TypePark Site
DesignationPark

Official Website

Entrance Fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle$20.00

Valid seven (7) consecutive days.

Entrance - Motorcycle$15.00

Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

Entrance - Per Person$10.00

Valid seven (7) consecutive days.

Gallery

Photos of Prince William Forest Park.

7 images

Things to do

Discover Prince William Forest Park.

Hand holding booklet and pet tag in front of a brown and white spotted dog in the visitor center

Become a B.A.R.K. Ranger at Prince William Forest Park

10-120 Minutes

Help your pet become a B.A.R.K. Ranger by bagging your pet's waste and properly disposing of it, always leashing your pet, respecting wildlife, and knowing where you can go with your pet. Pick up a B.A.R.K. Ranger booklet at the visitor center, and when you're finished filling it out, return to the visitor center for your pet to earn a free B.A.R.K. Ranger leash tag!

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A visitor center building surrounded by trees

Bike the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in Prince William Forest Park

1-3 Hours

Discover Northern Virginia's best kept secret and bike along the park’s Scenic Drive.

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Bicycling

Biking in Prince William

For the on and off road cyclist, Prince William Forest Park is a favorite place for bicyclists. Over 12 miles of paved roads and 9.2 miles of gravel roads are available.

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Chopawamsic Backcountry Area

Chopawamsic Backcountry

1-14 Days

Chopawamsic (chop-ah-wahm-zik) Backcountry Area, which means by the small "divided streams" or "river flats" in Algonquian, is 1,500 acres of backcountry area with eight designated campsites. Campsites are accessible from the 2.2 mile loop trail. Access for day hiking in the backcountry area is also available.

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Clearing covered in green grass with a lone tree and the forest in the background

Hike to the Taylor Farm Site

30-120 Minutes

The Taylor Farm site is a short hike from the Turkey Run parking area or parking lot H. While slowly being reclaimed by the forest, this site is a great example of the farms that were once scattered throughout the forest before it became a national park. Though not much evidence of the farm remains, the small meadow provides an opportunity to enjoy the sun in the mostly dense forest of Prince William Forest Park.

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Orienteering

Orienteering In Prince William

Orienteering is an activity for all ages and levels of fitness and skill, in which the object is to locate control points within the park using a map and compass. It can be enjoyed as a leisurely walk in the woods or as a competitive sport combining the suspense and excitement of a treasure hunt. There are 30 orienteering courses within the picturesque setting of Prince William Forest Park. The different orienteering courses are designed to challenge orienteers of all levels.

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Junior Ranger Booklet with images of children in front of a cabin with at wooden badge laying on top

Prince William Forest Park Junior Ranger

20-60 Minutes

Join the Junior Ranger Corps at Prince William Forest Park today to learn more about the park's history and natural resources! Junior Rangers help protect national parks like Prince William Forest Park and explore the forests of this area. Stop by the park's Visitor Center to get your Junior Ranger book today!

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