Prince William Forest Park
Other · VA
Park Closure · Parking Lot E Closed for Construction
Parking Lot E is closed for construction. The park is currently working to expand this parking area, and the lot will be closed while the expansion is being built. Visitors can still access the Mary Byrd Branch Trail and Quantico Cascades Trail by following trail reroute signs and parking vehicles in Turkey Run parking area. For your safety, please follow all closures and only park in designated parking spots.
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!
- NPS site
- nps.gov/prwi
- Location
- Prince William Forest Park (38.586, -77.389)
Track your visit to Prince William Forest Park
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center
Hours
Prince William Forest Park Operating Hourstoday: Sunrise to Sunset
- Sat Oct 3Sunrise to Sunset
- Sun Oct 4Sunrise to Sunset
- Mon Oct 5Sunrise to Sunset
- Tue Oct 6Sunrise to Sunset
- Wed Oct 7Sunrise to Sunset
- Thu Oct 8Sunrise to Sunset
- Fri Oct 9Sunrise to Sunset
Prince William Forest Park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset for recreation use.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
- Prince William Forest Park Visitor Centertoday: 9:00AM - 5:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
5
Piedmont Forest Trail Hike20–60 minutes · 5 stops
Take a short 0.2 mile walk on the Piedmont Forest Trail, a rubber paved, accessible pathway through the forest leading to a deck overlooking a small drainage that flows down to Quantico Creek. Take in the sights and sounds of a mixed hardwood forest as you learn about the different layers of the forest at Prince William Forest Park.
Pyrite Mine Trail Hike1–3 hours · 4 stops
Learn about early mining in the park. The Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine operated on what is now the eastern side of the park from 1889-1920, mining pyrite for its sulfur content. Hike this trail to see the remains of some mine buildings as well as learn about forest restoration of the area after the mine was closed. The trail is around 1.5 miles round trip.
Quantico Cascades Trail Hike1–3 hours · 5 stops
Also known as the Geology Trail, this hike highlights the transition between the different physiographic regions of the Piedmont Forest and Coastal Plain which Prince William Forest Park straddles. The trail is 2 miles round trip and can also be accessed from the Turkey Run Ridge Area by hiking the Mary Byrd Branch Trail (which adds 1 mile round trip).
The Crossing Trail Hike30–90 minutes · 2 stops
Entrance fees
4
- Private Vehicle — $20.00
Valid seven (7) consecutive days.
- Motorcycle — $15.00
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
- Per Person — $10.00
Valid seven (7) consecutive days.
- Annual Entrance - Park — $35.00
The Prince William Forest Park annual pass provides unlimited entry to the park for one year through the month of purchase (example - a pass purchased on January 1, 2022 will be valid through January 31, 2023). The pass covers admission for the passholder (who must be present) and all individuals in a single vehicle, or for the passholder and three adults who walk into the park. The pass can be purchased at the visitor center or entrance station (when in operation).