Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve

Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
Location within Virginia Show map of Virginia Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Fauquier and Prince William counties, Virginia
Nearest city	Manassas
Coordinates	38°48′46″N 77°38′6″W
Area	2,486 acres (10.06 km^2)
Established	2002 (2002)
Owner	Virginia Outdoors Foundation

Hiking Trails on Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve as of 2021-05-19

Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve is a 2,486-acre (10.06 km^2) Natural Area Preserve located along the Bull Run Mountains in Fauquier and Prince William counties, Virginia. Dedicated in 2002, the majority of the preserve is owned and operated by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF). The preserve harbors a number of outstanding natural community types, some of which are rare in the Commonwealth. There are also quartzite cliffs and boulder fields around High Point Mountain within the preserve's boundaries.[1]

While most of the preserve is prioritized for scientific and educational activities, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation keeps 800 acres of the preserve open to the public on weekends (Friday-Sunday) for low-impact uses such as hiking and wildlife observation.[2] On November 25, 2014, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation announced that the private landowner of the High Point Cliffs area of the preserve would close the cliffs to the public for an indefinite period of recovery and restoration, starting January 15, 2015.[3][4] As of January 2025^[update], the privately-owned area is still closed to the public and there are no stated plans to re-open access.

The preserve is part of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation's Bull Run Mountains Special Project Area, which encompasses 12,800 acres (52 km^2).[5]

Dogs are not allowed in the preserve.[6]

See also

• List of Virginia Natural Area Preserves

References

1. "Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve". Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
2. "Visiting the Preserve - Virginia Outdoors Foundation". Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
3. "Virginia Outdoors Foundation Portion of Bull Run Mountains to be closed for recovery and restoration". Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Archived from the original on December 30, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
4. "High Point Restoration". Bull Run Mountains Conservancy. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
5. "Virginia Outdoors Foundation VOF Special Project Areas". Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
6. Bromser-Kloeden, Taryn (January 6, 2022). "What's the deal with "no dogs allowed?"". Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Retrieved October 23, 2023.

External links

• Bull Run Mountains.org website
• Virginia Outdoors Foundation
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation: Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve