Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve

Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
Map showing the location of Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
Map showing the location of Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
Location within Virginia
Map showing the location of Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
Map showing the location of Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve (the United States)
LocationFauquier and Prince William counties, Virginia
Nearest cityManassas
Coordinates38°48′46″N 77°38′6″W / 38.81278°N 77.63500°W / 38.81278; -77.63500
Area2,486 acres (10.06 km2)
Established2002 (2002)
OwnerVirginia 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 km2) 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). It 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 Friday-Sunday (8am-6pm) for low-impact uses such as hiking and wildlife observation.[2] On 25 November 2014, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation announced that the private landowner of the High Point Cliffs area on the preserve would close the cliffs to the public for an indefinite period of recovery and restoration, starting 15 January 2015.[3][4] As of October 2023, 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 km2).[5]

Dogs are not allowed in the preserve.[6]

  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 2017-05-02.
  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 2023-10-23.
  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 (2022-01-06). "What's the deal with "no dogs allowed?"". Virginia Outdoors Foundation. Retrieved 2023-10-23.