Prince William Forest Park (Chopawamsic)

Just 35 miles south of the city, Prince William Forest Park is the largest protected natural area in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region at over 15,000 acres — adjacent to Marine Corps Base and FBI training academy Quantico. Marine intelligence trained spies here during World War II. Summer camps run by the Civilian Conservation Corps provided outdoor immersion and nature education programs to inner-city youth. For these reasons and more, PWFP is one of my favorite day-hiking parks any time of year.

Five Things You’ll Learn From This Post:

1. Some of this area’s unique geologic history and history of its first peoples.
2. Where to cool off on a hot day against cascading waterfalls.
3. Where to see the ruins of the Cabin Branch Pyrite (Fools Gold) Mine (1889–1920).
4. The history of the camps that provided lower-income, inner-city and minority youth with natural opportunities they couldn’t get in the confines of the nation’s capital.
5. Where to hike, where to bike, and where to car cruise around the park no matter how much time you have.

Prince William Forest Park is home to beavers, bears, coyotes, bobcats and other wildlife. It straddles the southern and northern climates in a climate transition zone that supports many species and a diversity of habitat.

The park also contains the largest protected area of Piedmont forest in the entire National Park System. The Piedmont is the physiographic region (a term scientists use to describe the physical characteristics of natural landmasses) between the low-lying Coastal Plain of the East Coast and the Appalachian Plateau. It is essentially, the foothills of the Appalachians.

Map of the physiographic regions of the East Coast.

When the park was formed in 1936, it was originally called the Chopawamsic Recrational Demonstration Area. Chopawamsic means “divided streams” or “river flats” in Algonquian, a Native American language used by first peoples in the region including the Powhatan and others.

Stretching back 10,000 years, indigenous people lived here in what was once a great forest spanning most of eastern North America.

Today, the park preserves the largest natural area in the DC region offering a glimpse of what this region may have looked like thousands of years ago. Many want to return the park’s name to Chopawamsic to honor its history.

The Route:

With 37 miles of hiking trails, 12 miles of paved roads, and 9 miles of gravel roads, there are plenty of hiking, biking, and driving routes to explore! There are also eighteen miles of streams and four small lakes. The park protects the South Fork of the Quantico Creek and 80% of the Quantico Creek Watershed. Fishing is permitted anywhere along the South Fork and Quantico Creeks but check with NPS for additional rules and regulations.

For this Saturday afternoon, we did the Pyrite Mine and North Valley Trail loop — a 4 mile mostly flat trail good for all skill levels. You can access this trail by taking 95 to the Park Entrance Road (don’t forget your National Park pass!) and driving toward Turkey Run Ridge Campground. Stay to the right along the Scenic Drive though and park right before it turns into a 1-way at Pyrite Mine Road. I’ve included a map of our route here which can also be found on AllTrails. A more detailed map of the park from NPS is: here.

The day was warm and beautiful as we hiked down the gravel Pyrite Mine Road toward the old mine. The forest quickly envelops you. Right after crossing Quantico Creek for the first time, hang a left up the North Valley Trail to the Pyrite Mine Overlook.

There isn’t much to see 100 years after the closing of the mine — which is great as nature has successfully reclaimed the land and rolled back this destructive legacy of human development. But keep your eyes open as you hike for remnants of building foundations and other artifacts.

Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine (1889–1920).

Water:

The real fun to be had in the park, in my opinion, is in the water! Shortly after Pyrite Mine, continuing North along North Valley Trail, you’ll get many opportunities for water fun as you parallel Quantico Creek. There are great “river-bank” style picnic spots, cascading waterfalls, and raging rapids bubbling over ancient rocks.

At the place on the map labeled “waterfalls,” near where North Valley Trail turns left into Quantico Cascades Trail, there is even enough width and depth in the creek to do a little swimming and lounging against the flowing rocks.

It’s not always easy to find rivers and streams in the DC region where one can feel comfortable submerging themselves on a hot day without the threat of bacterial infection from farm pollution or human refuse runoff from the DC sewer system. But because of its location away from these sources and mostly protected nature, Quantico Creek is a little more on the safe side.

Finishing the Loop and Other Fun Things:

To complete the 4-mile loop from the waterfall area, head up Quantico Cascades Trail back to the Scenic Road. You’ll then hike south along the road back to the parking area.

There are many other great ways to spend the day in Prince William Forest Park. There are multiple playground, camping and backcountry areas, fishing lakes, additional waterfalls and a man-made dam.

The park also has more than 150 historic buildings, bridges and other structures, including the largest collection of Civilian Conservation Corps buildings in the National Park system. Many of these buildings were built as summer camps for the children of DC. According to the National Park Service, “the goal was to give the underprivileged a chance to leave the city for a few weeks. Through crafts, nature walks, swimming, and other activities, the children who camped at Chopawamsic had opportunities they would likely never have the confines of the nation’s capital.”

Much more information regarding the rich history of the park can be found: here. This is one park that certainly should not be overlooked on your next weekend excursion.

Will Hackman, Hackman Guided Adventures

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