• dogwood across creek

    Prince William Forest

    Park Virginia

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  • Firewood

    Outside firewood is prohibited in Prince William Forest Park, unless it is certified USDA 'bug free' firewood. Dead and downed wood may be collected from designated areas for use while in the park. Help us protect the forest from invasive species!

  • Warm Wet Spring = More Ticks

    Please check yourself and your pets for ticks continually during and after your visit. Ticks are less prevelent if you stay on trail or in mowed areas. Wearing light colored clothing helps you spot them before the attach.

  • Temp. Closure C-Loop Bathroom

    Due to sequestration cuts, the C-Loop bathroom at Oak Ridge Campground will remain closed. Please use the B-Loop restroom, a short walking distance away. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Doing Business With The Park

Commercial Visitor Services
The National Park Service provides visitor services within the park that are necessary and appropriate for visitor use and enjoyment. A Commercial Visitor Activity is defined as a business that:

  • provides an activity or service to the general public
  • takes place at least in part in any park unit; and, results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit to an individual entity, whether or not the individual or entity is recognized as non-profit under applicable laws.

Commercial Visitor Services are authorized through concession contracts or commercial use authorizations (CUAs).

NOTE: If you are an individual who is planning a special event or activity in the park that does not result in a monetary gain, you are exempt from the commercial use authorization process. However, special events and activities require that you apply for and be granted a special use permit.

Commercial use authorizations (CUAs) are one method of authorizing commercial visitor services.

  • CUAs are currently issued for one year.
  • There is no right or guarantee of renewal. Permittee must reapply for a new CUA for succeeding periods upon expiration of the current CUA.
  • CUAs are issued for a yearly fee. The current fee is $200.
  • CUAs are not considered concession contracts. These services need not be "necessary" but are "appropriate" services that may enhance the visitor experience, and have been determined to have minimal impact on resources and park values.
  • Commercial business activity is prohibited within the park unless a CUA has been granted by the park (36 CFR Sec. 5.3).

Concession contracts are one method of authorizing commercial visitor services. Prince William Forest Park currently has only one concessionaire - Prince William Forest RV Campground.

Concession contracts have the following characteristics:

  • The term of concession contracts is generally 10 years or less.
  • Some concession contracts have a "preference in renewal."
  • Contracts are awarded under competition and are limited in number.
  • The concessioner pays a franchise fee to the government determined by the probable value to the concessioner for the privileges provided by the contract.

Did You Know?

Great Horned Owl

An owl's eyes are fixed in place because their large size provides no room for muscle. To compensate for this, it can turn its head in almost any direction and angle, including the ability to rotate its head nearly 280 degrees. By comparison, people can only turn their heads a mere 90 degrees!