• a leaf rests in Quantico Creek

    Prince William Forest

    Park Virginia

  • Firewood

    Outside firewood is prohibited in Prince William Forest Park, unless it is certified USDA 'bug free' firewood. Any dead and downed wood can be collected in the park for in-park use. Help us protect the forest from invasive species!

  • Oak Ridge Campground B and C Loops Full 5/26

    The B and C Loops of Oak Ridge Campground are full for Saturday night, May 26th. A loop is a first come, first served loop of the campground so you can arrive early to get a site. Call the visitor center from 9 to 5 for a current A Loop site count.

  • Sold Out of the Military Pass

    We have sold out of our cache of the new InterAgency Military Pass. We have ordered 500 more and will post here and on our facebook/twitter pages when our shipment arrives.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Birch Bluff Trail

South Fork Quantico Creek in Winter

National Park Service.

South Fork Quantico Creek meets Birch Bluff Trail in winter.

Birch Bluff Trail (1.8 miles; 2.9 km)

To reach Birch Bluff Trail, walk approximately one-third of a mile down the Laurel Loop Trail, which you can access behind the bathrooms in the Pine Grove Picnic Area. The Laurel Loop Trail has yellow blazes on the trees. Once on Birch Bluff, follow the red blazes through the woods until you reach a clearing. South Fork Quantico Creek will be in front of you.

 
(Above) Rock Outcropping
(Below) Beaver activity along South Fork Quantico Creek

National Park Service

(Above) Rock Outcropping
(Below) Beaver activity along South Fork Quantico Creek

The trail follows the creek for about ten minutes with rock outcroppings lining parts of the trail. Also, remnants of beaver activity can be found along the creek-side.

 
South Fork Quantico Creek partially frozen over in January

National Park Service

South Fork Quantico Creek in winter

Before you meet back up with the Laurel Loop Trail, the creek widens. Here you can see the creek partially frozen over in the cold of January.  

 
A small, frozen cascade on the South Fork Quantico Creek.

National Park Service

A small, frozen cascade on South Fork Quantico Creek

Follow the trail around the bend and you will come upon a small cascade surrounded by many downed trees. From here it is only a short walk to the yellow-blazed Laurel Loop Trail. This trail will lead you back to the Pine Grove Picnic Area where your journey began.
 

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!