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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!
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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.
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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.
Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail
This fence blocks access to foundations of the old pyrite mine complex. National Park Service Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail (0.3 miles; 0.5 km) This short trail descends down to an open expanse above the banks of the Quantico Creek, once the site of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine (1889-1920). During the mine’s operation, more than 200,000 long tons of pyrite was brought to the surface and processed into sulfuric acid. This was used to make soap, fertilizer, and gunpowder. This trail can be reached by parking in lot D and traveling along the Pyrite Mine Road for about ten minutes until you reach the trail marker on your left. 
Geology Trail, marker 4 National Park System After traveling down the trail for about 8 minutes, you will come upon marker 4 of the Geology Trail. Here you can learn a brief history of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine. 
Quantico Creek and the end of Cabin Branch Mine Trail National Park Service Follow the trail for a couple more minutes and you will come upon Quantico Creek and the North Valley Trail. From here you can follow North Valley Trail either north or south (by crossing the bridge) along the creek. Take the trail south to reach the site of the main Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine complex. 
Bridge crossing over Quantico Creek to Cabin Branch Mine Site National Park Service |
Did You Know?
By the 1900s, Beavers were entirely extirpated from Virginia and were difficult to find across the entire lower 48 states due to over-consumption by humans. In 1950, Boy Scouts reintroduced 5 beavers into Prince William Forest Park. Today are more than 80 beavers in the 15,000 acre park.