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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.
South Valley Trail
Beaver activity along South Fork Quantico Creek National Park Service South Valley Trail (8.7 miles; 14.0 km) South Valley Trail is the longest trail in the park. It runs from Oak Ridge Campground, south to Pyrite Mine Road along South Fork Quantico Creek. While traveling through the Oak Ridge area, you will notice burn marks on many of the trees. This is the result of a 318-acre wildland fire that began near the B-loop of Oakridge Campground. The fire began on March 27, 2006 and was finally extinguished on April 4, 2006 with the help of over 70 wildland firefighters. To view the full story, refer to park newsletter, The Oasis, Vol. 1 Issue 8. About 40 minutes down the trail you will come upon a large beaver dam on South Fork Quantico Creek. This has opened up new habitats for many for many of the park's wildlife. 
Lakes 2 and 5 National Park Service Cross over Mawavi Road, and Lake 2 and 5 will be about 15 minutes down the path. Across the lake you will see a group of cabins. There are five different cabin camps located throughout the park. All were built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC)in the 1930s under FDR's New Deal. The CCC was created to reduce unemployment during the Great Depression, conserve natural resources, provide skills to young men, and create outdoor recreation areas for public use. The cabin camps were originally built for use by urban youth groups and welfare agencies. During World War II, the park and cabin camps used by the Office of Strategic Services as a training grounds for recruits. Today, the cabins can be rented out by different groups and individuals. 
Lake 5 Dam National Park Service 
Footbridge to Cabin Camp 5 National Park Service 
Fall Foliage National Park Service 
Small Cascade National Park Service As you follow along the creek, there will be multiple opportunities to see small cascades. About an hour after passing high meadows trail, you will cross over Scenic Drive. Before crossing Scenic Drive for the second time, you will pass Taylor Farm Road on your left. 
Scenic Drive Bridge National Park Service 
Cascades National Park Service 
South Fork Quantico Creek National Park Service About 15 minutes past Camp 3, you can meet up with North Orenda Road. A few more minutes down the path, you will notice a small bridge to the right which takes you over the creek to Laurel Loop Trail. From here it is only about 30 more minutes until you reach Pyrite Mine Road and North Valley Trail. |
Did You Know?
At over 15,000 acres, Prince William Forest Park protects the largest example of eastern Piedmont forest ecosystem (one of the most heavily altered ecosystems in North America) in the National Park System.