Prince William Forest Park

Map of TRACK Trail at Prince William Forest

The Prince William Forest Park TRACK Trail follows the Laurel Trail Loop, a 1.5 mile long trail that loops through a mixed hardwood forest and along South Fork Quantico Creek.

Prince William Forest Park is a 15,000 acre forest located 35 miles south of Washington, DC. There are over 37 miles of hiking trails, miles of biking paths & roads, picnic areas and campgrounds. 

Prince William Forest Park is an oasis, a respite of quiet and calm.  Since 1936, these fragrant woods and trickling streams have welcomed generations of campers, hikers, bikers and nature lovers. The park serves as the largest example of Eastern Piedmont forest in the National Park System and also protects the Quantico Creek watershed. 

Track an adventure here
Collectible Sticker for Prince William Forest

Location Details

Recreational Features: Paved Bike Path, Camping, Picnic Tables, Interpretive Programs, Birding
Amenities: Restrooms, Nature Center, Visitor Center, Gift Shop, Lodging Cabins
ADA Compliant:
Seasonality: Open all year
Wooden bridge in the forest
Small violet flower
Yellow blaze on a tree beside the trail
Jack-in-the-pulpit flower on forest floor
Interpretive sign about the Laurel Loop
Trail distance sign beside the trail
Trail passing between some trees and a snag
Direction to South Orenda Road sign
The trail forking around a directional sign
Wooden suspension bridge in autumn
Yellow and blue blazes on a tree
Directional sign for the Laurel Loop Trail
Large rock jutting out of the forest floor
Plaque identifying a Mockernut Hickory tree
Trail through forest

Adventures for Prince William Forest Park

Hiking

Animal Athletes

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.50
The Animal Athletes adventure challenges kids to exercise with the animals. This brochure gives kids eight different animal exercises they can do along the trail. From hummingbird hand-swings to frog hops, kids are sure to have fun getting in shape with the animals during their outdoor adventures.
Hiking

Birds of the Piedmont

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.50
The Birds of the Piedmont brochure shows kids where to look for different birds along the trail. The brochure contains illustrations of some of the more common woodland birds and information on how to identify them through various clues.
Hiking

Flower Power

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.50
Many flowers depend on relationships with pollinators to reproduce. Use the clues in this brochure to see how a flower’s size, shape, color and smell have the power to attract unique pollinators.
Hiking

Nature's Hide & Seek

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.50
The Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy. Best of all, the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature.
Nature's Hide and Seek Fall Edition brochure
Hiking

PRWI - Hide N' Seek Fall Edition

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.50
Fall is a great time of year to hike at the park. You can see nature preparing for winter. During your hike today, try to identify the trees paint the landscape.

Directions

18100 Park Headquarters Rd
Triangle, VA 22172
Latitude: 38.559476800000
Longitude: -77.368685300000

Please visit the NPS website for directions http://www.nps.gov/prwi/planyourvisit/directions.htm 

Partners

The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The Prince William Forest Park TRACK Trail was made possible by a partnership between the National Park Service and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's Kids in Parks program. This project was financed in part by the National Park Service’s CONNECT TRAILS TO PARKS program, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System in 2018.