Audubon Naturalist Society - Rust Sanctuary
Audubon Naturalist Society`s Rust Sanctuary is a 68-acre preserve just west of Leesburg open for hiking, picnicking, and wildlife watching. Habitats include forest, meadows, and water. Enjoy the manor`s formal gardens, or sign up for a nature program.
Banshee Reeks
The 700-acre Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is open to the general public between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the third Saturday and Sunday of each month. Members of the Visitor Information Volunteer Association at Banshee Reeks staff the preserve during these weekends. Well known to area birders, it is also a historic 19th century farm. There are hiking trails through the fields and woods and along Goose Creek.
Balls Bluff Battlefield and National Cemetery
Located on Balls Bluff Road in Leesburg at the site of a historic Civil War battle, Balls Bluff Regional Park offers scenic hiking trails along the Potomac River.
Bear’s Den
Three trails allow you to meander through the Bears Den grounds-including a nature trail and demonstration trail. You can stand on massive quartzite rocks and admire the expansive Shenandoah Valley. Bears Den Rock Overlook is on the famous Appalachian Trail. Walk north to spectacular views or south into magical forests with secluded streams.
Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship
With nearly 900 acres of land surrounded by a few thousand acres of either protected land or largely undeveloped land, the Blue Ridge Center is both home to wildlife and an indicator of ecological health of the Northern Blue Ridge. The variety of birds found here has led to the Blue Ridge Center being featured in Virginias Birding and Wildlife Trail. Also named a birding hotspot by the Fairfax Audubon Society, the Blue Ridge Center hosts a monthly bird walk and annual butterfly count with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.
Broadlands Nature Center
In conjunction with the Audubon Naturalist Society, the nature center offers hands-on exhibits for kids, a children's reading room and informative exhibits, and is home to several natural habitats including ponds, meadow and wooded areas to explore.
Claude Moore Park
The nature area includes 11 total miles of hiking trails including the blue-blazed Scout Trail, the parks longest trail at 3.5 miles. The park’s trails access various natural habitats at a gentle grade. Other trails range from a quarter mile to three miles. Each is blazed with a different color and the trails link the different park habitats allowing for a variety of hiking experiences. A trail map and guide are available at the Visitor Center. A trail map also is available online.
Exploring Leesburg: A guide to History and Architecture
A self-guided walking tour documenting 160 buildings and sites within historic Leesburg. Available at the Loudoun Museum, 16 W. Loudoun Street and at the Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market Street.
Franklin Park
Enjoy the beauty of nature at Franklin Park, a 203-acre County park with majestic views. The two perimeter trails are 3.5 miles long and serve many uses. The inner trail is used primarily for horseback riding. The outer trail can be used for hiking, biking, walking, cross-country training, and dog walking.
Loudoun Equestrian Network Trail - The first leg of the network recently opened on the grounds of the Loudoun County Landfill.
Red Rock Wilderness Park
Located on Edwards Ferry Road in Leesburg, Red Rock offers trails, hiking and a nature sanctuary with panoramic views of the Potomac River and distant foothills.
Rust Nature Sanctuary
This 68-acre Audubon Naturalist Society preserve has a number of beautiful walking trails through forests and meadows. There is a large pond as a unique woodland pond.
Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park
The 45-mile long paved recreational trail runs from Shirlington to Purcellville. It was built on the former railroad bed of the W&OD Railroad. The park includes an adjacent path for horseback riding, which runs 33 miles from Vienna to Purcellville.
