Leopold's Preserve

Leopold's Preserve Leopold's Preserve is a 380-acre park in Haymarket, VA. Leopold's Preserve is a 380-acre park located in Haymarket, Virginia.

Come explore our seven miles of trails!
🌱 Owned and Managed by the White House Farm Foundation
🦆 VA Bird & Wildlife Trail
🦋 Permanently Protected
🥾 Guided Hikes & Events Year-round The Preserve features a 7-mile trail system that allows visitors to explore diverse habitats, scenic overlooks, and historic sites. Our trails are free to access and open to the public every day from dawn until dusk. L

eopold's Preserve is a popular location for hiking, running, bird watching, plein air painting, forest bathing, and other outdoor activities. Please note, our trails are designed for access by foot only. Bicycles, motorized vehicles, and horses are prohibited. Please visit our website to see a full listing of park rules and to learn about our upcoming events, points of interest, and the history of Leopold's Preserve. Leopold's Preserve is not a state or county park - it is privately owned and managed by the White House Farm Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation with a focus on conservation and education.

Fall Festival Oak Sponsor Highlight 🍂K2C Snake Consultants, Inc is a nonprofit organization that provides wildlife educa...
08/31/2026

Fall Festival Oak Sponsor Highlight 🍂

K2C Snake Consultants, Inc is a nonprofit organization that provides wildlife education and conservation services, with a goal to help people co-exist with native snakes and reptiles. Their team includes passionate educators and wildlife control operators. The White House Farm Foundation has worked with K2C to facilitate educational programs at Leopold's Preserve which provide accurate information that reduces fear of snakes.

K2C will be hosting a fun educational booth at the Fall Festival, which will feature wildlife ambassadors that you can touch. Their team will also be able to offer advice about wildlife conflicts you may be facing at your home or workplace. Stop by and see them on Saturday, September 19th from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Photo by Christopher Pinto

In September, we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall! We are excited to be hosting the third annual Fall Festival at...
08/28/2026

In September, we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall!

We are excited to be hosting the third annual Fall Festival at Leopold's Preserve on Saturday, September 19th! Join us for a family-friendly day of outdoor fun hosted by the White House Farm Foundation and the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT)

School's back in session, which means the return of Bull Run Mountains Conservancy's homeschool programs!

Also in September, we have some relaxing Forest Therapy sessions hosted by Imagine Well Being and numerous volunteer opportunities to help us steward the Preserve.

See you soon! Register for these events and more with the Leopold's Preserve calendar: https://www.leopoldspreserve.com/calendar

08/27/2026

Explore and learn about the "Old House" along Leopold's Loop in this final installment of the Leopold's Preserve Points of Interest Series! 🏠

We want to extend a huge thank you to Team Avatar Films for creating this 13-part series that spotlights some of our favorite places in the Preserve. Available on the White House Farm Foundation's YouTube channel (linked below), these short films are a great way to familiarize yourself with Leopold's Preserve and get inspired for your next trip to our trails! Thank you again, Team Avatar Films! 🎥

Link to Leopold's Preserve Points of Interest Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XNMPrLIU0M&list=PLC86F_pUGajgVXQPSqkVJlnwCHBesoSHJ

Our volunteers aren't just hard workers; they're also curious naturalists!During last week's Friday Conservation Corps, ...
08/26/2026

Our volunteers aren't just hard workers; they're also curious naturalists!

During last week's Friday Conservation Corps, one of our volunteers found a species never before recorded in Leopold's Preserve.

Commonly referred to as "cobalt crust fungus" or "blue velvet spread," this saprobic crust fungus belongs to the Phanerochaetaceae family. This "blue velvet on a stick" was a great find. Join us for a volunteer event soon, you never know what you might discover!

Friday Conservation Corps are hosted every Friday morning, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm. Sign up using our calendar: https://www.leopoldspreserve.com/calendar

08/25/2026

Beavers are well known for their large paddle-shaped tails, but how do they move them?

If you look closely at the beaver in this clip, you can see the muscular base that allows the beaver to make its powerful tail movements. These muscles control the beaver's tail for a variety of motions, including its use as a rudder when swimming, slapping it on the water's surface, and as a prop for balance when on land.

Fall Festival Oak Sponsor Highlight 🍂The Bull Run Mountains Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protect...
08/24/2026

Fall Festival Oak Sponsor Highlight 🍂

The Bull Run Mountains Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the Bull Run Mountains Region through education, research, and stewardship. The White House Farm Foundation has worked closely with BRMC for many years to provide free educational programming at Leopold's Preserve, including the popular "Hike with a Naturalist" series, their annual "Woodcock Watch", and the family favorite "Halloween Safari". We are honored to have their support for the Fall Festival, which we hope will further their mission of educating community members about the ecology of this region.

Bull Run Mountains Conservancy staff will lead multiple guided hikes along Wood Duck Way during the Fall Festival. These hikes will explore the wetlands and offer just a taste of the naturalist programs they regularly host at Leopold's Preserve and beyond! Join in the fun on Saturday, September 19th from 10 AM to 2 PM.

More gravel, please!With help from our Friday Conservation Corps this morning, we leveled a large dip that had formed by...
08/21/2026

More gravel, please!

With help from our Friday Conservation Corps this morning, we leveled a large dip that had formed by the entrance to Parking Lot East.

Over time, rainfall and vehicle traffic caused the gravel in this spot to shift away. We added new gravel to flatten the spot out again and ensure smooth travel for our visitors!

Staff recently came across this cool caterpillar at the Preserve! 🐛Bright colors and bold patterns on insects and other ...
08/20/2026

Staff recently came across this cool caterpillar at the Preserve! 🐛

Bright colors and bold patterns on insects and other wildlife are a defense system called aposematism. These colors and patterns warn predators that this prey is likely poisonous, venomous, or tastes bad! This saddleback caterpillar is a great example of aposematism; its bright green coloring and distinct saddle shape alert potential predators to its venomous nature.

08/19/2026

Join us for our annual Fall Festival at Leopold's Preserve this September!

Co-hosted with White House Farm Foundation, this annual festival features outdoor activities, local vendors, and raffles throughout the day. You can also expect guided hikes, local eats, and plenty of activities to keep the kids busy!

Parking is free but limited! We encourage carpooling.

08/18/2026

No lions or tigers, but we do have a bear for this week's !

We've heard rumours of this guy wandering the Preserve, and finally captured him on one of our trail cameras last month! American black bears (Ursus americanus) are the smallest and most common species of bear in North America.🐻 Not only do they play an important role in the forest's food chain, but they're also impressive athletes! American black bears are great swimmers, climbers, and runners.

We encourage all our visitors to be Bear Aware and stay safe while on the trails by following the tips below.

🐻 Be aware of your surroundings. Put away your phone and earbuds - keep your eyes and ears open at all times!
🐻 Make noise. Hike with a group, talk or sing out loud, or carry something noisy like a jingly key ring.
🐻 Keep pets leashed. Unleashed dogs may disturb or provoke wildlife (including snakes, coyotes, and bears), creating a dangerous situation for you and your pet.
🐻 Pick up your trash. Litter and food scraps attract bears, teaching them to associate our trails with an easy meal.

In almost all cases, a black bear will detect you and leave the area long before you notice. If you do happen to see a bear:
⚠️ Speak softly or make other gentle noises to alert the bear to your presence.
⚠️ Respect the bear's personal space and do not approach. Stay far away if you'd like to observe or take pictures.
⚠️ Calmly leave the area. Face towards the bear and back away slowly. DO NOT RUN.
⚠️ If the bear approaches or follows you, stand your ground and make yourself appear threatening. Wave your arms above your head and yell loudly until the bear leaves.

For more resources on bear safety, check out this guide from the Department of Wildlife Resources: dwr.virginia.gov/bear-wise/.

Address

16290 Thoroughfare Road
Broad Run, VA
20137

Telephone

+15713582098

Website

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