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.

We love having Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation students out to the Preserve!!
06/03/2026

We love having Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation students out to the Preserve!!

06/02/2026

Need to cool down? Watch this snowy throwback from January!

We rarely catch bobcats on our trail cameras, so our staff was quite excited to come across this clip. We don't think it's luck that this bobcat strolled in front of our camera, but rather a result of the intense "snowcrete" weather event from the beginning of the year. Bobcats are largely solitary animals and generally avoid human contact. The "snowcrete" caused a large decrease in our usual visitation, which we believe may have given this bobcat more confidence to wander the Preserve in areas it may usually avoid.

Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) at the Preserve!This native plant usually blooms at Leopold's in the first few ...
06/01/2026

Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) at the Preserve!

This native plant usually blooms at Leopold's in the first few weeks of June. This species isn't just beautiful, it is also an important food source for our pollinators. Stop by Thoroughfare Meadow (along the Leopold's Loop trail) this month as the milkweed and other wildflowers bring color and pollinators to the meadow! 🌸🐝🦋

As a new month rolls around, so does another Hike with a Naturalist! Come along with us on Wednesday as Bull Run Mountai...
05/29/2026

As a new month rolls around, so does another Hike with a Naturalist!

Come along with us on Wednesday as Bull Run Mountains Conservancy's Assistant Director, Matthew Frost, leads another adventure through the Preserve. Last month's group saw lots of turtles and even got to watch one digging a nest. Who knows what we may observe next week? Join us to find out!

Hike with a Naturalist: Wednesday, June 3rd, 10AM-12PM
Register here: https://www.leopoldspreserve.com/events-1/hike-with-a-naturalist-2026-06-03-10-00/form

Hey everyone! Help out our friends over at the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) by filling out a short survey...
05/28/2026

Hey everyone! Help out our friends over at the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) by filling out a short survey about green spaces in Northern Virginia! Survey information can be found below. 🌳📝
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Are you a resident of the Northern Virginia region? If you have a few minutes to spare, please consider taking this survey focused on the experiences of Northern Virginians in relation to nature and open spaces. As residents of this region, your opinion is very valuable and can impact future decisions made that will shape your local landscapes.

The survey is brief and respondents are entered to win a $100 Visa gift card if they choose to share their information. You can preview and take the survey by clicking the link below, and reach out to [email protected] with any questions or accommodations needed.

Take the survey: https://qualtricsxmqgf4j2t87.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8Bd5QtwaUtGZLrU

Summer is almost here! 💧As things heat up at the Preserve, we invite you to join us in learning about freshwater ecosyst...
05/27/2026

Summer is almost here!

💧As things heat up at the Preserve, we invite you to join us in learning about freshwater ecosystems in our streams and ponds during this month's Naturalist Walk with Bull Run Mountains Conservancy.

🏫 June also wraps up Bull Run Mountains Conservancy's Homeschool Programs for this school year, so make sure to tag along before school's out for the summer!

🔍We're excited to have The Clifton Institute out at Leopold's again as part of their annual dragonfly count, which is open to anyone who wants to help identify or learn more about dragonflies. Please note: this event is not solely hosted at Leopold's Preserve, you will be assigned a meeting location somewhere in our region.

Whether you tag along to a program or come out for a visit on your own time, we hope to see you at the Preserve soon! Register for these events and more with the Leopold's Preserve calendar: https://www.leopoldspreserve.com/calendar

05/26/2026

Hoo's there?!

Owls are opportunistic hunters; they have a broad diet that can include insects, rodents, and even aquatic species, and they adapt their hunting methods to catch whatever prey is available. The owl in this clip is perched in our wetlands, likely hoping to spot some dinner swimming by in the shallow water!

There's going to be a new face around the Preserve this summer! We are excited to have Elisa Dass join us as our Field C...
05/25/2026

There's going to be a new face around the Preserve this summer! We are excited to have Elisa Dass join us as our Field Conservation Intern. Over the course of the summer, Elisa will be working with volunteers, learning about Preserve management, conducting research, and more.

"I’ve been obsessed with nature and animals since I was a kid. However, I only really considered a career in environmental conservation after I took an environmental science course at my local community college. As a result, I am now a student at Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, majoring in Wildlife Conservation. During my studies at Virginia Tech, my favorite classes have been Wildlife Field Biology and Dendrology. I really enjoyed learning about the native plants and animals in different regions of Virginia.

I’m excited to be working at Leopold’s Preserve with the White House Farm Foundation this summer! I hope to learn more about real-life applications with preserve management and nonprofit programs, such as public outreach and project research. I’m excited to gain hands-on field work experience in habitat restoration, monitoring, and maintenance, as well as expand my knowledge of flora and fauna, including identification and behavioral ecology.

When I’m not busy with work or school, I’m usually doing other fun activities like drawing/painting, gardening, thrifting, herping, hiking, baking/cooking, and doing puzzles! I’m currently obsessed with playing a bird-inspired board game called ‘Wingspan’, and everyone I know is at risk of having to play with me!" - Elisa Dass

Happy Friday, folks! Check out some wildlife our staff spotted at the Preserve this week 🐢🐍 #1: Eastern box turtle (Terr...
05/22/2026

Happy Friday, folks! Check out some wildlife our staff spotted at the Preserve this week 🐢🐍

#1: Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
#2: Canada geese (Branta canadensis)
#3: Northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
#4: Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)

Address

16290 Thoroughfare Road
Broad Run, VA
20137

Telephone

+15713582098

Website

https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2057798

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