This is my guide to all the parks in Virginia within about an hour or two of Washington DC. I’m compiling this list because there are actually a surprising number of places to go birding, wildlife watching, and plein air painting in Northern VA, but they are all under different jurisdictions (Fed, State, County, etc) and no one list exists includes them all. Until now.
I’m listing the parks in alphabetical order (with governing agency in parenthesis; see below for key to acronyms), with a link to the map when available, and I will be adding more locations continually. I also hope to add some reviews, recommendations, and other information about each place.
Last update: Sat 14 Apr 2012
The Parks & Refuges
- Burke Lake Park (FCPA) park map
- Elizabeth Hartwell-Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) refuge map
- Fountainhead Regional Park (NVRPA) park map
- G. R. Thompson Wildlife Management Area (DGIF) permit details, park map
- Huntley Meadows Park (FCPA) park map
- Leesylvania State Park (VDCR) park map
- Mason Neck State Park (VDCR) park map
- Meadowood Special Recreation Area (BLM) park map
- Pohick Regional Park (NVRPA) park map
- Prince William County Trails (PWCPA)
- Prince William Forest Park (USNPS) park map
- Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge (USFWS) refuge map
- Occoquan Regional Park (NVRPA) park map
- Sky Meadows State Park (VDCR) park map
- Westmoreland State Park (VDCR) park map
The acronyms for each jurisdiction
- BLM = Bureau of Land Management, a bureau under the Department of Interior
- FCPA = Fairfax County Parks Authority
- DGIF = Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
- NVRPA = Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
- PWCPA = Prince William County Park Authority
- USFWS = United States Fish & Wildlife Service, a bureau under the Department of Interior
- USNPR = United States National Park Service, a bureau under the Department of Interior
- VDCR = Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation