Name: Leopold's Preserve
Rating: 3.9

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Open to the public 7 days a week, dawn until dusk. All visitors must keep to the trails and respect the "private property" boundaries. There are no bathroom facilities located in the preserve so plan accordingly. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Glass containers are prohibited. Collection of or disturbing of plants, animals and artifacts is prohibited. Help preserve our beautiful park. Please don't litter. This includes cigarette butts. Pack-in and pack-out.

Runner Notes

The trails are well maintained, but be aware of your surroundings. The paths are natural surface and may have hazards. Be careful to avoid tree roots and rocks on paths.

Description

Public access - enough for 50 vehicles - is located on Thoroughfare Road at the northwestern edge of the loop. There is ample parking available on both sides of Thoroughfare Road so don't forget to explore the trails on the westernmost portion near the wetland area where the ducks are! A trail map can be downloaded by scanning the QR Code directly from the posted signs or by visiting the website at leopoldspreserve.com.

Leopold's Preserve, aptly named for the famous conservationist, Aldo Leopold, has been preserved through a conservation easement as natural open space and open to the public for passive recreation. This 380-acre public park has more than 7 miles of natural surface trails and is the perfect place for beginners or intermediates and for families. Within the park is an extensive network of trails, observation areas, wildflower meadows, and numerous interpretive signs (over half of which have been authored by Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, Conservation Management Institute). These signs showcase the environmental and historic features of the property and the surrounding area.

The trails are well-maintained and have 17 pedestrian bridges and boardwalks to help guide you over the wetter areas of the preserve, so you won't have to worry about getting your feet wet here.