Featuring over 12,200 acres and 32 Regional Parks, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) have hiking trails, golf courses, waterparks, event venues and so much more! Learn more about each park and the events/activities offered by visiting their website.
Aldie Mill Historic Park: 39401 John Mosby Hwy, Aldie, VA 20105
Discover a part of Northern Virginia’s industrial heritage — the restored gristmill at Aldie Mill Historic Park, in Aldie. Built between 1807 and 1809, the Aldie Gristmill was once the largest factory of its kind in Loudoun County. The mill’s tandem metal waterwheels are fully operational, making it possible for visitors to watch live grinding demonstrations. Aldie Mill is available to rent for events and meetings. Tours and demonstrations are available during weekends between April and November.
Algonkian Regional Park: 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling, VA 20165
Explore 838 acres of outdoor adventures at Algonkian Regional Park, located in Sterling, Virginia. Rent a picnic shelter or a vacation cottage along the Potomac River. Tee it up at our 18-hole golf course. Bring the kids for an afternoon at Volcano Island Waterpark, or spend hours hiking our paved and natural surface hiking trails. Algonkian Regional Park includes natural wooded areas and open fields.
Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park: Ball’s Bluff Road, Leesburg, VA 21076
Visit the site of one of the largest Civil War engagements in Loudoun County at Ball’s Bluff Battlefield in Leesburg, Virginia. Visitors can take advantage of weekend guided tours from April through November, volunteer guided programs and living history events (weather permitting). A podcast and walking tour brochure are available year-round for self-guided tours of the park. Major sites at Ball’s Bluff include a cemetery, which is the third smallest national cemetery in the United States. Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park also features an interpretive trail, signage and an amazing view of the bluff itself, overlooking the Potomac River.
Bull Run Occoquan Trail: 10875 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Perfect for hikers or those on horseback, this incredible path takes visitors through more than 5,000 acres of scenic woodlands. Along this track one will also find one of the region’s richest untapped historic resources. This area played a vital role at different times in our history from the Revolutionary to the Civil War.
Bull Run Regional Park: 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121
Bull Run Regional Park offers 1,500 acres of natural space and facilities for hundreds of possible activities and outdoor adventures for everyone. Bring your family for a day of waterslides at Atlantis Waterpark, book one of our large picnic areas for a company picnic, or enjoy a relaxing weekend in our campground or cottages. Home to the Bull Run Festival of Lights, Bull Run Regional Park contains miles of scenic and historic hiking trails, including the trailhead for the 19.7 mile Bull Run Occoquan Trail.
Cameron Run Regional Park: 4001 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304
Make a day of it at Cameron Run Regional Park, 26 acres of outdoor adventure in Alexandria, Virginia. Spend a summer afternoon splashing and sliding at Great Waves Waterpark. Test your swing in the slowpitch and fastpitch batting cages. Book a picnic shelters for a family or community picnic. Or bring your friends for 18 holes of challenging miniature golf.
Fountainhead Regional Park: 10875 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039
Discover Fountainhead Regional Park, 2,000 acres of rugged adventures in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Whether you’re a cyclist, kayaker, hiker or miniature golf aficionado. Riders of all ability levels will enjoy the loops and features of our challenging mountain bike trail. Fountainhead Regional Park contains shared-use hiking and equestrian trails and provides trailhead access to the 19.7 mile Bull Run Occoquan Trail. Kayak, power boat and canoe rentals are available, or bring your own to our boat launch ramp on the Occoquan Reservoir.
Gilbert’s Corner Regional Park: 23557 Watson Road, Leesburg, VA 20175
Discover a slice of Civil War history, part of the study area for the battle of Aldie, at Gilbert’s Corner Regional Park in Aldie, Virginia. The 156 acre park offers hiking trails, interpretive signage and rolling countryside with a view of the Bull Run Mountains. At one time the Old Carolina Road, an active north/south route during the 18th and 19th centuries traversed through what is now Gilbert’s Corner Regional Park. The road lay along the old route once used by Native Americans in the region.
Hemlock Overlook Regional Park: 13220 Yates Ford Road, Clifton, VA 20124
Embark on a rustic adventure in the forest. Test your limits and learn valuable collaboration skills at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, a fully equipped Outdoor Education Center outside Clifton, Virginia. Book ahead to navigate a challenging rope course and zipline. Or register for one of the renowned outdoor education, team development or environmental education programs managed by Adventure Links.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens: 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct. Vienna, VA 22182
Explore 95 acres of ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia. Discover local flora and fauna among lakes, forests and meandering walking trails. Take in majestic views of the Piedmont hills, explore the Korean Bell Garden or pay a visit to our restored 18th Century log cabin.
Occoquan Regional Park: 9751 Ox Road, Lorton, VA 22079
(Currently Under Construction) Enjoy 350 acres of outdoor recreation at Occoquan Regional Park in Lorton, Virginia. Gear up for a perfect day of play at our batting cages. Encounter history with a visit to our century-old brick kiln, and the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial. The boat launch and marina give you easy access to a day exploring or fishing the Occoquan River. Occoquan Regional Park also gives you entry to several key hiking trails, including the Fairfax Cross-County Trail and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
Pohick Bay Regional Park: 6501 Pohick Bay Drive, Lorton, VA 22079
Choose your next adventure at Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, Virginia. Bring the kids for a day of splashing and sliding at Pirate’s Cove Waterpark. Spend a day on the bay with our canoe, paddleboard, stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals; or bring your own boat to our public boat launch ramp. Make a day of it by renting a picnic shelter – including the Eagle’s Nest, which overlooks Pohick Bay, or stay a little longer and reserve one of our cabins or campsites.
Potomac Overlook Regional Park: 2845 N. Marcey Road, Arlington, VA 22207
Explore the natural world on 67 acres of wild and cultivated land at Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington, Virginia. Hike miles of trails while following interpretive displays to learn about Northern Virginia’s flora and fauna. Our educational organic vegetable garden hosts school trips and summer nature camps, while other demonstration gardens showcase native plants and insects and live animal displays. Visit the James I. Mayer Center for Environmental Education to learn about the connections between humans and the natural world. Potomac Overlook Regional Park also hosts an outdoor summer concert series and a popular summer camp for kids.
Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park: 43098 Edwards Ferry Road, Leesburg, VA 20176
Hike winding nature trails and explore wooded areas at Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park in Leesburg, Virginia. This out-of-the-way park is home to several historic buildings, and a cast of wild native plants and wildlife. Climb to the overlook to take in a scenic vista of the Potomac River.
Rust Sanctuary: 802 Children’s Center Road, Leesburg, VA 20175
Enjoy an equal mix of pristine nature and local history at Rust Sanctuary in Leesburg, Virginia. Walk 68 acres of wooded trails through unspoiled meadows and forests in the nature sanctuary. Register for the Fresh Air Kids Nature Program and other Audubon Naturalist Society courses to learn about local ecosystems, flora, and fauna. The sanctuary also features Rust Manor House, and a beautiful garden with majestic trees.
Seneca Regional Park: 101 Seneca Road, Great Falls, VA 22066
Set out for a day of hiking or horseback riding through pristine wilderness at Seneca Regional Park, located in Great Falls, Virginia. Follow winding trails and interpretive signage all the way to the river, and discover the remnants of George Washington’s Potowmack Canal. This equestrian-friendly park is bisected by the Potomac National Heritage Trail, which follows the same routes explored by George Washington.
Temple Hall Farm Regional Park: 15855 Limestone School Road, Leesburg, VA 20176
Discover Loudoun County’s agricultural roots on a working farm at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park in Leesburg, Virginia. Home of the popular Fall Festival and Corn Maize, visitors can meet heritage breed farm animals and experience what happens day to day on a farm. Walk the park’s interpretive hiking trail to learn about the area’s native plants and animals, or bring your horse to ride the equestrian trails, which include natural jumps and water crossings. Please note: dogs and other pets are not permitted at Temple Hall Farm.
Tinner Hill Historic Park: 106 Tinner Hill Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
Encounter African American history first hand at the Tinner Hill Historic Park in Falls Church, Virginia. This park is the site of what was home to Joseph and Elizabeth Tinner, the couple who fought segregation laws after the borders of neighbouring towns were redrawn cutting directly through their thriving community. Their actions led to the first rural branch of the NAACP. Visit the park’s picnic pavilion and see the Zig Zag Monument, a sculpture that follows the original location of the segregation line.
Upton Hill Regional Park: 6060 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22205
Bring the family for a day of outdoor adventures at Upton Hill Regional Park in Arlington, Virginia. Splash, slide and soak at the beach-themed Ocean Dunes Waterpark. Tee up at the deluxe minigolf, practice in one of our batting cages, or explore our walking trails – an oasis in one of North Virginia’s most urban areas.
Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park: 21293 Smiths Switch Road, Ashburn, VA 20147
Often called the skinniest park in Virginia, Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park is a paved trail between Shirlington and Purcellville, Virginia. Run, cycle or skate the 45-mile route along the former roadbed of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad, which runs through the urban heartland and into the Virginia countryside. Equestrians can ride the adjacent 32-mile gravel horse trail. The W&OD trail has multiple parking areas, enabling you to jump on and off the trail at various points.
Webb Nature Sanctuary: 12829 Chestnut Street, Clifton, VA 20124
Explore 20 acres of pristine wilderness at the Webb Nature Sanctuary, in the heart of downtown Clifton, Virginia. Learn about the area’s native flora and fauna on interpretive signage along the park’s walking and hiking trails.
White’s Ford Regional Park: 43646 Hibler Road, Leesburg, VA 20176
Explore 295 acres along the Potomac River in historic White’s Ford Regional Park, located in Leesburg, Virginia. Once the home of Elijah White, this riverside park is the site of the confederate army’s 1862 crossing into Maryland. Launch your canoe or kayak into the Potomac River, or follow miles of hiking trails guided by interpretive signs.