Discover Sweet Run this fall season, one of our conservation easements, and your new favorite State Park!
From scenic trails to historic landscapes, Sweet Run State Park offers a quieter way to experience fall while protecting the forests, streams, and open spaces that make the park special.
Looking for a new spot to explore in the Potomac River region? Sweet Run State Park offers just that, providing a range of natural and cultural resources.
Situated in the valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Short Hills Mountain in northwest Loudoun County, Sweet Run State Park boasts 884 acres of lush fields, mature forests, and areas where nature reclaimed landscapes previously deforested for agriculture. Vast mountain views, two streams converging in the center of the park, as well as two constructed ponds diversify the landscape.
sweet run trailhead
Sweet Run State Park is comprised of three different conservation easement agreements. Potomac Conservancy co-holds the largest easement of almost 570 acres with Loudoun County, while Loudoun County holds the remaining acreage. As owners, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation works with the easement holds to protect and maintain the property. The park is one of many easements that Potomac Conservancy holds throughout the western portions of the Potomac Watershed today.
The best part is that it is available to the public to enjoy. Sweet Run is open from 8am to dusk, with available but limited parking.
Sometimes less is more
Stream alongside trail at sweet run
The beauty of un lies in what is being preserved. You can enjoy vibrant natural landscapes while also engaging in the outdoor opportunities the park has to offer. When Sweet Run was planned, the goal was to provide the public with both natural and recreational resources like eleven miles of winding hiking trails woven through diverse terrains.
Or perhaps a horseback ride through nine miles of trails traversing through forests, meadows, and mountainous terrain is more your speed. Sweet Run is BYOH (bring your own horse), but for those providing their own horse, check out their website for more details on parking and forms!
Mountain biking is not currently allowed, but you can check out other places to bike in the area here!
gordon pond
Linger by Gordon Pond with your fish-pole a little while and see what you can catch!
All Virginia freshwater fishing regulations apply. A valid Virginia State fishing license, which can be purchased online or through local retailers, is required for those 16 and older. Fish species in the pond include sunfish, largemouth bass, and crappie.
Hidden gems lie around every bend like the ruins of a 19th century farming community, and a densely vegetated floodplain with pockets of shrubby wetlands in its path.
Our work behind the scenes
flower garden near visitor center
Sweet Run falls under a Virginia law that has required a master plan for development, allowing the public and Potomac Conservancy an opportunity to help shape the park’s future. In collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia State Parks, and more, the plan directs the conservation, management, and development goals to protect the natural and historic resources within Sweet Run.
Through our ongoing collaboration with DCR and Virginia State Parks in addition to your support, we aim to continue our conservation work by protecting more green spaces in our region.
Fall into Sweet Run
Grab your pumpkin spice latte in a reusable mug and head on over to Sweet Run to discover your new favorite spot to get active and outdoors. With the cooler months rolling in, you don’t want to miss out on the fall foliage and perfect sweater weather conditions.
fall leaves over gordon pond
Help keep our park healthy and resilient by supporting our land conservation work today!