Just got a new trailer and feeling very mobile!! What are your favorite places to ride in Northern Va… preferably not more than 30 miles from Fauquier County. Just did a few loops at the Manassas Battlefield, the trails are lovely.
Kim,
Way off topic but I just wanted to say… I love your store and I miss it now that I live in Colorado and not NoVa!
Blandy out in Boyce, Sky Meadows State Park (at 50/17), Neersville (out past Hillsboro, though you have to be a USTR member to gain access)…those are the three bogs ones within an easy drive of you, and with more than an hour loop. Look up the USTR and Tri-County riding clubs - they are all about trail riding 
There are some really nice trails at Andy Guest State Park in Front Royal. It’s a bit of a drive, but very nice. Some loops are pretty easy and others a little more challenging. Some great photo ops, as well. Totally worth the drive :winkgrin:!
I have also heard that Lake Anna has some lovely trails and a swimming hole for summertime. Again, not sure of the distance, but it might be worth it. Happy Trails!!
[QUOTE=jumpymeister;6004935]
Blandy out in Boyce, Sky Meadows State Park (at 50/17), Neersville (out past Hillsboro, though you have to be a USTR member to gain access)…those are the three bogs ones within an easy drive of you, and with more than an hour loop. Look up the USTR and Tri-County riding clubs - they are all about trail riding :-)[/QUOTE]
I second all of these. you can also head to Maryland, just across from Leesburg VA via White’s Ferry and ride the C&O Canal…it goes for literally days worth of riding…usually with almost no company of walkers and bikers if you head north.
Riverbend Park in Great Falls is nice, particularly during the week. On weekends, there are a lot of runners.
Great Falls Park is very rocky and crowded.
Little Bennett Regional Park in Clarksburg, MD is lovely.
Morgan Run Park near ?Mt Airy, MD is nice.
Graves Mountain is nice and they have corrals so you can leave your horse and walk up to the restaurant for lunch or dinner after your ride. You should definitely go to Phelps Wildlife area in Sumerduck as well – thousands of acres and you can ride for hours and hours. Just be sure to check the hunting schedules. We usually go on Sundays to avoid the boom-boom boys (and girls).
Definitely be VERY careful of riding around Graves Mountain anywhere close to hunting season. Many of the “good ole boys” around there aren’t particularly diligent re: hunting season restrictions. Personal experience.
An added note on Graves Mountain- very rocky! Lake Anna has a good amount of trails not particularly difficult. Mostly in the woods, single track trails with a few wider areas. Ride right along the lake in quite a few places.
“Rocky” ain’t the word - try “small boulders” - lol!
I used to work there at the trail-riding concession, & would sometimes get to “bring up the rear” on some of their supervised trail rides. Some parts of the trails were literally side-by-side 8"-10" round rocks.
Remember - this place isn’t the foothills of the mountains, it IS the mountains.
hehe on the boulders. Yep you are right! The last time I rode there, we crossed the road from the parking area and went across the creek that runs in front of the lodge. Scared the c**p out of my friend as it is nothing but boulders for quite a ways.
LOL, my daughter was 6 when she rode Graves Mountain on a mule 
It’s rocky but that part didn’t worry me as much as some of the cliff type trails we went down!!! I’d go back and ride there again for sure- beautiful views.
Morven Park’s executive director told the VADA/NoVA meeting (www.vadanova.org look under newsletter) that Morven is looking to create more hiking and bridle trails. You may want to ask them (MP) to share their plans for the way ahead, it is a nice venue to ride.
If you are also considering MD, the following are good resources:
I also have a trail map for West Friendship Park, which is across from the Howard County Fairgrounds, pm me or email me your email address and I can send to you
Yeah, as long as you don’t mind paying an entry fee Lake Anna is particularly nice in the summer. All that shade from the trees keeps it really cool. Only caveat is if you hear the emergency sirens, gallop, do not walk, to the nearest exit. 
http://dom.com/about/stations/nuclear/north-anna/index.jsp
Good info about Morven. Will keep an ear out for that.
