At 444 acres and 5.1 miles of trails, Conway Robinson State Forest is one of the smallest forests owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Driving on U.S. 29 in Prince William County, VA, it is very easy to overlook this tiny patch of land, especially with its older and much more famous brother next door: Manassas National Battlefield. However, if you’re looking for some very easy day hiking in Northern Virginia, this is a welcomed enclosure of trees in an otherwise crowded suburban area of Washington, DC.
In addition to hiking, Conway Robinson is also popular for biking and horseback riding, and with a very interconnected trail system, it’s easy to turn 5.1 miles of total trails into much more by hiking or biking various loops throughout the forest. Here is a view of the Conway Robinson State Forest Trail Map.
And for you history buffs out there, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry website, here is a short description of Conway Robinson:
The Forest’s namesake was a 19th century lawyer, historian and author who argued approximately 100 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Born in 1805, he became a court clerk apprentice at the age of 14; published his first book at 21; help found the Virginia Historical Society at 26; led the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad when he was 31; was elected to the Richmond City Council at 44, and served in the House of Delegates when he was 47. Robinson died in 1884 and is buried in Richmond’s historic Hollywood Cemetery. The Conway Robinson Park Memorial Association sought to perpetuate the memory of this distinguished Virginian through the development of a state forest.
If you’re in the Northern Virginia area and you’re looking for an alternative to Manassas Battlefield, check out Conway Robinson State Forest!
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