Day Hike, Sweet Run State Park near Hillsboro, VA

This roughly 3 mile lollipop loop hike took place on Thursday, July 18, 2024. It was just me on this one.

This was the first time that I was able to do a hike since July 1, 2024 because of the excessive heat that we have had for the last two weeks. I got up at 5:00 AM, left Manassas, VA at 6:00 AM and got to the trailhead at about 7:55 AM.

I led a hike in this park back on March 7, 2020. It was then called Blue Ridge Center for Envoronmental Stewardship. It was then a private land holding owned by the Leggett Foundation. You can read about that trip

Here.

Rather than start from the main entrance I turned onto the Sawmill LA entrance, then made my first right onto Arnold LA, then drove that all the way to the end. Parking at the Arnold Trailhead was terrible, only 3 spaces. There was a lot that had 3 or 4 spaces but it was gated. I would find out why later.

So I started on the Arnold Trail around 8:15 AM. A good portion of it looked like an old road. I passed the Piney Run and Lower Sweet Run Trails and, after about .8 miles, came to a three way intersection and clearing. The Arnold Trail ended, the Woodthrush Trail went off to the left and the Legacy Loop Trail went off to the right. I took the Legacy Loop Trail. It looked like a continuation of the old road that I was on. So far there were some hills and dales but nothing serious.

After about the 1.25 mile mark I passed the Gordon Pond Bypass Trail. The Legacy Loop Trail went around this pond, then started a good sized up for the next .5 miles. It was getting humid on this stretch and I was sweating profusely going up this hill. I estimate the elevation gain was over 100 feet.

Around the 2 mile mark the trail leveled out and actually started a down . I stepped over two small to medium blowdowns on this stretch. Around the 2.5 mile mark the trail turned right and again came to a three way intersection with the Woodthrush and Arnold Trails. I turned left onto the Arnold Trail, made the return trip and returned to my vehicle at around 9:55 AM. I didn’t see a single other hiker/biker/runner on this trail today. There was a vehicle parked near mine when I arrived but it was gone when I returned.

After finishing the hike, I went to the main entrance of the park, went to the Rangers Office and reported the blowdowns. I also asked why the parking lot at the Arnold Trailhead was locked? the ranger said that too many people were blocking others in the small lot by parking their vehicles at the entrance. It looks like they will have to enlarge this lot and soon. So I had a good hike. Temps were 71 when I started and 78 when I finished. The humidity seemed to go away towards the end of the hike.

These trails were well blazed and signed. Kudos to the park for this. I think that there are at least two more loops that I can get out of this park. Also, it is a huge up but the Butterfly Alley Trail does intersect the AT just north of WV9 and a power line ROW crossing. I’m really glad that I got out and got some hiking in today. I hope to make up for lost time in the coming weeks.

Mike C

Map of where I hiked