What we’re about
This group is for those interested in monthly guided hikes, facilitated and led by Virginia Outdoors Foundation Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve staff, that focus on different aspects of a Natural Area Preserve and the native plants and animals it protects.
Each hike has a different trail and theme, and are dedicated to fostering the discovery of the natural ecosystems in the preserve. Topics range from education about those ecosystems and the management strategies in place to protect them, to naturalist hikes that are more for observation or hikes geared towards plant and animal identification or cultural history exploration.
Each hike is informal, with a larger focus on building the community of Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve and giving our hikers a broader view of the preserve and the work that goes in to managing these beautiful habitats. All skill levels and enthusiasts are welcome! Come out and explore the preserve with Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve staff!
Upcoming events (1)
See all- The City Nature Challenge at Bull Run MountainsBull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve - Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Broad Run, VA
Calling ALL Nature Photographers, Citizen Scientists, and Naturalists of all ages: Accept the 2025 City Nature Challenge for the DC area and join the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve for a weekend bioblitz!
What is this?
As part of a broader national challenge, the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve is hosting a local event to take pictures of and identify as many different living things at the preserve as we can on Saturday, April 26th. This type of event is called a "bioblitz" and it's a way to research an area's living ecosystem in one great communal effort over a short period of time.
Not only is it a great way to learn about the living world around you, it's also a fun way to socialize with your fellow nature nerds and contribute to the real research happening on the preserve's biodiversity. You can learn about the preserve project on iNaturalist here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/the-preserve-at-bull-run-mountains
How to Participate
1. Download the iNaturalist app (free for iOS or Android) & create an account
2. Take photos of wild plants, animals, and fungi
3. Upload to share with the iNaturalist community
4. Learn more as your finds get identified!
What is this a part of?
Every year, iNaturalist hosts the City Nature Challenge, with more than 690 cities participating globally in over 50 countries on all 7 continents. In the US, the DC metro area covers the Bull Run Mountains, and so our findings will help support this Challenge Area:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2025-washington-dc-metro-areaThis year, the challenge is from Friday April 25th - Monday April 28th and you can upload pictures of your observations until 11:59 pm that Monday night. However, the preserve's Conservation Assistants will be in the field and available to help that Saturday if you have any questions, and that is when we expect most people to join in the fun. The deadline for identifying any photos uploaded for the challenge is May 4th.
More resources and tips for both observing and identifying can be found here: https://citynaturechallengedc.org/for-observers/
Like a little friendly competition?
In addition to discovering the extent of the biodiversity at the preserve for the fun and science of it, you can also obtain the clout of being one of the top 3 Observers and Identifiers.We will also credit anyone who discovers a species we haven't seen at the preserve before! (New to the preserve on iNaturalist,) Over 200 new species were added to the preserve's project biodiversity list in 2024, so it's very possible that you'll be the one to discover something new during the challenge and receive a social media shout-out!
Any photos we share on our public social media pages will be credited to the photographer. If you choose to upload photos to the Meetup Event Page or iNaturalist, we will use those usernames.
When & Where?
Saturday April 26th at the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve. The event runs from 9am to 4pm, and there will be a station at the trailhead (at the end of Beverly Mill Drive) for questions and assistance. There will also be a conservation assistant and volunteers within the preserve to guide the bioblitz
What to Bring
Water, sunscreen, tick repellent, snacks, a camera, and your smart phone with the iNaturalist App downloaded and updated. It also helps to have the Seek App (which is the IDing app associated with iNaturalist.)
What NOT to Bring
No capturing equipment, please. By that we mean nets and jars. We expect to have a lot of people out for this and are limiting controlled capture of insects and anything else to preserve staff and volunteers for the safety and comfort of the wildlife and visitors.
Above all, please be respectful of preserve rules and each other. Do not go off-trail. Do not leave trash. Do not remove plants and other materials from the preserve. Leave your pets at home. Let's help everyone have a good time and learn more about the natural world around us!
If you have any questions, please email Deneith Reif at dreif@vof.org
Looking forward to seeing YOU at the City Nature Challenge at the Bull Run Mountains NAP!
