The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES) has seven different loops of intertwining trails. With a wildlife pond, historic homesteads, wetlands, and Piney Run, this area offers something for everyone. Make sure to bring your camera, because there are pictures around every corner at the BRCES.
The Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship is also a working farm, with a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, engaging the community as stakeholders in the farm produce. The Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation purchased Mountain View farm in 1999 as a home for the Blue Ridge Center and to preserve the land's history.
All the trails are accessed from the main trailhead, 100 yards from the parking area where the gravel road splits to the right. With multiple different circuits possible, from the shorter 1.8 mile Farmstead Loop passing a wildlife pond, valley views, two old homesteads, and several pastures, to combining that circuit with several of the higher mountain loops to form a 6.2 mile perimeter hike.
Piney Run passes through the middle of the property, on its way to the Potomac River. The run has a beautiful lunch spot on a small island where the Old Bridge Trail crosses it, as well as a large wetlands area that is visible from both the Piney Spur Trail, and Legacy Loop.
But whichever combination of trails you decide to do, make sure to print the trail map, as you might miss something beautiful in this labyrinth.
Interactive Hike Map BelowPrintable
Topo Hike Map (PDF) Hike route in Drag the map with your mouse using the icon Zoom with the controls on the left Mouse-over icons in the map below for location shots
Calculate roughly how many calories you could burn on the BRCES hike:
Overall an easy hike, this was my first hike of the year and I took along my girlfriend who really seemed to enjoy the hike also. Not far from the DC Metro area and a nice day hike.
By:
WkdWarrior
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, April 25, 2010
My husband and I were looking for an easy but long hike a short distance from DC, and this fit the ticket--there were some moderate hills that got us sweating a bit, but no more than a 2.5 on a scale of 5 for difficulty. There was some nice scenery--the ponds and streams are quite beautiful, and the Boy Scout-built bridges are fun--and we only encountered a couple people on the trail (close to HQ). What we were not prepared for, however, were the gnats--they swarmed and followed us EVERYWHERE. Definitely wear ample bug spray for this hike and keep your arms and legs covered if possible. I was also quite disappointed by the "Butterfly Alley" portion of the hike, which takes you in a straight line over grassland under huge buzzing power lines--there weren't many butterflies (the gnats had taken over), and it was not at all scenic. There were lots of muddy areas and we got a bit splattered, but as long as you're wearing sturdy sneakers, you'll be fine. Overall, a fine option if you're unwilling to drive for multiple hours from DC and are willing to deal with the bugs.
By:
Airwva
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 21, 2009
This was the first hike that my wife and I took together and I would highly recommend it for beginners. Didn't see much wildlife, however the scenery made up for it. The hike wasn't difficult but the trip around the Piney Run Spur was a decent workout. Can't wait to try it in the spring.
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Friday, August 21, 2009
The prior two reviews emphasize what I liked most about this hike: the solitude, and the little things. I had the entire property to myself on this hot and steamy Friday morning. It's true that there are no overwhelming vistas on this property (although the scenery at Gordon Pond is quite nice), it was the lesser views that were so pleasing: the bench at Piney Island, the bridges across the streams, Jonathon's Rock, and the multi-colored algae on Wortman pond.
A note of caution: keep your trail map handy. Though it is very accurate, there are many intersections along the way at which you will need to orient yourself.
By:
Walt G
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, August 16, 2009
I took my 6 year old daughter for a 3 hour hike on the recommended route minus the Legacy Loop. Basically a nice walk in the woods, not too strenuous and a few interesting things to see. The interesting sights are not big open vistas, but smaller things. Frogs in a stream, the Boy Scout built bridge on the Little Turtle Trail, a bleached turkey vulture skull, the wildflowers in Butterfly Alley. The quiet was nice, we didn’t see any other hikers on the trails.
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