The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Scenic mountain view across forest in the Wildcat Mountain Natural area © Mary Porter

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Take a look around and spot some of Wildcat Mountain's amazing plants and animals. View All

Plan Your Visit

Get the most of your visit to Wildcat Mountain. View All

Get Directions

Why You Should Visit

With altitudes ranging from 1,200 feet near the top of the mountain to a low point of 500 feet, this predominantly steep and hilly preserve features a broad range of habitats. Wildcat Mountain supports a rich variety of plants and animals, including a few coastal and higher-Appalachian species approaching their geographic limits in northern Virginia.

Location

Fauquier County: on the western slopes of Wildcat Mountain in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Hours

Year-round, dawn to dusk

Size

655 acres

Conditions

Moderate to difficult hiking

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site  

In the 1960s, the Arundel family gave a large portion of Wildcat Mountain to The Nature Conservancy. Although entirely wooded now, Wildcat Mountain Natural Area has a long history of human use. Aside from patches of mature oak-hickory forests, which were only lightly logged, the preserve was cleared for farms as early as the 18th Century. Old stone walls still meander through the preserve, marking boundary lines and former fields.

Many of the homesteads were abandoned after the Civil War, although some farming and considerable logging continued into the 20th Century. At that time, much of Wildcat Mountain Farm was converted to an apple orchard. However, all logging and farming ceased on the western slope in the 1940s.

Before cultivation or extensive logging, most of the mountain was probably a forest of beech, oak and American chestnut. However, in the 1920s a devastating blight killed most of the American chestnuts. Their loss brought economic disaster to many rural people who depended on the sale or use of the nuts, wood and bark (for tannin). The impact on wildlife was significant as well, since chestnut was a major food source.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing

Natural succession was well under way at the time the preserve was donated to the Conservancy. Smaller, adjacent portions have been donated and added onto the Wildcat Mountain preserve since then, allowing additional access for visitors to the preserve.

Things To Do

What to See: Animals

Typical wildlife of the region flourish here, especially red and gray fox, bobcat, deer, skunk, gray and fox squirrel, raccoon, and small mammals. Black bears wander through occasionally, and 186 species of birds have been recorded in the preserve.

What to See: Plants

Older stands of large oak and hickory alternate with stands of pine and younger forest. A new ecosystem of hickories, beech, and oak has evolved through succession. Formerly cleared areas, marked by pine, are giving way to hardwoods in most instances; last stages of field succession are still visible in others. Redbud, dogwood, hackberry, sassafras and wild cherry grow along fringe areas adjacent to neighboring farms.

Plan Your Visit

Download a trail map of Wildcat Mountain Natural Area (pdf, 183KB).

This is a popular preserve and parking is very limited. Please make an effort to carpool to reduce the number of cars in the parking lot. If the parking lot is full, please do not park on the side of the road, this is private property and you are blocking our neighbors’ access to their homes.

For information, contact the Virginia office at (434) 295-6106. Please review Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

Directions

From Washington, D.C.:

• Take 66 west approximately 31 miles west of Beltway 495 and take exit 28 at Marshall.
• Take a left at the end of the exit ramp onto Route 17 south and follow it for a quarter mile.
• Take a right onto Route 691 and follow for 5.25 miles.
• Take a left onto England Mountain road. This is a private paved driveway.
• Follow this driveway past house on left with pond, and then keep straight ahead on gravel road (private paved drive bears to left).
• Park on right side of lane at the kiosk just past the paved drive and walk until road ends in a "T."
• Take a right at this T and walk to the end. The trailhead is located to the left side. The trail is clearly marked to a fire road at the top of the mountain.

From the south: 

• Follow Route 29 north of Charlottesville for roughly 60 miles to Warrenton.
• Turn left onto Business Route 29 at the first light.
• Go 1.5 miles and turn left onto Route 211 west.
• Go to the next light and turn right.
• Go one block to the stop sign and turn left onto Waterloo Road (Route 678).
• Go 6.5 miles (it changes to Wilson Road) and turn right onto Carter Run Road (Route 691). [NOTE: This is a "T" intersection and easy to miss!]
• Go 3.3 miles and turn right onto England Mtn. Road and follow the above directions from that point on

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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