Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Leesburg VA

March 2025

This was my third visit to Banshee Reeks, about 700 acres of hilly, mostly wooded terrain crisscrossed with 15 miles of trails. I knew what to expect, and was able to more fully enjoy myself than on my previous visits.

At one end of the gravel parking lot sits a beautiful visitor’s center built like a house. Maybe it was a house at one point, come to think of it. Anyway, it fits nicely with the gently rolling Virginia hills, and from there you can look out over several meadows and the surrounding woods.

The wide grass and dirt trails wind up and down the hills and through the woods, passing by a nearby pond. While not strenuous, it’s not flat, either. I was glad that I had put on my hiking boots, though good sneakers would work fine.

The hills ensure constant changes in scenery, making this a particularly pleasant place for a walk at any pace.