Rust Nature Sanctuary — Attraction in Leesburg

I went here one Saturday in June to walk my then 6 month old lab. I don't know if it's more crowded usually, but on this day we seemed to have the whole preserve to ourselves. It was a good mix of wooded trails and meadows, and we spent several hours exploring and lounging around. I parked down the street at a playground because I couldnt figure out the onsite parking situation at Rust and was worried the weather would turn on us. The ponds were pretty grimy with algea so I didn't let Ivy swim but it was a great place to have an easy hike with my pup. Would definitely go back. Just make sure you use bug spray or wear long pants, as unfortunately, but not surprisingly, there were lots of ticks in the grassy trails. The grounds were beautifully maintained, particularly around the house where they...

Easy to get to, but it really is a nature sanctuary. There's an easy meadow circuit (with criss-crossing paths), where the birdsong is wonderful, and the wild blackberries in the summer are tasty :-), plus a couple of forested routes that are also peaceful. Well maintained paths. The Rust manor house is closed to the general public - the house and the grounds are used for events...

A pleasant place for an off-season walk in the woods today (2024-12-26). Pond and vernal pool frozen. Only wildlife seen were distant vultures, but that was just my luck today. Trails pass through woods and meadow areas. Trails are in good order with no obstructions, mostly smooth for walking, a bit of up and down, but nothing radical. Plenty of parking, I had the park...