Trail Info

Trail Distance: 4.8 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Trail Rating:   Moderate (2)
​Trail head / Directions:  State Park Main Office
​​Trail Parking:  15-20 Spaces
Dog Friendly:  Yes
Family Friendly: Yes 

​You will love:  This trail goes tilt with nature. From stream crossings, to hill side views to wonderful tree canopy. 
You need to know: Virginia's newest State Park is 884 acres. It's mixed use (horse) trails are ala carte and have fantastic signage throughout. Expect in rainier times to stream cross and get your shoes a bit wet.

​What to Pack

• 1 water bottle
• Light snacks
• Hiking shoes or Trail Runners
• Bug spray

Extras

Sweet Run Trail Map

Find more Northern VA Hikes

The Experience

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Your adventure begins at the Main Office parking, use the dirt/gravel road to walk 100 yards and join up with the Mountain View Trail on your right. Once on the Mountain View trail, stay to your right to enjoy expansive valley views along your walk. The trail terrain here is grass/meadow which adds to the aesthetic of the area.  The Mountain View trail is a mere 0.3 miles for you , once at the top of the hill , veer right to join up with Piney Run. This trail will be yours for nearly the next mile. Piney Run is a mixed use trail ( horse) but quickly identifies itself as a forest trail. With limited elevation gain, its a fairly easy walk and brings about access to the creek system in the park. The trail evolves from the Mountain View grassy to more of a single-track comprised of roots, compacted dirt and small stones. There is a small off chute trail called "Jonathon's Trail" that leads to a small rock formation however no view. Its a quick fun romp but expectations should be leveled. Back to our Piney Run walk, this will continue to meander through the woods until its junction with Lower Sweet Run Trail. A small uptick in ascent and work, but with a dominate tree canopy, you have no exposure to the elements to contend with, just amazing forest visuals. Lower Sweet Run (0.7 miles) will have a few creek crossings that can be tricky in wetter times. At the conclusion of Lower Sweet Run, connect with the tail of Butterfly Alley Trail. The trail turns into more navigating under power lines and dealing with exposure of the elements. Its a  break from the forested trail, however lacks views or appeal, think of it a means to the end. From Lower Sweet Run, make a left onto Butterfly Alley and continue for 0.3 miles until your left with Upper Sweet Run.  Your adventure on Upper Sweet Run (0.9 miles) is extremely pleasant with towering trees and a gentle glide down towards your meet up at Arnold Lane. What I love about Upper Sweet is the array of ferns and forest views (endless rows of trees) along this walk, its really the best part of your entire day hike. As you wind down on Upper Sweet , hang a right onto Arnold Lane, a small gravel state park road. Arnold Lane is your ride for 0.3 miles but woah is it the polar opposite of Upper Sweet. Here is a simple forest road , with no views and plenty of no hunting signs. Alas, its a short walk until you turn left onto Old Bridge Trail.  Old Bridge is a return to beauty and sports a stream crossing , its a quick interlude until your right onto Farmstead Loop. This low lying trail can be quiet muddy in wetter periods and is a simple trail to get your from A to B, the B being your parking lot/ car. 
   What should your day hike take away be from Sweet Run State Park?  Its a beautiful , peaceful walk amongst the trees, suitable for kids 5+ and requires little to no orienteering skills but rather the ability to exhale and enjoy nature.