Coordinates: 38°48′12.6″N 77°35′16.7″W / 38.803500°N 77.587972°W / 38.803500; -77.587972 Conway Robinson State Forest is a state forest in Prince William County, Virginia, located near Manassas National Battlefield Park. It serves as a wildflower and wildlife sanctuary. The forest features 444 acres of pine plantation, mixed pine, and old-growth hardwoods and is one of the largest tracts of undeveloped land owned by the Commonwealth in all of Northern Virginia.
The Conway Robinson State Forest was named after Conway Robinson. Conway Robinson was a 19th century lawyer, historian, and author from the state of Virginia. He is most famous for having argued approximately 100 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States and being a founding member of the Virginia Historical Society. The Conway Robinson Park Memorial Association sought to perpetuate the memory of him as a distinguished Virginian through the development of a state forest. The forest became a state forest in February 1938.
The Conway Robinson State Forest serves as a demonstration site for "best practices" in forestry. These practices cover all forest activities from tree planting to harvesting, as well as environmental considerations for water quality, aesthetics and wildlife. These practices incorporate a multiple use management plan which focuses on the advantages and benefits of managing the total resource. In addition, this Forest provides a valuable area for research projects by college or university students, tours and demonstrations, and other educational activities. With more than two million people living within 30 miles of the forest it is an important demonstration and education tool for the community.
The forest is a popular recreation area with various uses. It features approximately 5.1 miles of multi-use trails. These trails are especially popular for hiking, mountain biking, trail riding, geocaching, and more. The forest is open to the public for recreation activities during daylight hours.
As of July 1, 2009, a State Forest Use Permit is required for those persons aged 16 or older to practice the following activities on a state forest:
A valid Virginia hunting license or fishing license in addition to a State Forest Permit ($15 per year) are required for hunting, trapping or fishing on the forest. A State Forest Use Permit is not required for forest visitors who practice the following activities on a state forest:
walking hiking boatingFamous quotes containing the words state and/or forest:
“The Australian mind, I can state with authority, is easily boggled.”
—Charles Osborne (b. 1927)
“The partridge and the rabbit are still sure to thrive, like true natives of the soil, whatever revolutions occur. If the forest is cut off, the sprouts and bushes which spring up afford them concealment, and they become more numerous than ever. That must be a poor country indeed that does not support a hare. Our woods teem with them both.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)