Written By: Jill Dutton

The easternmost front of the Blue Ridge in Virginia includes the Bull Run Mountains. Located in northern Virginia, the picturesque blue mountains span both Fauquier and Prince William Counties.

There are three places to access stunning views of the mountains: the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, the Manassas National Battlefield Park, and the Winery at La Grange. The range is home to the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, designed to act as a living laboratory that covers 2,486 acres of the Bull Run Mountains.

Whether you’re planning a trip through the area or are just captivated by its beauty, consider these five things you might not know about the Bull Run Mountains:

1. The Land Qualifies For A High Level Of Protection

Natural Area Preserves are only justified in cases where the natural and cultural resources are unique enough to qualify for this high level of protection. The Bull Run Mountains Preserve protects nearly 2,500 acres of forest, which hold over 10 different plant communities that are all home to unique arrays of native animals. Woven into this natural landscape are historic ruins that tip visitors off to the area’s diversely peopled past. Preserve manager Joe Villari told us, “The very fact that such a large portion of the Bull Run Mountains is permanently protected as a state-designated Natural Area Preserve denotes the fact that the land is special.”

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