Shared by Scott Harris, Sweet Run volunteer, as Guest Blogger.

Sweet Run State Park is a gem in Loudoun County. One of our newest state parks, it became one in 2023. The park contains 884 acres and boasts 11 miles of very walkable trails. There are a variety of habitats in the park, making it perfect for bird and butterfly enthusiasts, including open pasture, scrubby open land, deep deciduous forest, flowing creeks and two small ponds.

Gordon Pond

I had just huffed myself up a small hill, as a welcoming bench appeared along the path. When the park transitioned to a Virginia State Park, one of the noticeable additions was a smattering of newly constructed benches. I settled myself onto the bench to catch my breath and catch up with some birds on my eBird list. The weather was spectacular: 70 degrees, sunny, cool, no humidity. In other words, it was perfect!

I was only a few meters from my destination this day: Gordon Pond at Sweet Run State Park. Gordon Pond lies on the remote Legacy Loop in the furthest part of the park. Tantalizingly close to the heavily trafficked Farmstead Loop, but separated by a steep mountainside that prevents people from making a beeline to the pond. Instead, one must meander and find their way halfway down the Farmstead Loop, then to the end of Arnold Lane before beginning the Legacy Loop trail. It’s quite a hike, but the reward is solitude. Few people travel this trail, and like most mornings, I had the whole trail to myself.

As I emerged from the woods to face Gordon Pond, I was given a view of gorgeous still pond water dappled with pond lilies. Occasionally, a fish jumped in the water, while bullfrogs croaked and Scarlet Tanagers and Wood Thrushes sung in the surrounding forest.

Park History

The history of the park, most of which I’ve learned from Joe Coleman, a longtime steward of the park, is roughly paraphrased as follows: in the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries, the land contained a small settlement of farms. You can still see the ruins of these old stone farmhouses along the Farmstead Loop, and if you hike the park in early spring, you’ll see daffodils blooming around these structures: a clear sign that humans have inhabited this land, as you will never see wild daffodils in nature around here. It is a solemn reminder that sometime, long ago, someone planted those bulbs to brighten their homestead, and they still grace us today.

During the latter half of the 20th century, it is believed that the land was considered for development as a residential subdivision or golf course. Hundreds of acres of trees would be leveled, and the landscape would have been forever ruined. The developer had erected a dam, and a large lake was on the property. Before substantial development could begin, Hurricane Agnes came inland in 1972, broke the dam, and drained the lake. The developer gave up the project.

In 1999, the Robert and Dee Leggett Foundation purchased the historic Mountain View Farm (as it was then known) and established the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES). BRCES maintained the land as a mostly public park where people could come and hike, bird watch, walk their leashed dogs and ride horses on the property. (The local U.S. Trail Ride chapter shared responsibility for maintaining the trails in exchange for the privilege of riding in the park). When my kids were little, we’d bring them to BRCES to hike and wear off some of their energy. BRCES operated as a non-profit for almost 25 years, until the park was finally turned over to the Commonwealth of Virginia as a State Park.

Many avid users of the park worried about what state control would do to the park. Would they allow motorbike or mountain-bike traffic? Would they level areas of trees to put in camper parks or new buildings? I was always of the opinion that a “light touch” was preferred in this otherwise perfect place. Thankfully, that wish came true. The state did not change the overall nature of the park. They employ around nine or ten rangers, all of whom are super friendly and helpful. They have regularly-occurring events like birding seminars and walks (staffed by volunteer leaders from Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy), volunteer workdays, gardening and foraging programs, and much more. The infrastructure of the park was improved slightly by the addition of those benches, and all the trail markers and signage were improved, making the park very easy to navigate.

Birdwatching

Like most avid birders, I have several ongoing “goals” that I aspire to fulfill: Bird in all 50 states (I’m only missing Alaska), bird in every county in Virginia (I’m about two-thirds complete), and this month, I finished my local goal of birding the entirety of Sweet Run State Park in May: every trail at least once during May, the most rewarding month of the year due to the migration of species. At the beginning of May, you can still find winter species like Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Dark-Eyed Juncos and White-Throated Sparrows. In mid-May you’re able to find exotic warbler species like Blackburnian, Bay-Breasted and Cerulean Warblers. And by the end of May, all the summertime regulars are in place: Eastern Kingbirds, Arcadian Flycatchers, Eastern Wood Pewees and Scarlet Tanagers.

As Spring draws to a close and  the summer heat creeps in, I reflect back on my time spent in Sweet Run State Park. I remember taking a group of young Explorer Scouts birding, and all of us discovering a Barred Owl nest with the mom on the nest! Mrs. Owl was peeking out from a crevice in the tree that looked way too small for her, but there she was nonetheless! I remember visiting the park three weekends in a row, in search of the elusive Blue-Winged Warbler, only to be rewarded on the final visit (third time’s a charm!) with the bird buzz-buzzing along the powerline cut that runs up Butterfly Alley. I remember hearing countless Scarlet Tanagers and never seeing a single one of them in the dense canopy. How can a bright red bird be so difficult to see?! It is frustrating, but I’ve resigned myself to just hearing the birds when I can, and am grateful that I still have good enough hearing to hear those Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers and Cedar Waxwings that inhabit the park in great numbers.

For those of you interested in the statistics, my eBird Trip Report for Sweet Run State Park in May 2026 has the following highlights: 89 species observed, over 10 miles traversed (again, the whole park over several weekend visits during the month), and quite a few photos and sound recordings. Notable species include one Black-Billed Cuckoo, one Wild Turkey gobbling in the woods near the powerline cut, a Broad-Winged Hawk flyover, several Red-Headed Woodpeckers (always a treat to see), an American Kestrel, Wood Thrushes as thick as American Robins in your neighborhood, at least a dozen varieties of warblers, including the Kentucky Warbler who breeds in the park and a singing Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. My eBird Trip report is found here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/523588.

Visit Sweet Run State Park

If you’ve never been to the park, you don’t know what you’re missing! If you have been to the park many times, I’d encourage you to try one of the less used trails, like the Legacy Loop or Woodthrush Trail. In these times of digital life, when we are glued to our phones and social media, solitude is a gift, one that we give ourselves. Walking through the park recharges the soul and returns us to our true selves — analog beings in an analog world. Whether you are a dog walker, an amateur naturalist, a birder or a horseback enthusiast, this park has something to offer for everyone. Enjoy!