Start of the Chopawamsic Trail at Prince William Forest Park
Length: 3.1-miles round trip from the parking lot
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (most of the steep hills are the ones leading to the campsites)
The Chopawamsic Trail is located within the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area of Prince William Forest Park. Its main purpose is to provide access to one of the eight backcountry campsites. A permit is required to enter the backcountry for any reason, but there are separate permits for camping and hiking for the day. Camping permits are only available at Recreation.gov, and there is a fee. Day-use permits are obtained at the Visitor Center for free during normal business hours. Since it is a minor hassle to get a permit, and because there are plenty of other trails in the park, there is no real reason to hike the Chopawamsic Trail unless you are camping.
The journey begins at the Joplin Road / Hwy 619 parking lot with a .3-mile hike on a connector trail before reaching the loop portion of the trail. The loop itself is 2.5 miles long, and being a loop, you can hike the trail in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, a choice dictated by your campsite destination. If you have no destination, then it makes no difference which way you go, but if you want to get to campsites 6, 7, and 8, take a left and hike in the clockwise direction. Stay straight to hike in the counterclockwise direction for the quickest way to campsites 1 through 5. I hiked the trail in the clockwise direction towards Campsite 6, and this report is written from that perspective.
Chopawamsic Backcountry Map (click to enlarge)
In most cases, the loop portion of the Chopawamsic Trail is wide, well maintained, and easy to follow. There are no confusing side trails or unmarked intersections all the way around.
Typical terrain of the Chopawamsic Trail at Prince William Forest Park
In the clockwise direction, the trail begins by heading down a very steep hill, though it lasts less than 100 yards. If you are hiking in the opposite direction, this is definitely a strenuous climb. At the bottom is a creek, and once crossing it you begin heading up another steep hill, though again, the climb does not last long. In less than .2 mile from the start of the loop you are back on relatively flat terrain with a few minor hills. The trail does become faint at this point for a short distance, so keep an eye out for white blazes on the trees—paint splotches that you follow like Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. The Chopawamsic Trail is marked with white blazes, and the trails that lead to the campsites from the main trail are marked with yellow blazes.
A quarter mile from where the loop starts is a post with a number on it. Such posts mark the entrances to the campsites, with this being the Campsite 6 marker. Some campsites are right near the trail, while others require an additional hike of up to 250 yards. Campsite 6 is only 50 yards from the main trail, which is about as short a walk to a campsite that you’ll find. Campsite 6 is also the closest campsite to the parking lot. However, the camping area is much smaller than at the other sites, so if you plan on pitching two large tents, I suggest avoiding it.
Numbered post marks the entrance path to the Chopawamsic Backcountry campsites in Prince William Forest Park
As you leave Campsite 6 you will be heading down another steep-but-short hill—again one ending at a creek—and then up another steep hill on the .1-mile march to Campsite 7. It is located inside the loop, a hundred yards up a small hill.
The terrain between campsites 7 and 8 is level to mildly hilly. There is a short stretch that gets rather narrow and a little overgrown, so be sure to check yourself for ticks whenever you brush up against vegetation. Other than a narrow stretch here and there, most of the trail is wide enough for two people to hike side-by-side.
Narrow section of the Chopawamsic Trail at Prince William Forest Park
Campsite 8 is located a quarter mile past Campsite 7, and it is the last campsite on the north end of the trail. From here the trail turns south and heads towards Chopawamsic Creek and the Breckenridge Reservoir. Creeks are often located at the bottom of a ravine, and this is no exception, so after a third of a mile along level terrain the trail begins a gradual descent towards the water sources.
About .9 mile from Campsite 8 is Campsite 1. If you were hiking the Chopawamsic Trail in the opposite direction, Campsite 1 is approximately 1.3 miles from the parking lot versus 1.8 miles when hiking in the clockwise direction. Either way, it is the farthest campsite from the parking lot.
Not long after passing Campsite 1, the trail begins a much steeper descent and continues until crossing a small stream. This is not Chopawamsic Creek, but a stream that feeds into it.
The Chopawamsic Trail at Prince William Forest Park crosses a small stream between Campsites 1 and 2
Campsite 2 comes less than a quarter mile after Campsite 1. The actual camping area is at the top of a very steep hill about 175 yards from the main trail.
Steep uphill climb to Campsite #2 in the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area of Prince William Forest Park
After departing from Campsite 2, the Chopawamsic Trail once again crosses a small creek. Campsite 3 is just a couple of minutes farther down and is close enough that it can be seen from the main trail. In the fall you can supposedly see Chopawamsic Creek to the south, but when the leaves are on the trees there is no way to see it from here.
Creek crossing between Chopawamsic Backcountry Campsites 2 and 3 in Prince William Forest Park
Campsite 4 is just 50 yards past Campsite 3. However, it is a hike in itself to reach the actual camping area 250 yards away. You must head down a very steep hill to the bottom of a ravine, cross a creek, and then head up another steep hill to the camping area. The trail has nearly disappeared, so use the yellow blazes to find your way.
Chopawamsic Backcountry Campsite #4 at Prince William Forest Park
Shortly after passing the entrance to Campsite 4, the trail heads up a moderately steep hill. At the top is Campsite 5, just .1 mile past Campsite 4. It is located 50 yards from the main trail along a level path.
Once leaving Campsite 5, the trail is as flat as a pancake all the way to the northwest corner where the loop begins. Keep straight to get back to the parking lot.
The hike around the Chopawamsic Trail was rather enjoyable, but as I mentioned earlier, due to the hassle of getting into the backcountry I suggest sticking to the trails at the main section of Prince William Forest Park. Leave this trail to those who are going backcountry camping.
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Last updated on April 10, 2024
