The Natural Areas are a special kind of park and have rules designed to protect their unique nature while still allowing humans to enjoy their qualities. To maintain the wildness of nature we ask that you leave behind many things that you might bring to or take from other county or city parks. Our main rule is “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.” Nature is easily disturbed so pets, biking, or collecting are not allowed. Even dogs on a leash can upset the birds and other animals that wildlife watchers come to observe. The Natural Areas are for quiet recreation which do not adversely impact Nature – if you wish to engage in noisier activities, please visit one of the many parks in the Charlottesville – Albemarle area which provide playgrounds, picnic tables, permit walking dogs, riding bikes, swimming, organized sports and other forms of recreation.

The Natural Areas close at sunset unless a specific public event is scheduled for that evening. Please be sure to leave adequate time to return from the trails to your vehicle, the trails in the woods get dark before the sky does and it’s easy to get lost!

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

The following are specifically PROHIBITED:

• ALCOHOL
  County code does not allow open containers of alcohol, or consumption of alcohol, in county parks.
• PETS
  You are welcome to walk your dogs at the other area parks which allow them.
• SWIMMING
  The reservoirs at Ivy Creek and Ragged Mountain are public water supplies and swimming is prohibited by state law. Please make use of local swimming facilities.
• BIKES
  The trails are restricted to quiet pedestrian and wheelchair use. Other area parks allow bicycles, including extensive mountain bike facilities at Albemarle County’s public Walnut Creek park.
• JOGGING and SPORTING ACTIVITIES
  The Natural Areas are not set up for jogging, team sports nor heavy or noisy recreational activities. Please make use of the other area parks which provide facilities for such activities.
• CAMPING
  The Natural Areas are not campgrounds. Visitors and their vehicles must be out of the park by closing time each night.
• FIRES
  Fires are not allowed! If you wish to have a cookout, please make use of the several area parks which provide grills and/or shelters.
• DUMPING / ABANDONMENT OF PROPERTY
  Littering and other dumping of trash is illegal. Also, the Natural Areas are not appropriate places to leave items behind for later pickup, such as GEOCACHING. Any Geocaching items found will be disposed!
• HUNTING / TRAPPING / COLLECTING
  County code prohibits hunting and trapping of wildlife at county parks. Collecting of other specimens is also prohibited: the plants, rocks and farm artifacts need to remain in the park in order for other visitors to enjoy them!
• TRANSPORT AND RELEASE OF WILDLIFE
  Virginia state law prohibits the transport and release of wildlife. The reasons for this involve preventing the spread of wildlife diseases — the animal you are relocating might be a carrier for a disease to which it may be immune or for which it does not exhibit any symptoms. By moving the animal away from its colony to our natural areas you risk infecting our wildlife with a disease to which they are not immune. So by saving one animal’s life you risk ending the lives of many others.

  Also, transporting an improperly caged wild animal is extremely dangerous — in a motor vehicle, a wild animal can panic and get loose, attacking the human occupants, and/or causing the driver to lose control and leading to a serious, possibly fatal, vehicle accident.

See also: Albemarle County parks