Spend a Day at Locust Shade Park

Whether it’s mountain biking, miniature golf, fishing or testing your ninja warrior skills, Locust Shade Park is a great place to spend the day. With its many amenities, set amongst a beautiful, scenic backdrop (perfect for fall hiking) visitors of all ages will find something to enjoy.  

The park’s amenities include eight pavilions (available to rent), three playgrounds, horseshoe pits, three tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, 3.2 miles of scenic nature trails, a 15-station fitness trail, mountain bike trails, batting cages, a driving range and an 18-hole miniature golf course, along with boating (seasonal) and fishing (year-round) in an eight-acre pond. The park is also home to the Jean C. Smith Amphitheater, an outdoor performance venue that presents family entertainment during the summer season, and our popular Warrior Challenge Course built to mimic obstacles similar to those on the American Ninja Warrior television show.

Popular among mountain bikers, Locust Shade Park offers nearly seven miles of mountain bike trails suitable for beginners to more advanced riders. The trail officially opened in winter 2021 thanks to community partners, the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), whose volunteers logged over 1,000 hours working to clear deadfall, mark, dig and build walkways and trails. 

Know Before You Go
* Bank and pier fishing is available year-round during park operating hours, weather permitting. Locust Shade’s eight-acre pond is stocked with trout and channel catfish. There are also native populations of blue gill, largemouth bass and crappie. Pier is ADA accessible. Please note that for ages 16+ a Freshwater Virginia State Fishing License is required year-round and a Virginia State Trout License is required during our winter season, November 1 – April 30. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 703-792-8780.

* Whether you want to hit golf balls or baseballs, Locust Shade Park is the place to be. Please note the battling cages will close on October 28 until next April. For full hours of operation and rates for the batting cages, driving range and mini golf, please click here. If you get hungry, concessions are available at the golf shop near the driving range.

Locust Shade Park is also home to many camps and our Science in the Park program which provides hands on lessons for K-6th grade students based on the Virginia Standards of Learning science curriculum. The program uses our fields, forests, streams and lakes as an outdoor classroom to teach children ages 5-13 about ecosystems. Educators can learn more about the program here.

Want to learn more about Locust Shade Park? For more information, click here for all the details.