Prince William Forest Park · VA
Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail
Short spur descending to the ruins of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine, which operated 1889-1920 above Quantico Creek; hikers see foundations of the machine shop, engine room, and boiler house.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the hiking plan today.
Today's best: hiking
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- − 88°F air — Above hiking's comfort zone (32–85°F)
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 0.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 14 ft
- Surface
- dirt
- Difficulty
- easy
Trailhead
Coordinates
38.5772, -77.3540 — VA.
Park
Part of Prince William Forest Park (official site →).
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Frequently Asked
How long is Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail?
Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail is a 0.3-mile route with 14 feet of elevation gain — easy — gentle grades, generally suitable for families and beginners with normal fitness. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
What's the trail surface like at Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail?
Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail is natural dirt singletrack — soft underfoot, holds water, slow to dry after rain. Today's mud rating, derived from recent precipitation and the surface type, is shown in the conditions panel above.
Who manages Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine Trail is in Prince William Forest Park, which is managed by the National Park Service. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the live NPS alerts API for this park unit. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.