Visit Us
Our 900-acre property is protected under a conservation easement held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. We have 15 miles of trails that traverse a variety of habitats, including grasslands, shrublands, and forests of a variety of ages and that visit special attractions, including vernal pools, overlooks, huge trees, and historic spring houses.
As you walk our trails, you can help us help us learn about the ecosystem by keeping your eyes and ears open. We use iNaturalist, eBird, Odonata Central, and eButterfly to document observations. Please look us up and add yours! We have been using Chronolog since 2022 to create a timelapse of the field station throughout the seasons. You can find up-to-date weather information through our Ambient Weather station.
If it’s your first time visiting Clifton, we recommend signing up for one of our many education programs! This will allow you to get the lay of the land with one of our expert staff members. If you want the opportunity to solo hike, please become a Friend of Clifton with a minimum contribution of $40 by donating here. You are a Friend for a year starting on the date of your donation. You are then able to explore the field station on open-access days.
Open-Access Days
The Clifton Institute is open to Friends of the Clifton Institute on Tuesdays and Saturdays from mid-January to mid-October 8 AM to 4 PM. There are no open-access days during deer hunting season. You can see the list of open-access days on our calendar here.
By attending an open-access day, you are affirming that you have read and agree to our liability release policy (click here). There is a trail sign in the parking lot at the farmhouse at the end of the driveway. An online trail map is available here. There are port-a-potties available in both parking lots. We do not have trash collection services here and there are no public trash cans; please pack out what you bring in.
As you walk our trails, you can help us take care of the field station by keeping your eyes and ears open to help us learn about the ecosystem we’re a part of and by enjoying and respecting the plants and animals that live here.
Hiking carries inherent risks. Please note that the hazards that may be encountered at the Clifton Institute include, but are not limited to, tick-borne disease, venomous snakes, allergic reaction to stinging insects, and uneven walking surfaces. Trails receive varying amounts of maintenance from staff and volunteers and navigation skills and a GPS app are recommended. Please stay on the trails, use common sense, and proceed at your own risk.
Open Access Rules
. On open-access days, you may park either at the lower parking area (“the Gap”) or at the farm house.
. You are welcome to bring friends and family with you on open-access days. All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
. No dogs or horses are permitted.
. No fishing, swimming, boating, or any other entry in the ponds. No
alcohol is permitted.
. No hunting.
. No bicycles, automobiles, ATVs, or any other vehicles are allowed on the trails.
. No drones are permitted.
. No alcohol is permitted.
. Take nothing but photographs. We use our trails to teach kids about the environment and their experiences are much richer if there are still feathers and bones for them to look at.
Report violations by emailing info@cliftoninstitute.org or calling 540-341-3651. We reserve the right to deny access to this property to anyone who does not obey the rules or is otherwise disruptive to our field station operations.
Testimonials
“The Clifton Institute is a very special place in this community. I love being in nature, learning about nature and having a community of people that also enjoy nature. The Clifton Institutes is not just about education, ecology and the environment: they build a community.”
“The Clifton Institute inspires ordinary people to learn about and participate in conservation and citizen science. The staff’s contagious enthusiasm not only imparts knowledge but instills a deeper connection with the natural world.”
“Since becoming a Master Naturalist, I’ve been traveling all across Northern Virginia looking for conservation opportunities that are both fulfilling and entertaining. It only took a program or two at the Clifton Institute to get me hooked. The staff at the Clifton Institute balance education and field research in a way that I have not found elsewhere. I’ve grown more as a naturalist in my 6 or so months volunteering there than I have in over 5 years of volunteering at neighboring institutions and am more motivated than ever to pursue my own citizen science research. The staff’s enthusiasm is contagious, their knowledge inspiring, and their patience for all my questions worthy of praise. I am profoundly grateful for all they do and will continue volunteering there as long as they’ll have me.”
“I love Clifton for so many reasons. Their spring native plant sale, adult education programs, willingness to work with me and my students on educational experiences, and so much more. What keeps me coming back is not simply the exciting events and opportunities, but the wonderful community of staff and patrons that make Clifton, Clifton. One specific event that comes to mind is the first field trip I ever ran with my high schoolers in the fall of 2021. Despite being on a tight schedule, I showed up with my class, received a great primer on forestry research, had a great hands-on lesson, and left with smiling students who still talk about their experience months later.”
“When asked why I enjoy coming to Clifton Institute programs the answer could be as simple as because learning about nature is my favorite thing to do. But that wouldn’t be a full answer. The full reason is because somewhere in my middle, that part we call my heart; I have a passion for all the things Clifton Institute stands for. I truly love learning about natural history and sharing what I know with others. Clifton Institute is not just a place where I learn but it is my community. The place I look forward to going, where I feel like I belong, I have value and what I have to offer is needed and appreciated. When I am at a Clifton Institute event, I fit in. I feel like the volunteering I do is making a real tangible difference in nature and our community. I can see the fields no longer choked with Autumn olive and that makes me smile. I can see hundreds of people showing up to learn and nurture young people… That makes me smile and have hope.”
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