Poplar Forest Parkway

The Poplar Forest Parkway is open from 9AM to 5PM when Poplar Forest is open to the public and trail access is from dawn to dusk 7 days a week. While access to the trail is free, we encourage trail users and visitors to become members of the Friends of the Parkway to help us maintain and improve the Parkway and trails. Please be aware of admission required signs and purchase admission in the Museum Shop if you wish to access the historic areas immediately surrounding the historic house. 

The Parkway is designed to showcase the historic landscape and leads guests through the plantation grounds with views of the agricultural and natural landscape that would have been familiar to Jefferson. This new path, which leads visitors to Jefferson’s retreat home, offers a new way to experience Poplar Forest and explore more than 600 acres of the original landscape, all from your car or by foot along our new trails.

Limited public parking is available just beyond our new entrance at 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA 24502. Additional parking is available opposite our Museum Shop in the Visitor Parking Lot (with trail access located just past the Museum Shop, to the left of the circular road). 

PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS

Poplar Forest does allow for private photoshoots on the grounds for a fee of $100/hour with a 1 hour minimum. This fee is required for photoshoots anywhere on our property including along the parkway and near the walking trails. 

This fee covers staff time spent with the photographer as well as admission to the grounds for your photography session. Photography sessions must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. If you are interested in taking photos at Poplar Forest please contact Mary Massie, Director of Programs and Education at 434-534-8108 or mary@poplarforest.org to schedule a date.

Parkway safety

For a full list of visitor guidelines, visit our retreat and tour policies HERE.

• The Parkway speed limit is 20 mph.
• Drivers should be mindful of pedestrians on foot.
• Visitors traveling by foot, please use the trail system only and be mindful of cars.
• No littering.
• Please stay on the path and respect the historic landscape. 
• Pets are welcome, but must be leashed at all times. Please clean-up after your pet and dispose of waste in one of the three clean–up stations along the trail. A limited number of temporary kennels are available onsite for visiting dogs– visit the Poplar Forest Museum Shop for more information.
• While bicycles are permitted on the Parkway and trails, dirt bikes, 4 wheel vehicles, ATVs and UTVs are not permitted on the Parkway.
• Virginia is subject to sudden storms with lightning and heavy wind gusts. Please take shelter in the lower level of the retreat house, admissions/museum shop or exhibit buildings – do not take shelter under trees on the Parkway during storms where you could be subject to injuries.
• ALL weapons, including firearms, knives, or sharp objects are strictly prohibited on the property.
• Trail and Parkway users assume all risk associated with use of the trails and road.

Parkway AND TRAIL MAP