Brushy Hills Preserve

Six Miles of Old Logging Roads

Students hiking on a Leading Edge trip

Washington and Lee University Campus Life Student Engagement and Leadership Outdoor Education and Recreation The Outing Club Outdoor Activities Hiking Brushy Hills Preserve
Campus Life

Owned by the city of Lexington, the Brushy Hills Preserve is a 560 acre watershed tract. The Brushy Hills Trails are among the most accessible hiking and mountain biking trails from Lexington. The fourteen-mile trail system is composed mostly of single-track forest paths, plus a few former logging roads, offering many possible loops and out-and-back hikes in a natural woodland setting.

  • Difficulty: Leisurely
  • Drive Time: 10 minutes
  • Hike Time: 1-4 hours
  • Distance: 6 miles
  • View: Wooded
  • Elevation: 1,353’ to 1,955’

Directions

From Lexington, follow Jackson Avenue south and turn right onto Ross Road.  Take Ross Road to Union Run Road.  Make a sharp right onto Union Run, parking at the old springhouse, about 1/4 mile after Union Run Road turns to gravel.

Campus Life

James Dick

Director of Outdoor Education

Ben Schlief

Associate Director of Recreation

Katelyn Nicely

Outdoor Education and Recreation Operations Manager