The Ragged Mountain Natural Area near Charlottesville, Virginia, is a beautiful 980-acre forest of mature oak, hickory, poplar, pine, and maple trees with two lakes and more than four miles of shoreline. Seven miles of trail lead through majestic forest, along rugged terrain, and through areas rich with wildlife and offer a unique opportunity for wilderness hiking within minutes of town.

Visiting the Natural Area

The Ragged Mountain Natural Area parking area is located at 1730 Reservoir Rd., off Fontaine Avenue, south of Charlottesville, VA. (Google map). Open 7:00 a.m. to sunset.

Please observe our rules for protecting the Natural Area. Sporting activities and pets are prohibted. For an alternative, please visit one of the many parks in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area!

Creation of the Ragged Mountain Natural Area

In April 1997, with the goal of providing long-term protection to the watershed of the Ragged Mountain Reservoir, the Ivy Creek Foundation (ICF) approached the City of Charlottesville with a proposal to designate the Reservoir property as a public natural area reserved for quiet hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation. Under this proposal ICF agreed to fund, design and construct a rustic parking lot, conduct a biological survey, establish and maintain a trail system, and provide maps.

With financial help from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and with the hard work of hundreds of volunteers, Ragged Mountain Natural Area was opened to the public in March, 1999.