Between the Hills Conservancy

06/02/2026

June at Sweet Run State Park 🌳🔥🦋
Days are growing longer, trails are warming up, and the mature forests & meadows of the park are bursting with life! Whether you're looking for solitude in the woods or a family-friendly spot to explore, it is the perfect time to !
From celebrating Great Outdoors Month and National Trails Day (this Saturday) to bird & butterfly walks with Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and even a campfire birthday celebration of Virginia State Parks 90th, there is no better place to kick off the summer season than Sweet Run!
Check the Sweet Run State Park website for operating hours and upcoming event details before your visit.
We can’t wait to see you on the trails!

05/24/2026

🕷️ FACTS > FEAR 🕷️
Have you seen a spectacular spider at Sweet Run State Park recently? Share a photo in the comments below! We have seen some stunning wolf spiders with large egg sacs. that wolf spiders in Virginia are among the largest spiders in the state, with total leg spans commonly reaching 3-4" and a single sac can carry anywhere from 100-500+ eggs!

All spiders use venom to kill their prey, but many spiders are not nearly as aggressive or dangerous as they are presented in urban legends and the media. Spider identification requires specialized knowledge and sufficient magnification. Many harmless species are mistakenly identified as being dangerous due to a lack of a lack of training or a good microscope.

Even medical doctors cannot diagnose a wound as a spider bite based solely on the appearance of the wound. A wound can only be diagnosed definitively as resulting from a spider bite if a spider is observed in the act of biting. Many necrotic “spider bites” are actually the result of other causes, such as bacterial infection or other insect bites. Given the frequency of incorrect identifications, misdiagnosed spider bites, and media hype about venomous spiders, it’s no wonder that so many people are terrified of spiders.

Learn more on spiders commonly confused for medically significant species: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/ENTO/ENTO-73/ENTO-73.html

Image text: These VA spiders don’t deserve their bad reputation!
All spiders use venom to kill their prey, but these friends are not considered medically significant to humans.

05/16/2026

❗️💧 We are in a severe drought. It’s important to conserve water however you can. Here are a few tips from Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program. Make sure you’re following their page & the VCE Loudoun Master Gardeners page for local information.

Many portions of Virginia are still experiencing a severe drought with another week of hot dry weather on the horizon! If you are not under water restrictions or if you harvest rain water in a rain barrel, you might be watering your landscape this week.

Ensure that water goes to your plant's roots and is not lost to evaporation by watering deeply at the base of your plant, avoiding sprinklers, and applying sufficient water to thoroughly soak into the soil (not just a little sprinkle on the surface!).

Learn more here: https://go.vt.edu/uo6yw

Image text: Water early: Irrigate in the morning when temperatures are cooler to reduce loss from evaporation.

Target the roots: Apply water directly at the base of the plant.

Avoid sprinklers: Sprinklers are prone to water loss from wind drift and evaporation. Studies estimate that 20 to 30 percent of water applied via daytime sprinklers is lost before it reaches the roots.

Water deeply: Ensure moisture reaches the entire root ball rather than just the surface.

Learn more: https://go.vt.edu/uo6yw

05/16/2026

Happy Saturday! ☀️ It’s a beautiful day to visit Sweet Run State Park and take part in National Kids to Parks Day ! While you’re visiting, be sure to swing by the newly updated Visitor’s Center and pick up some fresh park swag, stuffies, stickers, and more.

05/13/2026

How are you celebrating the day? We're celebrating at Sweet Run State Park of course! See the event for more information: National Kids to Parks Day at Sweet Run State Park

05/13/2026

THIS SATURDAY is National Kids to Parks Day! 🌳
Head to Sweet Run State Park to become a Junior Ranger while you celebrate this annual day dedicated to outdoor play!
National Kids to Parks Day at Sweet Run State Park
Read more here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-02-15-09-06-34-878630-hkz

05/12/2026

There is so much happening at Sweet Run State Park this month! This weekend is and Loudoun's only Virginia State Parks has all kinds of family-friendly fun planned for you to celebrate this day of outdoor play!

Now in its 16th year, National Kids to Parks Day, sponsored by the National Parks Trust, is a nationally coordinated day designed to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks. By discovering our public lands, kids across the country are learning about park stewardship, outdoor recreation, STEM and history.

05/02/2026

🐞 TODAY at Sweet Run State Park! Learn from the VCE Loudoun Master Gardeners how to help your gardens thrive this season!

11/16/2025

August-November 2025 Earth & Sky Adventures at Sweet Run State Park! 🥾🌳🍂 ✨💫🪐

What a wonderful season of exploring the trails and skies of Sweet Run! From fireflies in August to final foliage in November, our trails took us through warm summer woods and the sounds of peepers to the sights of autumn’s fiery Blue Ridge foliage and crisp air; the beauty of the landscape and the changing seasons was something to behold! We caught shooting stars of the Perseids in August, saw Saturn’s rings in November, and so many other stellar sights between!

⭐️ Thank you to the visitors and volunteers, the rangers and park staff, and the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) who make this series not only possible, but such a success! The knowledge and passion of the volunteers and staff make each month so special ⭐️

Keep your eyes to the sky and on our events tab for August 2026 when this series will start again!