Trail Hours, Rules, and FAQs

Trail Hours

Sunrise to Sunset every day of the year except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, or for inclement weather. In the winter, morning icy conditions may also lead to delayed openings.

To review local daily sunrise and sunset times, CLICK HERE »

Gates open just before sunrise and close within 30 minutes of sunset to allow adequate time for cleaning and trail maintenance. Please allow time to return to your vehicle before closing. Anyone on the trail after closing will need to contact Monticello Security at 434-984-9885 to unlock the gates.

  • Trail users looking to access the restrooms, café, shop, and all locations at Monticello's visitor center campus are required to pass through a security screening checkpoint. No weapons, including firearms, knives, or sharp objects, are permitted beyond the checkpoint. 

    Please note that the Trail parking lot hours differ from those of the lot at Monticello. See Monticello's Hours of Operation for more information.

Two dogs on leashes sit next to a sign at the start of the Saunders-Monticello Trail
Leashed dogs are now welcome on all trails

Rules

Please observe all signage at the park.

Trail and park users are asked to respect the following rules:

  • To reduce employees’ contact with waste, guests are asked to carry out trash and properly dispose of waste outside of the park.
  • Please stay to the right on trails.
  • Bicycles must observe a 10 mph speed limit and yield to pedestrians at all times. Cyclists should pass pedestrians on the left and proceed with caution.
  • Electric bicycles are not permitted on the Saunders-Monticello Trail.
  • Boardwalk sections of trail will be closed to bicycles in wet conditions.
  • Leashed dogs are welcome on all trails and boardwalks.
  • Please heed the no parking signs along Rt. 53.

Please enjoy and respect the trail and park. 

NOTE: Trail users are responsible for monitoring weather conditions and should leave the Parkway as quickly as possible in case of storms. In severe weather, there is a risk of lightning strikes and of falling branches and trees.

Trail FAQs

  • Gates will close promptly at the times posted above to allow adequate time for cleaning and trail maintenance. Please allow time to return to your vehicle before closing. Anyone on the trail after 5 p.m. will need to contact Monticello Security at 434-984-9885 to unlock the gates.

    *Please note that the Trail parking lot hours differ from those of the lot at Monticello's visitor center. See Monticello's Hours of Operation for more information.

  • Restrooms are only available when Monticello is open. See our Hours of Operation for more information.

  • Maps are available here and are also available through REI’s Hiking Project App. 

  • Guests are asked to “Leave No Trace” and clean up all trash and pet waste.

  • Yes, dogs are allowed on the boardwalks and must be kept on a leash at all times. 

  • All trails within the park, including all rustic trails, require dogs to be on a leash. Your dog must be leashed and under your control at all times.

  • There are three parking lots available for trail users, a small lot located on Route 53, a larger lot on Route 20, and the parking lot at our David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center. Please follow all parking signs. Vehicles illegally parked in the grass or alongside the road will be towed. Addresses for driving directions to our lots:

    • Route 53 Parking Lot: 503 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA 22902
    • Route 20 Parking Lot: 678 Dairy Barn Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22902
    • Visitor Center Parking Lot: 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville, VA 22902

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