Blue Ridge, Virginia

From I-81: Exit 140 and take Highway 311 north for 11 miles towards New Castle. Dragon’s Tooth parking lot is on the left, just past Catawba Grocery. LAT 37.3787 LONG -80.1563 Ready to tackle the Dragon? This 4.6 mile, out and back, trail provides one with a true hiking experience. The hike wil...

Want to scale the side of a rock face? If you do, I highly suggest adding this adventure to your list. Hiking to the marbleyard and back to the parking lot will have you at a 3 mile journey. How many hours will it take to hike the trail and tackle Antietam Quartzite boulders larger than cars you ...

Arnold Valley Pool might be a couple hundred feet from the road but most people don’t even notice when they pass by. This swimming hole is located on the same road as Devil’s Marbleyard and is the perfect place to cool off after the intense hike at the Marbleyard or on any hot summer day. The swi...

From 615 (Craig Creek rd) you turn on to 621 (Roaring Run rd) and about mile down is a little gravel road on the left that you turn down. Go down this gravel road a little ways to reach the parking area, you'll know you're there when you see a big gate held up by two stone pillars. Once you are r...

Starting at the James River Footbridge, which is the longest foot traffic only bridge on the entire Appalachian Trail. Head north on the Appalachian Trail.  You will quickly cross over Rt. 501. After a mile of hiking through the woods skirting the Rocky Row Run stream, you will cross over Forest ...

Park at the Alta Mons camp parking lot, and start walking the gravel road. There will be signs throughout the trail that lead to the waterfall. Continue down the trail for 1.5 miles. Look out for the white trail markers that indicate the Stiles Falls trail. After 1.5 miles, you will reach the wat...

You can park your car at the small gravel lot where VA-42 and Rt. 629 intersect. Starting from the Appalachian Trail crossing at VA-42,  head north on the AT, which winds through some grass meadows. After about 0.8 miles into the hike you will cross Rt. 630 (Northside Road) on a bridge over Sinki...

House Mountain provides two amazing views via two out-and-back hikes, for a combined hike of 8.75 miles. If you’re short on energy and/or time, the 6 miles round trip to Big House Mountain is (in my opinion) the better of the two overlooks. Either way, keep in mind that this hike covers a great...

Just nine miles north of I-64, this viewpoint is not one to be missed if you’re in the area. According to the information post at the overlook, “The site was once visited by [Thomas] Jefferson to survey the falls and he mentions it in his manuscripts ‘Notes on the State of Virginia’ written in 1...

This is a great day hike for families or groups looking to get out for a short hike on the Appalachian Trail in Jefferson National Forest.From 460W Take Blue Grass Trail Rd then a left onto Clover Hollow Rd/State Route 601. Continue on this for 6.7 miles until you reaches an intersection with the...

Located on Limestone Hill Road north of  Waiteville, WV at about 3800 feet above sea level is an old Fire watch tower. The tower, built in 1956 was abandoned in 1972. In 1983 the US Forest Department acquired this area as part of the Jefferson National Forest. Since then the Tower has become know...

In Douthat State Park, park at the Discovery Center/Amphitheater parking lot near the children's fishing area. The Blue Suck Falls trail head will be towards the dam on the left side and is well-marked.Note: A trail map is highly recommended for this trail! It is fairly well-marked with blue blaz...

If you love everything outdoors, the Hydaway Outdoor Recreation Center is the place for you! You can do almost any activity you can think of here. If you aren't affiliated with Liberty University, you can't rent their equipment, but you can bring you own to use. The main attraction is the lake wh...

This is a part of the Huckleberry Trail (which is paved), but off of it is the dirt hiking/walking trail loop. It is a really fun area to explore, and the parts that are on the Huckleberry have plaques with historical information on it which is all very interesting. It also has a beautiful wooden...

Great for walking or jogging. There are nice views of the pond and there are also other little areas like one dedicated to horticulture. Fishing is also possible (with a license).  Parking is very easy here!

From Lexington or Buena Vista, Virginia, take Rt. 60 east for several miles. As soon as you pass under the Blue Ridge Parkway, look for a gravel road on your right marked Panther Falls Road. This is a fairly bumpy gravel road, so take it easy. Follow Panther Falls Road down the mountain for just ...