Madison, Virginia

From the parking area at Turk Gap (MP 94.1), cross over the Skyline Drive.  The Appalachian Trail (AT) intersects right here, and take the AT south by taking the trail on the left.  After 0.2 miles you will turn right off of the AT onto the blue-blazed Turk Mountain Trail.  The trail junctions me...

Shenandoah River State Park is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.  The park is full of well-maintained trails great for hiking and mountain biking.  The trails both parallel the banks of the river as it snakes through the Shenandoah Valley and through the rolling hills, which provides...

Skyline Drive is a winding highway that cuts straight through Shenandoah National Park. Being that we are in the south, you will find that the road is closed for the majority of the winter, and usually at the very mention of snow. The first few years of living here it was incredibly frustrating...

Skyline Caverns is located right off Stonewall Jackson Highway with plenty of parking.  The cave tour is about 60 minutes with little walking and minimal elevation gain. If you time it right you and your friends can get the whole tour to yourselves. The backstory the tour guide gives you, is inte...

Pleasant Grove Park has miles and miles of trails and you could easily hike a ten-mile loop if you linked everything together. This particular trail, Heritage Trail and Beach Grove Loop, is a 4.6 mile loop in the southern part of Pleasant Grove, which takes a little under two hours to complete de...

Wilkins Way Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near North Garden, Virginia.

Just 25 minutes outside of Charlottesville, this is a great spot to take the family for the day and get some sunshine. If you are into mountain biking, you're in the right place. There are 13 miles of mountain bike trails that circle the lake. At the end of your ride, there are 2 beaches to stre...

This DIY bike & brews tour is perfect for combining a relaxing day with some activity. There are also wineries along this route if folks in your group want a break from the hops. You can start at any of the three breweries, but I would recommend this itinerary: Park at Blue Mountain Brewery ...

The G.R. Thompson is a piece of public land in Linden, VA, thats primarily used by hunters. The Appalachian Trail runs right through this section and visiting during a fresh snowfall can make for a great adventure. Only 60 minutes drive from greater Washington DC area, this is an easy adventure! ...

Easy to get to from Bryce resort, Orkney Springs Trail is a moderate to challenging trail. It starts with an easy trail through the woods but does get very steep in mile 2 in what seems like a very rocky dried-out river bed. There is a spectacular view around mile 2. If that's what you’re after y...

Lake Thompson is a great spot for fishing, walking, or just exploring the area with your dog. I've never had a problem with parking, but you're unlikely to find yourself alone at the lake on a nice weekend day.  Its a 10-acre lake, however, so you shouldn't have a problem carving out a little bit...

There are two parking spots for this trail. Park at the lower lot if the gate is closed, if the gate is open, continue up the road for another mile until you reach another closed gate. Park here. If the gate is closed you will need to hike a mile up the road to get to the trail head.From the seco...

Take Fire Trail Road and start your run at the parking area (labeled in the map). The trail puts you directly onto the AT, where you will turn right (southbound) to start the run (or hike). You'll stay on the AT for roughly 3.5 miles down to the Trillium Trail Parking area. At that point, turn ar...

Big Schloss (the German word for “palace”) is a popular hike in the George Washington National Forest.  The trailhead is conveniently located at the Wolf Gap Campground.  To begin, follow the path behind the restrooms at the parking lot.  Cross the paved road where you will find a trail map with ...

Park for free at Wolf Gap Campground and cross the road where you will pass some picnic tables and campsites.  Follow the signs to the yellow-blazed Tibbet Knob trail.  In half a mile, there is a little path to a summit on your left where you can catch a glimpse of Mill Mountain and Big Schloss. ...

Wolf Gap is a FREE year round campground located just outside of Woodstock, VA. It is a great base camp for several scenic hikes like the Tibbet Knob trail (trailhead is just across the road) and the popular Big Schloss trail (trailhead begins at campsite number 9) -- super convenient if you hav...