Stafford, Virginia

Just outside of Washington DC is a great hike and rock scramble you don't want to miss. Great Falls lies in both Virginia and Maryland and has beautiful views of the Potomac River. Start out at the Great Falls Tavern parking lot (Maryland side), and keep in mind it is $10 to park here if you don...

This hike utilizes the Potomac Heritage Trail from Riverbend Park to Great Falls National Park. This section is an easy, mostly flat trail that will take you along the Potomac until you reach Great Falls National Park. When you reach Riverbend Park turn right into the parking lot. At the end of t...

The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are a unique spot in Washington, D.C. The grounds are full of ponds, boardwalks, and a trail that connects you to the Anacostia River Trail. The main draw of this park are the ponds full of lotus flowers. During the summer months, they grow tall with colors ranging ...

Red Rock Wilderness Overlook provides 60+ acres of trails to explore right in Leesburg, Virginia. The site is home to some ruins and buildings from the late 1800's and is a wonderful spot for picnics, hiking, trail running, and geocaching.The preferable loop is to take the trail that leads straig...

Be prepared to deal with crowds, especially on the rock scrambles, which tend to cause a bottle neck on this trail in Shenandoah National Park. I would recommend starting out early on this loop hike, around 6 or 7 am to avoid the crowds. Definitely arrive no later than 9:30am, as the parking lot ...

This hike is one of the lesser known hikes in Shenandoah. While everyone else is headed to Old Rag, hikers will find themselves on a peaceful hike to the summit of Mt. Robertson. Hikers should park in the Old Rag Parking lot and make sure to pay the daily fee ($25). If you have a yearly pass, be ...

In just a .61 mile trail, Piedmont Overlook has so much to offer in terms of views and although it is fairly steep, anyone can do it!  After arriving at Sky Meadows State Park start heading up to the white park office building, this is where the trail begins. To get to the trail head follow Bosto...

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! ...

This unique hike on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park is 2.4 miles round trip with an 835' elevation gain, and leads you to two viewpoints as well as a cool rock outcrop.Access this hike from the Compton Gap parking area (elevation 2,145') on the Skyline Drive at Mile 10.4. Cross ...

Camping at Sky Meadows State Park is a great location to backpack with young kids or if you are new to backpacking. The campground has 18 primitive walk-in campsites located 1.03 miles from the overnight parking lot at the park entrance. Reservations can be made online. After checking-in and park...

Park at the Mount Marshall parking area at ~MP 15.6 on the Skyline Drive.  From the back of the parking lot, take the white-blazed Appalachian Trail north for a short 0.4 miles to a large rock outcrop with views south.  After finished exploring this outcrop, continue on the AT for another 0.1 mil...