Hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy stunning scenery found in the Virginia Shenandoah Valley. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail both traverse through the area creating some great hiking trails, all of which are well maintained and marked. Filled with waterfalls and pristine mountain streams, the hiking trails in Virginia are some of the most beautiful in the southeast. Explore the George Washington Forest and all that it has to offer.
There are several Virginia Hiking Trails located nearby to our beautiful Virginia Mountain Cabins. Located just a few miles off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, minutes away from Sherando Lake and Wintergreen Resort, our Cabins in the Virginia Mountains offer the very best in vacation accommodations. Contact us today to book your Virginia Mountain Vacation.
The Crabtree Falls Trail
Crabtree Falls is a beautiful Virginia waterfall located in the George Washington National Forest, in Nelson County, just midway between Charlottesville and Lynchburg. This series of five cascading waterfalls fall 1,200 feet and is the tallest waterfall located east of the Mississippi River. There are several Virginia Hiking Trails around Crabtree Falls, many of which offer stunning views from overlooks constructed to show off the true beauty of the area. The main Virginia Hiking Trail ends at Crabtree Meadows, or the more adventuresome hiker can explore beyond Crabtree Meadows about a half mile and pick up the Appalachian Trail. The best time to see Crabtree Falls is from the winter to the spring when the water level is higher. The Crabtree Falls Trail is located off State Route 56 in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The trail can also be reached via State Route 826, which is a bumpy dirt road, and a four wheel drive is recommended and probably necessary at various times.
Sherando Lake Hiking Trails
There are several easy walking Virginia hiking trails located around both parts of Sherando Lake. For more difficult hiking trails, venture to the Sherando Lake Recreation Area and try the Cliff Trail or the White Rock Gap Trail. The Cliff Trail is an unmarked .75 mile trail located on the eastern side of Sherando Lake. Explore the Lakeside Trail and combine with the Cliff Trail and enjoy a loop trail with phenomenal views. The White Rock Gap Trail follows Back Creek and is marked with orange blazes. It is 2.5 miles long and ventures past an old home site and eventually on to where it picks up the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 18.5.
Another Sherando Lake Trail is the Blue Loop Trail that begins in Campground A which surrounds the lake. The trail takes hikers up .9 mile to the top of Torrey Ridge, located on the northwestern side of Sherando Lake. Here the Blue Loop Trail joins the Torrey Ridge Trail. If you continue following the trail you'll come to some really spectacular views of the lake and then out to the entrance of the recreation area.
White Rock Falls Trail
White Rock Falls is a 35 foot cascading waterfall located on White Rock Creek on the Parkway near Waynesboro. This area and hiking trail is easily accessed from the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 19.9 which comes to Slacks Overlook. This short trail takes you to the waterfalls and is really easy to walk as it is less than a mile long.
Another alternate way to get to the falls is to begin the trail from the White Rock Gap parking area located at milepost 18.5. Hikers adventure towards the north and can see some nice views of the falls and its many cascades. This Virginia Hiking Trail is a bit more difficult and definitely longer, at 2.5 miles long. There are several smaller trails that lead away from this trail, so take some time to explore the entire region.
Shenandoah National Park
The Shenandoah National Park has over 500 miles of Virginia Hiking Trails, 101 of which are part of the famous, Appalachian Trail. Some of the Shenandoah National Park hiking trails are located right off of Skyline Drive, and there are numerous Shenandoah National Park trails that lead to beautiful waterfalls. Skyline Drive is a 105 mile very windy National Scenic Byway that runs along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains and through the length of the Shenandoah National Park. From Skyline Drive you can see many panoramic views.
The Limberlost Trail
The Limberlost Trial is a gentle Virginia Hiking Trail that is ADA accessible and located at milepost 43. The hike takes hikers through 1.3 miles of beautiful wilderness and through some unique flora and fauna.
Ivy Creek Natural Area Virginia Hiking Trails
Ivy Creek Natural Area is a 215 acre nature preserve that is managed by the Nature Conservancy. This area is found along the Rivanna Reservoir and is renowned for its natural beauty, distinct native wildlife, and watershed. The Ivy Creek Natural Area is located off Hydraulic Road, just 2 miles north of Charlottesville Virginia on Earlysville Road. Here hikers can enjoy the thick forests, beautiful streams and natural springs, and over 2 miles of shoreline.
Spy Rock
Incredible 360 degree views await you from the top of Spy Rock. The trailhead begins behind the trout hatchery at Montebello. Total distance to Spy Rock is between 1.3 and 1.6 miles, depending on who you ask. The hiking is moderate, and begins by crossing a small stream. Follow the blue blazes until you reach the white-blazed Appalachian Trail. Signs will direct you the rest of the way. When you reach the end, get ready for a rock scramble, as you’ll need to do just a bit of easy climbing to reach the summit. The 3,700 foot elevation and 360-degree view show why this rock is believed to have been used by Confederate scouts to monitor movements of the Union troops--hence the name Spy Rock.
Ragged Mountain Natural Area Virginia Hiking Trails
The Ragged Mountain Natural Area is a 980 acre nature preserve near Charlottesville Virginia. Ragged Mountain is mostly a gigantic forest land with two lakes and over seven miles of Virginia Hiking Trails. This unique wilderness is found along the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail and contains a variety of wildlife such as deer, fox, and mountain lion. The Main Loop Trail offers some nice views of the valleys and vistas and can take 2 to 3 hours. Hikers are advised not to begin hiking the Main Loop Trail late in the day as the area closes at sunset. From the Main Trail, other smaller but pretty trails like the Upper Lake Trail and the Peninsula Trail take hikers to other locations in the Ragged Mountain Natural Area.
St. Mary's Wilderness Trail
The St. Mary's Wilderness Trail wanders through the largest of Virginia's federal wilderness areas, the St. Mary's Wilderness. The trail starts west of the Parkway near Steele's Tavern and follows the St. Mary's River. Along the trail you'll see large pools at the base of waterfalls, some of which are 10 feet deep. This is a great way to cool off during the summer months. Weekdays are usually the best time to visit during the summer.
Humpback Rock Trail
This trail begins in the Humpback Gap parking lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and ascends very quickly to the rocky ledges above. You can enjoy some truly amazing 360 degree views on top of slanted rock. The trip down is much easier than the trip up, and only takes about 20 minutes to get back to the car.