Monroe, Virginia

Once thought to be the highest peak in Virginia, this 2.5 hour hike is one that will leave you speechless at the top. Park at the Peaks of Otter Nature Center (which is now closed). The trailhead is located to the right of the building. You will cross over a paved bus road soon after beginning th...

To get to the trailhead, pull into the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center off of the Blue Ridge Parkway and park there. Proceed to the outdoor amphitheater behind the center. At the rear of the amphitheater there is a large sign showing Harkening Hill and other nearby trails, here the trail begins. Th...

White Rock Falls Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Montebello, Virginia.

Park in The Slacks Overlook parking lot on the Blue Ridge Parkway, around milepost 20. From there exit the parking lot back onto the road and head left. About 300 feet from the parking lot there is the trail entrance. It isn't too hard to find if you are looking for it, but there aren't any marki...

Note: We usually get a chance to take this trip in the summer, so please pay attention to the weather and pack accordingly. This description is for a July/August hike and the temperatures were in the 80s during the day and 60s at night. During this time of year rain showers are always a possibili...

From the parking area at Reids Gap, start off on the white-blazed A.T heading south as the trail begins on the left side of a clearing. You will begin climbing Meadow Mountain shortly and in .8 miles arrive at the top of the ridge, where you will continue on downhill for another .8 miles until y...

Saint Mary's Wilderness is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Vesuvius, Virginia.

Saint Mary's Wilderness is one of Virginia's largest designated wilderness areas and is an old iron ore mining area. There are two ways to get to Saint Mary's Falls and this Blue Ridge adventure will start you off at the parking area off Saint Mary's Road.  Once on Saint Mary's Road, you will dr...

Sherando Lake is a beautifully maintained dog/family friendly campground situated between two lakes. Upper Sherando Lake is available for fishing only but the larger, 25 acre, Lower Sherando Lake offers swimming, fishing, kayaking, and relaxing on the beach.  The campground is divided into three ...

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...

Starting from the Dripping Rock Parking area at MP 10 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, head north on the white blazed Appalachian Trail (trail leading into woods from parking lot- don't cross the road). In about 20 steps the trail splits- go right. In another 20 steps or so the trail splits again but t...

The fly fishing on the Maury River is one of a kind through the Goshen Pass. The Pass is littered with huge boulders, which actually makes it possible to fish without waders, although it's much easier and more enjoyable with waders.From Lexington, VA, take Route 39 towards Goshen for approximatel...

This little hike is one of the most popular in the area, and for good reason! It's a short and steep one mile to the top, but the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park to the east, are some of the best around. It's somewhat of a tradition for students from the Universit...

The parking for the trailhead is down an unmarked gravel/dirt road about 1.5 miles upriver from the Virginia Wayside rest area on Route 39 West. You'll see the swing bridge out across the river and the road will be immediately after this on your right. The road goes back about 200 yards to the pa...

We don't get a ton of snow here in Virginia, but when we do, the Blue Ridge Parkway can be a great place to get out and enjoy a day of snowshoeing or cross country skiing. It's also a great opportunity to get your pup out and let him work out some energy as the chances of running into anyone are ...

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...