Hiking in Virginia

Old Rag (GPX)
Hands down, best hike in the area.  Old Rag will bring out the inner child in you.  Great views, rock scrambles, it has it all.  This hike is best on a weekday in the fall, as there are 3000-5000 people on the mountain Sat and Sunday.  On the way home, stop at DuCard Vineyards.  Dogs are not allowed on Old Rag.  

McAfee Knob (GPX)
Down near Blacksburg,   McAfee Knob one of the most photographed spots in VA.  The ledge is not actually scary when you are on it, I swear. 

Dragon’s tooth (GPX)
Down near Blacksburg, it really looks like a giant dragons tooth…from the right angle.  Bring a beer and climb on top to enjoy the view. 

Tinker Cliffs (GPX)
Out of the three hikes in the Blacksburg area this might be the best one and have the most solitude.  Sure if you are into standing on scary rock shelfs or looking at giant teeth jetting from the ground you may want to consider McAfee or Dragon’s tooth, but plan for company.  Tinker will have people but easier to spread out and there are plenty of places to sit on a ledge and look into the valley.  It’s not super hard either.  

SpyRock (GPX)
The hike I knew started at the fish hatchery and walked up a fire  road, but all of that has changed now.  Alltrails has several routes that will get you there, I've just never tested them.   The top is a giant dome with 360 degrees.  Some minor rock scrambling involved, but not nearly as intense as Old Rag.  On the way back, be sure to hit the Brew Ridge Trail. 

White Oak Canyon (GPX)
Lots of great waterfalls big and small.  This hike is especially beautiful in January/February when the stream is frozen over.  You can also make this hike much shorter by turning around at the lower or upper falls.

Bearfence (GPX)
This is what I call my sunset hike and is my favorite view of them all.  During most of the spring, summer, and fall you can leave work and hit the vista before the sun goes down.  This is a short hike with some rock scrambling is involved.  Because this hike is so short, you can easily combine it with Hawksbill or South River Falls, which are in the area.  Not really a pet friendly hike

Lewis Peak (GPX)
This is a lovely 9 mile hike.  It’s not too hard even given the 9 mile distance because there are no extreme accents.  It is a less well known hike so chances are you’ll be alone at the summit.   

Sugar Hollow (GPX)
The link above is from the upper parking lot.  At the lower parking lot, there is another trail with nice swimming holes if you cross the river.  On your way home, do yourself a favor and stop at Stinson Vineyards. 

Hawksbill (GPX)
I’ve always just parked at the Hawksbill parking lot, not the Timber Hollow Overlook) which makes this hike much shorter.  The summit is awesome, but often packed with people.  Once you cut into the summit and hit the circuit, people will fade away and you’ll enjoy a nice quiet stroll in the mountains.  

Stony man (GPX)
This can be amazing, but not during the fall when there are tons of people around.  Somewhere on this trail as you get somewhat close to the viewpoint, look for a hilltop on your left with some spur trails.  There are better views and less people on the spur trail if you are feeling a little adventurous.   Dogs are not allowed on this trail.

Cold Mountain (GPX)
Do the hike as described or reverse it and pop into a large meadow about a mile from parking.  Bring a picnic, book, and bottle of wine and skip the rest of the hike if you just want to relax.

Church Rock (GPX)
Sweet solitude, great view with not a lot of people.  This is a slightly deceptive hike as you’ll hit the ridge line and may think you are done with the elevation. The final view is worth the last sprint to the summit.  If you do this hike between Oct – Jan 10th you can cut out walking the long boring access road. 

South River Falls (GPX)
Forget the cabin and forget the fire road.  This hike will almost always have a lot of people on it, but most people will only hike to the falls. For a better hike, as you approach the falls look for spur trails to your right (or follow just the stream).  This will take you to the top of the falls, where you can sit and be in everyone’s pictures.  When done, go past the falls and go to the base of the falls as described in the link above.  Sit on the rock next to the falls and enjoy a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. 

Robertson (GPX)
In the fall when everyone else is on Old Rag or Spyrock, go to Roberston.  You can actually see Old Rag from the Robertson summit.  Literally there will be 3000 on Old Rag and you may see 10 people if you are lucky.  Views are awesome.  The only problems are parking can be tight and there is a 1700 elevation change in 1.5 miles.  You’ll feel your calves after this one.   

Bear Church Rock (GPX)    
A less known hike that starts off next to a stream and then winds up through the mountains.  This is one of the more beautiful hikes through the woods, especially the canopy of vines near the top.  Last 2 miles are steep!  View is awesome, and often you find yourself there alone.    

Three Falls Hike (GPX)
Awesome hike in the wintertime, but be careful on the slippery rocks.  Dogs are not allowed on Dark Hollow, but if you hike in the winter…who’s watching.  I would not attempt this hike when there is nice weather because the proximity of the Big Meadows campground and easy access to Dark Hollow assure that it will be packed. 

Crabtree Falls and Humpback Rocks (GPX)
Everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t you?  Crabtree is a beautiful hike that winds around a massive waterfall, but there are so many people there it is hard to find peace.  Humpback is a short but intense hike with lovely views.  You should do these hikes at least once, but I guarantee you’ll find better hiking in some of the options above.   

Trayfoot (GPX)
This is a hard 9 mile hike.  You start with a great view of Trayfoot, where there will be a lot of people.  You could turn this part into a nice sunset hike after work when there is enough daylight.  You’ll have a lot of solitude after the first view and there is a spectacular view towards the end.  

Mount Pleasant (GPX)
Wow what a view!  Not that hard of a hike for 6 miles.  Probably loads of people during the popular time of year, but really nice hike for a fine autumn day. 

White Rock Falls (GPX)
37.908109, -79.051134
GPX
Just outside of Waynesboro and very accessible from Charlottesville.  Start at the Slack Trail parking lot and take the trailhead to the right facing the vista.  You’ll fall this trial to the White Falls parking lot.  Cross the Blue Ridge Parkway and pick of the White Falls trail.  On this trail you will see a pretty decent waterfall and a very nice vista.   

House Mountain (GPX)
Found this gem of a hike looking for something outside of SNP.  The first part of the hike is annoying since you have to walk up a gravel road to get to the trailhead.  What is cool about this hike is that there is a double summit.  You can pick both or one of the summits depending on how much time and strength you have.  

Trimble Mountain -Todd Lake  (GPX)
Nice solitude on this hike and the elevation gain is easy to manage.  We did this in late spring and had a few nice views of the mountains.  In the fall or even winter you can likely see many more vistas.  On the other side of the parking area is a path to the lake filled with daisies when we were there.  We noticed there is a hiking path that takes you around the lake, maybe next time. 

Double Bear Rocks (GPX)
To get to the trailhead you have to cross a crazy dangerous road right at a bend so it is hard to see oncoming traffic.  First part of the hike is a steady uphill climb until you reach a ridgeline.   Pretty good solitude and a nice view at the end, which is best in the autumn or winter.  Lots of overgrowth on the trail so I would not attempt in late spring or summer.  8.5 miles total length, but not too hard of a hike.  After hiking, stop at Ducard Vineyards for a bottle of Gibson Hollow White.  

Wintergreen Old Appalachian Trail (GPX)
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GPS
This is a pretty easy hike with 4-5 summit views along the 3.3 mile hile .  There are actually two places you can park so you can make this hike as short or as long as you like.  Views are North-West and I suspect this might make a good hike to catch a sunset with a bottle of wine.  

Shamokin Falls (GPX)
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GPS
Located at Wintergreen, a nice walk in the woods with a fairly impressive waterfall at the end.  Bring a PB&J to enjoy on this 2.8 mile hike.  

Hay Rock (GPX)
Strange and beautiful hike.  Strange because it is right off the interstate and you pass under some massive power lines twice before getting to the good part.  However, once you get there, wow.  Beautiful ridgeline hike with numerous gorgeous views.  To be honest, you can skip the last mile to Hay Rock.  Barely climbable for a human, let alone a dog or small children.  All the best views are on the ridgeline anyway.  After hiking, drive the 20 mins to Roanoke and have a beer at A Few Old Goats Brewing.   https://www.facebook.com/bartman92/posts/10158874568794419

Laurel Run/Gusty Point (GPX)
I don’t normally say this, but skip the circuit and make the hike a there and back.  The back side of the hike is steep and on an edge making it not enjoyable.  Don’t just stop at the Gusty Point, especially if there are people there.  Continue down the trail and not too far you will find two unobstructed views to sit down and have lunch or drink a beer.  

North Mountain/Pete's Cave (GPX)
Stunning hike right from the very start!  You will want to take 2 beers for this wonderful hike.  You spend most of your time on the ridgeline and this hike is not hard by any means.  Almost the whole way you will see glimpses of the beautiful summit.  Right before Pete’s Cave (tenth of a mile maybe) there is a lovely spot to sit and drink your first beer.  I thought the Pete’s cave part would be disappointing, but it was not.  Head back and enjoy your second beer at one of the many spits located in the first quarter mile of the hike.  Recommend doing this hike at peak color in the autumn. 

Hanging Rock (GPX)
Just over the mountain and above Wintergreen on the Blue Ridge Parkway you’ll find Hanging Rock.  Recommend doing this hike on a midweek or holiday when the crowds are busy doing other things.  The hike itself is diverse so that you are never going up or down too long.  This also  spreads out the elevation gain making this hike not too hard.