Virginia Trails

A 22.6-mile lollipop loop showcases the best the Virginia coast has to offer.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia

By Matt Mills

Mount Rogers via Massie Gap: A state high point, the Appalachian Trail, and wild ponies all in one hike—jackpot!

Enjoy a quiet weekend on this 12.3-mile loop to creekside campsites, a sea of mountains, and an excellent waterfall in the 4,608-acre Three Ridges Wilderness.

Centuries-old settler ruins and fabulous forest overlooks make this quiet 4.7-mile loop one of the best dayhikes within an hour's drive of downtown D.C.

This 15.9-mile hike or bike trip follows an abandoned railroad along the banks of the New River, which local geologists claim is the second oldest river in the world.

Watch wild ponies trot by the seashore on this 11.1-mile loop along a unique barrier island. Bring a bucket and hunt for clams on the isle's massive, undeveloped beaches.

March 4.2 miles back in time to July 21, 1861, where General Stonewall Jackson led an epic battle on this ground at Manassas National Battlefield Park.

In just a weekend, you can travel from wooded ridges to gentle peaks to quiet hollows on this 16.5-mile lasso in George Washington National Forest.

Flee summer's heat spells on this relaxing 2-mile loop around a breezy lake in Pocahontas State Park, which is just a few minutes by car from downtown.

Find your inner hermit on this 26.3-mile loop in George Washington National Forest, complete with endless scenery, heaps of wildlife, and oh-so-quiet campsites.

Catch great views on your way up Virginia’s highest mountain on this 7.2-mile out-and-back through the open balds and ridges of the Appalachians.

Go ahead: Bag work early and swing off the Beltway for a quick 4-mile hike or trail run through the rolling piedmont of Prince William Forest Park.

Scattered along this 11.3-mile dayhike (or overnighter) is a bumper crop of mountain views, considered some of the best in southern Virginia.

Twist through a sandstone gorge with a handful of waterfalls on this 7.8-miler topping out at a tabletop overlook above Jefferson National Forest.

Avoid the crowds on this 3-miler that explores less-traveled trails and an old Confederate headquarters in Manassas National Battlefield Park.

This 4.5-miler runs along steep cliffs to two photogenic overlooks above an impressive waterfall on the Potomac River.

Reach waterfall nirvana in the Jefferson National Forest.

Camp two nights on this 15.7-mile loop through a remote and rugged corner of Ramseys Draft Wilderness in west-central Virginia.

This 18-mile trek winds in and out of regional parks, wooded valleys, and open fields on a two-day trip that's a short drive from D.C.

A casual day hike along the dunes of the coastal forest where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Explore the summits and history of a rare trail network along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Brimming with beach and bay views, this Virginia Beach 9.9-miler tours cypress swamps, coastal forest (shrouded in Spanish moss), and idyllic marshlands.

Sea turtles, white-tailed dear, and snow geese are just a few of the diverse wildlife species you might spot on this 7.6-mile coastal hike.

Popular with Blue Ridge Parkway travelers for more than 150 years, this steep, 3.2-mile out-and-back climbs to the rocky summit of one of Virginia's highest peaks.

Roosting buzzards, a city skyline, and a 2,350-foot peak lure hikers to this 3.4-mile out-and-back inside Roanoke's new Read Mountain Preserve.

On this 4.6-mile loop, enjoy lunch beside a boulder-lined creek then burn off your meal with a steep climb beside the White Rock Falls cascades.

This 5.4-miler in the Blue Ridge Mountains climbs through poplars and oaks to the 4,001-foot summit of Flat Top Mountain, the tallest of the Peaks of Otter.

This *2.8-mile loop swings past talus fields, wildflowers, and a falcon nesting area, capping them off with a gob-smacking view from Shenandoah's highest peak.

Five cascading waterfalls are the draw on this popular 4.2-mile out-and-back that starts with a climb and ends with a leafy streamside ramble.

Highlights along this 3.5-mile loop include whitetail deer, a 3,364-foot summit, precariously perched boulders, and a 19th-century farmhouse.

Look for blackberries and bears on this 4.4-mile loop around an activity-filled lake complex in the southern Shenandoah Valley.

This 8.7-mile round-trip has two tough, rocky ascents that lead to solitude atop the Massanutten Range.

This seven-mile circuit traverses a mini wilderness right downtown, cruising the south banks of the James River before crossing onto the maple-shaded shores of Belle Isle. From there, head to the north shore hills and views of the river’s class IV whitewater.

Score quiet views of the southern Virginia highlands on this lush loop.

Score quiet views of the southern Virginia highlands on this lush loop.

Escape Skyline Drive to discover secret summits and hidden valleys.

Thru-hike America's most revered long trail: the Appalachian Trail.

Lose the leaf-peeping crowds on this quiet ramble above Virginia's loftiest canopies of color.

Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in Virginia.

All along the 23-mile Shenandoah Mountain trail and in the forested areas throughout the Appalachian Mountains, vernal pools are rich aquatic breeding grounds.