Virginia Parks

Located along the picturesque Potomac River, visitors can enjoy the water by fishing, kayaking, and canoeing or hiking along the bank on the Potomac Heritage Trail. Picnic tables are located across from the visitor center, which offers refreshments, a gift shop, and activities for kids.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) passes through Shenandoah National Park, mostly following the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range from where it enters the park at I-66 on the southern end to nearly Front Royal at the northern end of the park.  The AT is accessible from just about every pull off and parking area in the park and can be used to hookup numerous day hikes throughout the hundreds of miles of hiking trails in the park.

Located at Milepost 51 on Virginia's Skyline Drive, the Big Meadows area has a rustic lodge, a large campground, a restaurant, and the Harry Byrd Visitor Center. The Big Meadows Lodge is a perfect place to use as a base while exploring this beautiful area.

Nestled within the scenic expanse of Shenandoah National Park, Old Rag Mountain stands as a prominent and iconic peak, beckoning hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to embark on a thrilling adventure. Renowned for its rugged beauty and panoramic vistas, Old Rag is a cherished destination offering a challenging yet rewarding hiking experience. The mountain, composed of granite, is a geological marvel, and its unique rock formations add an extra layer of intrigue to the journey.

Located at mile post 90 along the Skyline Drive, Riprap trail can be access from the Riprap parking lot or from the Wildcat Ridge parking lot.  The loop going out Riprap Trail over to Chimney Rock and down to Wildcat Ridge Trail and returning on the Appalachian Trail is a very popular hike with several stream crossings as a small waterfall requiring a moderate level of effort.

Located off of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, this short hike will treat you to views of the picturesque South River Falls, which descends 83 feet into the South River Gorge. The 4 mile loop takes you to an overlook with a view of both the falls and the gorge below. Hiking further down into the gorge and along a small, rocky spur trail will give you a closer view from the base of the falls.

Turk Mountain is a rocky summit in the southern portion of Shenandoah National Park. The short version of the hike is great to do if you have limited time - it's a 2.2 mile round-trip from the Turk Gap parking area. For a longer hike, you could opt for the 10 mile circuit hike that starts at Jarman Gap - this is a strenuous hike with quite a bit of elevation gain. The Turk Mountain summit is covered with craggy quartzite rocks, so you have to do just a bit of rock-scrambling to get to the top. The views from this 2981 foot summit are wonderful.

Located within Shenandoah National Park, Whiteoak Canyon offers a scenic, challenging hike anytime of the year. Following a stream, the steep and rocky Whiteoak Canyon Trail has picturesque views of the rocky stream bed and several waterfalls along the way. Be sure to stop at both the Lower and Upper Whiteoak Falls viewpoints. There are several loops of varying lengths that can be combined for as long of a hike as you would like to take.

Located about 8 miles south of Front Royal along the banks of the Shenandoah River, Shenandoah River State Park features about 23 miles of trails that range from flat, smooth double track trails along the river to more difficult mountainous terrain with some steep climbs and descents on sometimes technical single track trails. 

Hiking along the trails in Sky Meadows State Park will reward you with beautiful vistas of the surrounding farmland and gently rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are about 12 miles of trails, which will take you through a mix of meadows and open forests. The Appalachian Trail passes through the park and continues on into the neighboring G. R. Thompson Wildlife Management Area.