/r/VIRGINIA_HIKING

Photograph via //r/VIRGINIA_HIKING

Love hiking and backpacking? Love Virginia? Please share your stories, videos, trip reports!

We need YOU! Share your experiences on the trail. There is a large community of Virginia Hikers who would love to hear your ideas and lessons learned, trip reports, etc.

/r/VIRGINIA_HIKING

6,523 Subscribers

3

Belle Isle State Park

Anyone ever done primitive camping here at Brewers Point? They talk about boating in. What kind of boats can it support? Can I anchor in with my 22' center console with a 2ft draft?

4 Comments
2024/11/12
04:06 UTC

13

Steep Hikes?

Hey y'all. Been in a masochist mood recently and want to climb a steep hill that'll leave me out of breath and leave my legs useless the next day.

Considering Roberston Mountain Trail (2130 ft over 6.8 mi) or Buck Hollow/Mary's Rock Trail (2,600 ft over 9.0 mi)

I remember Maryland Heights in Harpers Ferry has one particularly grueling climb.

Anyone know of any good high elevation gain hikes/trails/routes/sections within an hour or two of the Culpeper area? TIA

32 Comments
2024/11/12
00:00 UTC

0

Water on triple crown front side

Has anyone been recently fro Dragons tooth over to tinker hill and Andy lane parking? We have been really dry in the Carolina’s since hurricane Helene.

0 Comments
2024/11/01
22:44 UTC

3

Dispersed Camping Near DC?

I'm looking for a place near DC (ideally 1-2 hrs away) that allows dispersed camping. My understanding is that the AT in this area does not. I went to the Thompson WMA this past weekend (with a permit), but my issues were:

  1. It's just not that interesting of a hike
  2. Flat areas are so overgrown with brush that you can't really leave the trail let alone find a site
  3. The non-overgrown areas are too steep

Any recommendations? Thanks!

17 Comments
2024/10/28
12:45 UTC

23

Can anyone help me find this place?

My buddy and I did a TON of hiking and exploring in the first 6 months of me living in Roanoke, which I moved to in January 2021.

One of the coolest spots we found is somewhere we’ve only been able to revisit in these videos unfortunately because the images have no geotags and we did so much/its been so long that our memories are blurring together 😭😭. I dont have any other pictures or videos of this place unfortunately. Ive tried looking up videos and images of the falls of Va and nothing looks quite like this place.

The both of us don’t remember this place being too far from Roanoke, maybe anywhere within 2-3 hours but probably much closer rather than further.

These are videos of the place I am trying to identify and find, taken May 30th 2021 4:50pm.

Thanks for any help!

7 Comments
2024/10/26
12:28 UTC

9

Who's ready for some cold night camping this weekend?

Doing the Triple Crown this weekend and looks like temps will drop in the mid thirties!

5 Comments
2024/10/25
14:41 UTC

6

Flat Top Mountain

Hello! My wife and I are headed down for a week to do some hiking. Normally we backpack and did the Triple Crown last year. We want to see some more things this year, so we're doing some car camping/day hikes. Super Rad. Here's where I need some help. We would love to do an overnight backpacking in the woods proper at least once. Is Flat Top Mountain an option? I'd like to stay in that general area, if possible. If that isn't a possibility, or not a good one, does anyone have suggestions on where a good one would be?

Thanks!!

16 Comments
2024/10/24
20:32 UTC

10

Overnight backpacking trip this weekend recommendations.

I am off Friday and want to escape for a good one-night backpacking trip. Around Charlottesville/Waynesboro area and curious if anyone had a good personal recommendation. I am willing to drive up to 90 minutes for the Trail Head.

Ideally, I would hike roughly 7-10 miles on Friday and Saturday so a loop or out and back work great. Views are always a plus, and good water sources.

Thanks for your recommendations.

18 Comments
2024/10/23
13:50 UTC

6

Humpback Camping

Going hiking this weekend for an overnight stay but a little confused on camping around the Humpback area. I found a loop on AllTrails: Humpback Mountain and Humpback Rocks via AT and Albright Loop for 12.7 miles. I’d really like to camp somewhere close and then hike the miles during the day. I found a campsite in my 2024 A.T. Guide book that’s very close to to the Humpback picnic area (my starting point) but can’t seem to find out any information online about the campsite listed. Does anyone have any experience with the campsite listed in the pic? A little nervous going solo so just want to make sure I know where I’m going prior to leaving!

5 Comments
2024/10/18
17:19 UTC

3

Triple crown advice - point to point

We are thinking of doing the following plan. Need feedback on if this is a good idea and to make sure the parking we want does exist still.

Thursday - park cars at dragon tooth and Andy Layne trail. Start at dragons tooth and see that, then find a spot to camp in USFS land.

Friday-hike to John’s spring shelter.

Saturday - mcafee knob and tinker Cliffs. Stay at Lambert shelter.

Sunday - hike out to Andy Layne trail parking. Ride back to dragons tooth for other car.

Would really appreciate feedback on this plan and anyone who has trail conation updates post Helene…

13 Comments
2024/10/12
01:27 UTC

6

Lost bracelet on Old Rag

4 Comments
2024/10/05
19:02 UTC

0

Does anyone know the state of the dirt road leading up to the AT at Burkes Garden?

My girlfriend and i are hoping to hike the section of the AT that follows the southern rim of burkes garden, but we're unsure of the state of the dirt road (alternatively known as burkes garden rd or sharon springs rd) given the recent floods from Helene. Was wondering if anyone in the area has been up there recently and can fill me in.

3 Comments
2024/10/04
16:14 UTC

5

Grayson Highlands?

Does anyone have some first hand knowledge of the status of Grayson Highlands? The website says they're closed through 10/15 and I have a camping trip planned there for 10/18-10/20. I'm wondering if I should just cancel now and find somewhere else to camp.

Sorry if this post sounds done deaf. Horrible situation in southern VA and western NC.

7 Comments
2024/10/03
00:35 UTC

4

Last minute campgrounds near SNP

A few friends and I want to go car camping the weekend of 10/12, but checking everything is booked up at Big Meadows, Matthew's Arm, and Loft Mountain. Some spots around there are first come first serve, but I'mreluctant to risk making the trip and finding that those are full too. Any recommendations?

9 Comments
2024/10/02
13:38 UTC

8

Back country camping

Looking for a good spot to do some back country camping in the Virginia area. Anywhere driveable from DC would work. Just trying to get back into it so trying to get some good recommendations!

12 Comments
2024/09/24
18:26 UTC

8

Backpacking trip to Grayson Highlands

Hi all. I’m sure this is a repetitive inquiry, but I’m just trying to get my plans confirmed with people that know the area. I will traveling from Tennessee with my gf for a 3 day/ 2 night trip. We are both experienced day hikers and in good shape, but this will be our first backpacking excursion. The plan as of now is to park at fox creek trailhead as the parks overnight parking doesn’t have our second night available. From here my plan is to hike south along the AT and set up camp. I’m wanting to be able to set up right outside Grayson’s highlands state park, day hike through there on day 2 and return to our same campsite the second night. Does this seem doable?

From my understanding I will be able to set camp anywhere I can along the AT, but will there be many spaces open arriving late on a Friday? Would hiking to Scales campground be a viable option? Will I have any issues leaving my car at the trailhead for 2 night?

And side question- what is the nighttime weather this time of year? I’m expecting 30s-40s. Thanks for any insight and advice!

11 Comments
2024/09/23
04:04 UTC

3

Easy/flat hikes 1-2 day hikes?

Hey friends!

I recently went on my first backpacking trip (three ridges) and when it came to the actual camping/back country survival I was IN LOVE.

Sadly, I am petrified of heights and am not in the best shape so the whole mountain climbing portion was beyond not my favorite.

I’m wondering if I can find the best of both worlds? I don’t mind a long stretch of mileage, honestly - I just don’t want to go up high!!!!

Does anyone have any ideas of a low to the ground adventure that could still give some beautiful views?

Thanks in advance!!

6 Comments
2024/09/11
12:20 UTC

4

Camping in Millboro Springs

I'm going to a work event in Millboro Spring (a bit west of Goshen) any good camping in the area? Don't really need an airbnb for one night.

2 Comments
2024/08/15
18:53 UTC

8

Overnight in Grayson Highlands area

I’m looking to head up to the Grayson Highlands area at the end of this month for some backpacking. I have 3 days blocked off, and am looking for some recommendations on backpacking trips around those parts. Using a tent if that helps

16 Comments
2024/08/06
19:21 UTC

31

McAfee’s Nob love VA in the summer

5 Comments
2024/08/02
15:48 UTC

3

Found a new place i want to take the family, can we get in the water here? Just to dinkle and play?

7 Comments
2024/07/26
11:15 UTC

6

Safety Warning for women visiting Devils Bathtub/hiking

0 Comments
2024/07/19
23:38 UTC

5

Favorite Overnight Trips to Beat the Heat

As the title suggests, I've been rotting away at the beach in the heat for the last month and I'm looking for some good one-night (or shorter two-night) backpacking trips to escape some of the heat down here in Hampton Roads.

What's everyone's favorite 10-15 mile overnighter? (bonus points for waterfalls or good swimming holes)

I've done the Three Ridges/Mau-Har loop, the Triple Crown, Grayson Highlands, and bits and pieces of Shenandoah.

I was looking at Whiteoak Canyon & Cedar Run, but I saw the NPS doesn't recommend doing it on the weekends due to overcrowding. I was also considering hiking Overall Run via Thompson Hollow, but recent trip reports read like even the larger swimming holes are mostly big mud puddles at the moment and I saw there's a fishing ban in place due to low flows and high temperatures.

So: if you wanted to get away to somewhere in Central VA for a day or two, where are you going?

4 Comments
2024/06/29
13:05 UTC

4

Water levels in Shenandoah NP South District?

How are stream levels in the Big Run and Madison Run drainages - from anyone who has been in the past couple weeks?

Planning a backpacking trip and wondering if the swimming holes will still be decent or if things are pretty dry?

3 Comments
2024/06/20
22:26 UTC

3

First Time Traveling!

So as the title of the post entales it will be my first time ever traveling anywhere outside where i live. i want to go to Shenandoah National Park with my GF. thinking about getting a hotel around that area but i keep seeing mostly houses and cabins instead not sure if that's the norm of it but none the less. i plan to go in december. so this is what is on my mind. it would be the first time ever i ever get to see snow or experience snow. we are going in a tesla vehicle well planning at least but i don't know if it snows in the begining of december or late december? mind giving a novice traveler such as myself some pointers or advice about the snow and what to expect?

4 Comments
2024/06/11
04:05 UTC

7

How busy does Elizabeth Furnace get?

My boyfriend and I decided today that need a weekend in the woods, but we can't leave DC until Saturday morning. Will we be able to either get a site at Elizabeth Furnace if we arrive before 9 am or be able to find dispersed site my honda fit can handle nearby?

6 Comments
2024/06/11
02:48 UTC

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