Things You'll Need:
- Hiking boots Trail maps Bug repellent First aid kit Sunscreen Water Snacks
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Step 1
Stock up on equipment and gear at your local backpacking store. Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, a local chain, has stores in all major locations in Virginia. Get fitted for a pair of hiking boots or a backpack for a longer trip. Blue Ridge also sells clothing and camping gear.
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Step 2
Join a local hiking club for a group hike. While many don't require membership to participate, becoming a member of a club if you are a local provides you with an opportunity to meet others who share your passion, and, if you aren't experienced, allows you to learn from seasoned hikers. Clubs like The Capital Hiking Club and the Northern Virginia Hiking Club post schedules online and offer hikes ranging in distance and difficulty. Additionally, there are several local clubs like the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club that are volunteer hiking-service clubs that help maintain trails in the state.
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Step 3
Check out the ranger stations operated by the National Park Service in Shenandoah National Park. Stations at Front Royal and Rockfish Gap, to name two, can provide maps, tips and recommendations for area hikes depending on your desires. The U.S. Forest Service, which monitors the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, provides maps at the ranger district headquarter offices, such as at James River and Eastern Divide, in addition to some Web-based maps available for download. Additionally, local visitor's centers, such as the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau, can also provide maps and suggestions.
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Step 4
Check out the Old Rag Mountain hike in Shenandoah National Park, one of the more popular choices for its difficulty and rewarding views at the top, which includes a seven-mile loop, a mile of which consists of scaling a rock face. Both the hike at Humpback Rock and the trail at White Oak Canyon, which includes five waterfalls, are also popular. Crabtree Falls, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, is the largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River and is especially frequented in the summer.
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Step 5
Want to explore the trails but not on foot? The Virginia Creeper Trail is one of the most popular biking paths in the state and runs for 35 miles from Abingdon through Damascus to the North Carolina state line, with bike rentals in both towns. Skyline Drive, which stretches 105 miles through Shenandoah National Park, brings tourists from all over the country, particularly in the fall season, to experience the park through the comforts of their car. The winding path road offers 75 beautiful overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley as well as four entrances into the park for hiking.
