This hike was unbelievable. First, to get here, Google maps…read moresent me thru very rural towns. Similar to how I grew up a bit East of Charlottesville. That was 51 years ago. You can imagine. Beautiful landscape. Gorgeous farms at the foothills. I wished I was more of the passenger. I found my mark after a while. The Patricia Ann Byrom Forest Preserve. Even the parking area was beautiful though I wish they left some tree coverage. It was so hot. Leaving my car here for 4 hours, even the window controls could burn you fingers. I started my trek at .041' elevation. Top peak was 2220' elevation. Let me tell you. It's strenuous. I hiked up Blackwells trail. Straight up. No kidding. I'd take a couple steps and rest. Steps. Rest. Dirt avalanche under my feet. Easy to slip. At the top of Little Flat Moutain Loop there a beautiful overlook. It's a small window of a view but just gorgeous. I didnt come for views anyway. I came to award myself with another *"been there; hiked that" heck my list on yelp for Been There Hiked That. Quite extensive. This is another feather in my hat. And what a great and fee free place to be one with nature! On the way down, it was just as strenuous. Prob took even more muscles to go down. Couldn't go fast, you'd slide right off the ledge or into rocks. Small steps..my hike ended. I was exhausted. Beautiful back country land here. Thanks Albemarle County Parks & Rec.

Set out to hike these trails on a beautiful day in March by recommendation of some locals &…read morethoroughly enjoyed the experience. There's several looping trails of various distances; all are open to hiking, biking, horseback & are dog friendly. We decided on the Crooked Tree Trail, descending down Little Flat Mountain Loop to the Blue Ledge Trail. Total distance was 2.76 miles with a peak elevation of 1834', moderate difficulty with stream views/crossing, several benches along the way & a picnic table. The only thing this route is lacking is a lookout point. Park is open year round from 7am until dark, offers ample paved parking, restroom & information post. Be sure to pick up a trail map, the trails are clearly marked along the way, but can get a bit confusing. Wasn't able to pick up cell service, so plan accordingly.

The falls was nice, although there wasn't much water when we visited. The hiking trail was…read moredefinitely the highlight. It's a moderate trail with some steep sections, rough and bumpy terrain, and quite a bit of walking, so it's not the easiest hike. Overall, it's a nice waterfall with a good hiking trail and worth visiting if you enjoy a bit of a challenge.

This is a moderate level hike, 3.6 miles UP and Back. Elevation 1,135 ft. Some very steep inclines…read more So steep the path is switch back trails. Absolute great hike but challenging. Kid friendly, dogs on leash, and some paved walk ways BUT I don't think it would be for wheelchairs or strollers because it's such a steep incline. VIEWS-Waterfalls, forest, mountain, mushrooms, wildflowers, and berries. Such a busy trail that you really don't see to much wildlife or birds. Lots and Lots of stairs. This trail has been kept in great condition. There is a bit of scrambling and if there has been rain or snow it can be a bit slippery. Rocks and moss. So beautiful. This trail is part of George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. Absolutely beautiful at the top for me. It has an area that opens up at he top and benches so you can sit and admire the surrounding mountains. The first waterfall you come to is the easiest paved area to get to . Also the best waterfall view. It also has benches. This is from the parking lot and there is a fee. It is was 3 dollars so bring cash. There is no running water so bring your own water, Pack a smart backpack. Keep all areas clean and don't leave garbage behind. They have a bathroom area but with no running water. It is a dry toilet. Bring some hand sanitizer is my best advice.

My daughter and I had a great time hiking Humpback Rocks. Others give the directions so I will not…read more The Visitors Center has restrooms and more. The parking for the trailhead is across from the Visitors Center. Wear sturdy shoes, no flip flops or sandals. Take water you will need it, especially on hot days. Only attempt if in good health. Some will bring a good camera, if you have bring it. Obviously take your phone for photos, but keep in mind of weak reception at the top. My recommendation is to start out early AM, but after day break as the trail is too difficult in my opinion to navigate while dark. The trail is around a mile and a half and can take over an hour with breaks. Many can reach the top in 35-45. The view is 100% worth the effort. Be careful up there, it's no joke. Elevation is over 3000 feet.

Humpback Rocks is the first Visitor Center you'll encounter if you're heading south on the BRP from…read morethe north entrance. It's a small, but good little visitor center, with a small shop and a small exhibit inside. There are also bathrooms here, with are of decent quality. You will be most rewarded if you actually get out of your car for more than a few minutes and take a short walk through the living museum on the Mountain Farm Trail. I think it's about 3/4 of a mile round trip, through a living museum of authentic farm buildings, showing what life was like for people who lived in the area in the late 1800s, and there are interpreters to explain the farmhouse. So absolutely worth the visit if you're on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This was a nice family walk. It was not steep and fairly flat. A nice boardwalk meandered through…read moreon one side with small gravel on the other side of the lake.

Beautiful area to walk and take the dog. However I was a bit disappointed. It must have been a long…read moretime since any upkeep was done here. Water was low everywhere but we have had a dry summer. There was no water in the beaver pond at all. The main large pond in the middle did have water, but it is so overgrown that you can only catch a glimpse of it through the brush. No way to get to it. Really sad to see something so beautiful be let go like this. It would be nice if they could extend a boardwalk just to the ponds edge so you could have a look from a platform or something. I drove almost 3 hours to get there, doubt I will go back.

Went here b/c some of the locals made the recommendation. Had no idea what to expect but figured…read morewhy not? First thing to note: If you have Verizon, the signal gets lost in this area. Do yourself a favor and download the map of the area so you don't freak out like I did and almost get lost coming back to wherever you were staying. The parking here is decent. There's enough spots for about 10-ish or so cars. When you get out, you can kind of explore a little bit. There's some cool seating and a few spots that give you a neat background/foreground experience to take pictures. The picture I supplied is just a snippet of what was happening as we watched the sunset. Hands down a winning spot. Food Taste: bring your own :) Overall Service: it's your own service Value of service to cost: 5 - I did great! Facility: 5 Repeat customer: yes! Dog Friendly: yes - probably don't get all wild on this one though

Great place to go for a walk, run, or bike ride! I like to come here with my dog because the path…read morefollows the river so he can always go down for some water. It's a perfect distance too and there's plenty of things to do along the way such as a park, workout stations, and historic signs to read.

Great area to walk, jog or bike on the Greenway located in the downtown area with parking options…read more The greenway goes along the South River - there is one parking area, near the YMCA near Arch Avenue, and another is further along the South River around Constitution Park. Limited street and parking lot near the YMCA with larger lots near Constitution Park. It's a little over a mile with a future extension being built that will connect to North Park. On the greenway are a few workout stations also and benches along the way. Fun to go all year long. Also there's the LOVE sign near Constitution park. Many fly fisherman access the South river at different points on the Greenway. At Constitution Park, there's areas for kayakers, SUPs, etc to get in the South River and float down. Many use the greenway so relatively safe, though near the Shiloh Baptist Church parking lot area, I've seen a few homeless folks now and then hanging around the covered section. I don't recall any portajohns so plan accordingly.

Allen Creek Nature Preserve is located on the corner of Stoney Creek East and Towhee Court next to…read moreone of the holes of Stoney Creek Golf Course. Parking is limited to 3 vehicles, but I have never seen more than two. The trail is not very long maybe a little more than a mile of easy hiking. This area is a part of a flood plane and can flood easily and can stay muddy for a few days after a heavy rain storm.

it's beautiful and perfect for boating of any anykind but motor boats but people and dog are NOT…read moreallowed to swim in it!!! Makes no sense! Birds swim in it and poop in it has fish and boats are allowed! Also people do not clean up after themselves today I went and saw a bread bag and fishing line tied to a root and left! That kind of stuff is dangerous to wildlife and yet people and dogs can't swim there?! make it make sense!

Looking for an easy spot to social distance outdoors? Look no further! While there is no swimming…read morein this lake, it's the perfect spot to kayak, canoe, or paddle board. We rented paddle boards from Rivanna River Co and brought them over to the lake. The launch area is super easy for loading and unloading, and the lake is massive and provides plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. There was no entrance fee, plenty of parking, and gorgeous views. I'll definitely be back next time I need to beat the heat while getting some outdoors time in!