Easy hike. Hiker, dog, children and biker friendly. They have bike shops to rent bikes right by the…read moretrail. Hiking is so wonderful we defininatly wanted to enjoy the easy hike. Taking in all the interesting scenery. This runs right by the James River. You will see trees, waterway, flowers, birds, wildlife and don't forget the awesome bridges. There are porta potties at the entrance of the trail. Use them because this is the only chance you will get for a while. The trail is mostly going through the trees but it is paved so you have wonderful shade and an awesome well maintained path. It is really beautiful and peaceful. We even saw a deer. She kept up with us for about a quarter of a mile. I love bridges and this trail has 2. I think this is such a great trail lots to see. We stopped at a lot of places and took pictures. I pet a few dogs. The dogs really looked happy. There are more trails off of this one . So make sure you know where you are going. If not just walk for a while and then turn around and walk back. SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE. such a great trail. If you do any of the trails in this area. PLEASE make sure this is one of them.

The downtown of Lynchburg offers this island. A bridge which looks like a repurposed rail bridge…read morehas been quite nicely redone, and the paved path apparently continues the length of what is a fairly long and skinny island before crossing another bridge to the other side of the river. I did not go that far. Some bits of faded industry remain on the island, but a modern railroad is still carrying cargo by the riverside. The river gorge surrounding the island seems to have the effect of funneling the sounds of the most obnoxious drivers from overhead, so you'll never really get the feeling of being in the wild, but as far as repurposed urban infrastructure goes, this is probably about the best the city could have done with what it has, and there were plenty of people making use of this island.

Tony and I went to Roaring Run Furnace In the Jefferson National Forest. This is a stone Built Pig…read moreIron Furnace built in 1830. This 192 yr old construction is still standing and looks like they could just start using it again today The park was easy to find with GPS. It is free to enjoy. Plenty of parking and restrooms. Well marked trails. The Furnace is located about 500 feet from the parking lot and bathrooms. There is plenty of picnic tables and a creek for fishing and cooling off in warmer weather. There is also a waterfall to hike to!! Nice park and highly recommend especially for the historic value! Great day trip or field trip for home schooling!!

The waterfall was gorgeous and listening to the water flow was so tranquil. I could've spent all…read moreday there just relaxing by the water. The hike was short and easy.

The 450 plus miles of hilly terrain look rugged upon the short, yet sturdy panoramic mountain…read morerange, and your really close to it, in fact your in it. Winding turns do not detract from the peacefulness and ease of the drive, they add to them. The feeling of working your way up and then down the opposite side of a mountain gives a feeling of muchness. Not slaying the dragon and saving the princess muchness, but euphoric none the less. Of all that the road gives you, I'd have to say that 'Diversity' is the one word that best suits the Parkway. Diversity of nature as it relates to the change in season. What you see in December is not what you will see in August, nor September to May. Truckers can drive a bit spicey on the open roads, taking the occasional liberty with their size, but that doesn't happen here on this road. Perhaps due to the steep grate, perhaps the twists and turns, any number of combinations -- or just perhaps they too enjoy being so close to natural beauty. No conception of ill temperament can overcome the moment.

The Blue Ridge Parkway in autumn is being in love.read more

Sorry for the 1-star (you may change my "review" to 5-star when this is fixed). Often referred to…read moreas "Afton Mountain," Rockfish Gap is not in Bedford, VA. This is the intersection of the Appalachian Trail (abt mp 863.5), Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, I-64 exit 99 (I think), and US Rt 250. To the west is Waynesboro, Stuarts Draft, and Staunton. To the east is Afton, Crozet, and Charlottesville. How do I know? The gap is about 2 miles out my back window. Not much commerce at rhe gap itself, except the wonderful old-time "King's Gourmet Popcorn" stand which has much more than popcorn. There is a motel and a couple of B&Bs a mile or so West on Rt. 250 near the Western edit of the famous Blue Ridge Tunnel (check it out on YouTube), which then pops you out in the village of Afton on the east side of the Blue Ridge. A longer walk back to the Gap, but adequate parking is at either terminus. Afton is in an area rich with wineries, distilleries, and breweries. Blee BleesRockfishRetreat.com

I've been hiking the AT, section by section, for the past 20 years. I'm currently in the process of…read moremoving Stuarts Draft, just 20 minutes form Rockfish Gap. A great section with The Priest not far south of this road crossing

We entered the trail in Farmville which was a great access point. We brought ebikes and rode 17…read moremiles the first day and 21 miles the second day. The trail is nice and flat, well manicured, and wide enough to ride side by side or have others pass without a problem. We stopped at the High Bridge to take in the scene and also at Three Roads Brewery which is along the trail. The next day we stopped at The Virginia Tasting Cellar which is just off of the trail in Farmville. There are restrooms along the trail and plenty of shade for when you want to take a break. Bring your own water.

High Bridge Trail is such an asset to the local area and I miss walking, running, and hiking in the…read moreareas around it! I'm originally from the area and whenever I visit home, I find myself running or walking with my family on the trail. In high school, we used to do cross country runs here! High Bridge Trail is a rail trail and the main portion is flat, which is perfect for gentle walking or fast running. I also recently learned that there are plenty of offshoots from the trail that have some elevation gains and make for nice hikes! While you're there, try and check out the Smyth Trail and the Camp Paradise trail. I really enjoyed seeing the old bridges and being near the river. Don't forget your bug spray! When I go, I usually park in two places: 1) public free parking in Farmville, and take the trail portion going back towards the river, or 2) park at the River Road parking lot, which is $2 self-pay/honor system, or free if you have the Virginia Adventure Pass. What I love about this trail is that there is something for everyone. I always see families with people of all ages (including babies in strollers), dog walkers, and people cycling! As the main trail is a bit gravelly, you will need a bigger tire for this trail. Side note: I would love to see is a small investment to make some of the trail wheelchair accessible. It's such a lovely park and would be wonderful if truly everybody could enjoy it. I will definitely be back to High Bridge and I really look forward to my next visit there.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the US, noted for its scenic…read morebeauty. The parkway, which is America's longest linear park, runs for 469 miles through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties. It runs mostly along the Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains. *The Parkway is free to drive, with a posted (and honored) speed limit of 45 MPH. It is enjoyed by people in automobiles, on motorcycles, bicycles, and some walkers. The road is curvy, goes up and down mountains, and often does not have guardrails along areas with steep drop-offs. *There are no service stations on the Parkway, so make sure your vehicle has gas and you've had it serviced. There are some towns off the Parkway, but this IS a rural area. *the National Park Service maintains 8 campgrounds along the Parkway. Most do not have showers. There are also some Visitor Centers, with park rangers who can provide information on local hikes and other activities. *Be wildlife aware. We just spent 3 nights camping and hiking, and only saw geese, but there are black bears, snakes, and other critters in the park. *Autumn is absolutely gorgeous with the colorful leaves, but weekends get crowded.

Ok, my name is Jennifer and I'm a Ridge addict. My family and I have driven the Blue Ridge since I…read morewas a baby....so over 50 years. Since moving to NC it had become my goto for something to do on a Saturday. No...really. I drive out to Stuart, hop on the Blue Ridge and the toughest decision is North or South. If I want to go to Chateau Morrisette for lunch or hike around the lake at Peaks of Otter I head North. If I want to drive out to Pisgah its South. Either direction will take me aling one of the most beautiful roads I know. At each turn you are awarded with magnificent views of the Blue Ridge mountains (part of the Appalachia). You can see some stunning floral displays when the mountain laurel is in bloom and watch a variety of critters out for a nosh. The speed limit varies from 35 to 45 so holding a steady 40 is perfect for catching a chipmunk racing across the road or having plenty of time to stop for a herd of whitetail deer. Yesterday I had my first emergency in 50 years. We got a double flat right around milestone 107. We barely had coverage to dial AAA and were then at the mercy of fortune. As we were unable to pull out of the road, I chose to be the one to direct people around the car. I could have cried for joy as these wonderful folk restored my faith in humanity. So many stopped to make sure we were ok. I have to give a very vocal shout out to ine of the parks service rangers. Her name is Tabitha and she turned into our Guardian angel. She called in the accident to her dispatch and kept an eye on us till the tow came. If you find yourself wanting to just do something...especially during this Covid period when there arent a lot of options..take a drive. Decide for yourself... North or South. Either direction will lead you on adventure. Make sure to stop at one of the main areas to pick up a Blue Ridge book...this will become your Blue Ridge ' bible' as it will give you a milemarker by milemarker guide. Stop by the Music center near the Va/NC border or see what I mean by Peaks of Otter. Go see the highest mountain on the East coast (Mt Mitchell) or check out the arts and crafts center. Be aware of your season. It gets cold in the mountains earlier than the valley. If you head towards Pisgah in late October..the road may be closed due to snow/ice. Same actually near Peaks. The Blue Ridge is usually very busy in Summer with folks headed to Asheville, Boone or the Smokies Just remember the rules: take nothing...leave nothing. Rediscover Nature or just unwind for an afternoon. I promise you WON'T regret it.

Great trail to hike while visiting Roanoke! A little strenuous because of its length but mostly…read moreshaded and a great overall trail. Well kept and part of the AT so you'll see a variety of people. Amenity wise, there are port a potties at the main lotbut no trash bins. The main lot is pretty small but there's a shuttle that will carry you for a different parking lot since the main lot only has about 20 spots and can fill up pretty quick. I came on a Saturday in mid July at 8AM and it only had about 5 spots left. As I was leaving, a group was celebrating someone finishing their leg of the AT, so seems also like a good meet point. Trail was great but a little strenuous because length, but the incline actually wasn't horrible. The heat is real in July, so pack your water and some snacks for energy so you can make it back to the parking lot.

Yes its beautiful definitely highly recommend beautiful weather yes people there's bugs bring bug…read morespray worth it though

Lake Robertson is a hidden gem in a magical mountain landscape. Makes a great little hike. Pool and…read morecamping area is also nice.

So pretty and so quiet. My boyfriend and I came here to the Natural Bridge area and decided to go…read moreon and see this lake that was nearby. The drive was very windy and pretty, and also surrounded by gorgeous mountains and streams. Once we got to the lake it was just amazingly pretty, it was kind of crazy how clear it was. It really drowned everything else out. Definitely would go again honestly for that lake. Coming from NOVA definitely a nice change of scenery.