AT Virginia - Appalachian Trail

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#1

Im a novice hiker and am looking for a good section of the AT to hike in virginia for about 2 weeks. I was just wondering if there were any particularly nice sections of the trail in virginia to spend some time on. Thanks.

Danny T

#2

Danny – I live near the trail near Charlottesville VA. I have two favorite spots, one of them old, one new to me. Shenandoah National Park running with the trail in the parts near Charlottesville is beautiful, but the best part to me is the waterfalls just off the AT there. White Oak Canyon, for example, is an easy hike with a guaranteed swim, though it is a little off the white blazes on a blue trail. There are other waterfalls as well noted on the map. Don’t expect Niagra Falls, but they are great in their own way.

The second place is often talked about on this board – Grayson Highlands at the base of Virginia. A hike from the Virginia border, involving Grayson Highlands, Mt. Rogers (the highest point in VA at 5700 feet) and Damascus is beautiful. I just did the hike three weeks ago. I ran into Sixty-five alive. He said it was the prettiest place he had come across since Georgia and rated with any ranges he had hiked out west. Aside from beauty, with mountain ranges stretching as far as you can see into NC and Tenn., there is something Narnian about the little wild ponies grazing five feet from you.

A week in each would serve, but you couldn’t go wrong with two weeks in just one or the other.

Aeschylus

#3

Hey DannyT-Definitely do the hike north of Damascus (Greyson Highlands-wild ponies, etc.), but obtain a National Geographic Map of this area and do some of the blue blazes too (several horse trails there are incredible!), as well as the AT. You won’t be sorry. Take your time in this area and have LOTS of fun. Park in Damascus and have Mt. Rogers Outfitters shuttle you up north and hike south. If you’re not sure how far north, call/email (mro@mtrogersoutfitters.com) them and they’ll assist you. Then after you arrive in Damascus spend a day there in this great hiker town. Have fun!

StarLyte

#4

Danny, I agree with the highlands, they’re amazing! But try starting in Troutville, heading south, then you get to see Tinker Cliffs, Mcaffee’s Knob, Dragon’s Tooth, the highlands, and then hike the Virginia Creeper trail into Damascus. You won’t be sorry!
xena

xena

#5

I was going to suggest Tinker to Dragon’s tooth and just stroll the entire way. It would be easy to spend 2 weeks in that area for me. But I don’t like to push the big miles.

Besides, Bloody Xena knows the truth, it’s all good.

Burn

#6

Those are my 2 faves as mentioned above…The McAfees Knob/Dragon’s Tooth area and the Grayson Highlands. I liked the Highlands just a tad better because of towns like Damascus…there was another hiker friendly town called Troutdale near the highlands that has a great place to eat and the local pastor is hiker freindly and lets you use church showers (I even stayed all night in a church only used for VBS). You can’t go wrong on either trip. Good luck and great hiking.

Doc Holiday