The Parents Flew The Nest

Traveling After The Kids Are Grown

  • Home
  • About
    • Disclosure
    • privacy policy

Spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes In Virginia You Don’t Want To Miss

By Victoria Huizinga Leave a Comment

Share
Pin
Tweet
Share

Last updated on January 17th, 2023 at 04:09 pm

The Blue Ridge Parkway spans over 400 miles. Many people know it for its beautiful overlooks, but if you only stop at them and don’t get on the hiking trails along the parkway, you will be missing out on a lot of the beauty.

We took a three day trip along the Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping to hike anywhere from three miles to as many as 14 miles each day.  This post shares with you which hikes we would call hikes you don’t want to miss. 

Spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes In Virginia You Don't Want To Miss

Spectacular Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes In Virginia You Don’t Want To Miss

(Links in this post are affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking those links. See disclosure page for more information.)

Our trip on the Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway took place in early September, just after Labor day weekend. Jack and I both agree that we couldn’t think of a better time to hike in the area as the summer crowds were gone and Virginia was lush and green. The temperatures were perfect, too, with warm days and cool enough nights that we could boondock in our truck camper comfortably.

Our entire trip was a full week, but we spent just three days hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway. We spent the other days traveling to the parkway and home, exploring and hiking off the parkway, and taking in the scenic views offered from the overlooks along the drive.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Humpback Rocks

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: The View from Humpback Rocks

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Enjoying The View from Humpback Rocks

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Spectacular Views from Humpback Rocks

Humpback Rocks (loop trail 3.1 miles or 1.8 miles out and back trail)

We started the Blue Ridge Parkway at its northernmost point in Virginia near Shenandoah National Park. Shortly after the beginning, we came across the Humpback Rocks trail.

You can do this trail as either a loop or an out and back. We opted to make the loop and we were glad we did. Although not the most photogenic trail, we had our first black bear sighting of the trip on the loop portion of the Humpback Rocks trail. We saw not just one bear, but three. A mama and her cubs. They were running up a hillside. Sorry, no photos as I was much too excited about this wildlife sighting on the very first hiking trail of our trip to remember to snap a picture.

No matter which way you decide to get out up to Humpback Rocks, the view will make the climb 100% worth the effort. We spent at least 30 minutes soaking up the views and we could have easily spent hours.

This trail is rated moderate by All Trails. It is all uphill to the rocks and downhill on the return to the parking lot.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: The top of the Fallingwater Cascades Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Heading down to the bottom of the Fallingwater Cascades Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Following the cascade on the Fallingwater Cascades Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Soaking our feet into the water on the Fallingwater Cascades Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Heading back up to the top of the Fallingwater Cascades Trail

Fallingwater Cascades 1.4 Miles Loop Trail

Fallingwater Cascades Trail starts at the top of the waterfall. There you are hit with the calming sound of water flowing down the rocks to the valley below. The trail then makes its descent down to the bottom of the cascades. At the bottom there is a pool of water that is perfect for wading and soaking your feet on hot days. Once you cross the creek, you make your way back up to the top of the waterfall again.

All Trails rates this trail as moderate. I think it should be noted that if you don’t like to climb up and down hills, you can still get a decent view of the waterfall by hiking out to the parking lot only to the bridge at the top.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: The Tough Climb Up The Sharp Top Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Dear On The Sharp Top Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: The Summit Views On The Sharp Top Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: The Summit Views On The Sharp Top Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: The Sharp Top Trail Viewing Area

Sharp Top 2.6 Mile Out And Back Trail

My husband and I went back and forth on whether to hike up Flat Top Mountain or Sharp Top Mountain. The picture and heading give our decision away; we chose Sharp Top. Wow! I have no idea what the views from the summit of Flat Top Mountain are, but those from Sharp Mountain’s summit were incredible.

When we were almost to the top, a deer came out of the woods and onto the trail right in front of us and stayed there for several minutes. I think that is the closest I have ever been to a deer.

We had the entire summit viewing area to ourselves as it was getting close to the end of the day. Being up there alone surrounded by such breathtaking views was surreal.

We spent quite a while taking in the views from all the different angles before making our way to Buzzards Roost.

This trail is rated difficult by All Trails, and I would agree with the rating. It starts nice and slow, and then bam! It starts going up and up and up and doesn’t stop climbing until you reach the summit. But if you are in decent shape for hiking, this trail is 100% worth the sore quads and hamstrings.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Views on top of Buzzards Roost

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Climbing to the top of Buzzards Roost

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Valley views from the top of Buzzards Roost

Buzzards Roost .75 miles

Do not skip the three-quarters of a mile hike from Sharp Top Mountain’s summit to Buzzards Roost. When you get to the end, the views are just as breathtaking as Sharp Top. Don’t think that the views can’t be that much different; both summit areas offer unique views. However, if you don’t like jumping from boulder to boulder, then skip Buzzards Roost as it offers an undeveloped summit. There are no human-made railings to keep you from falling or steps carved into the rocks to help you get from one viewing area to the other.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Trail under the bridge

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Stairs down to the river bank

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Taking in the Ronoake River Trail Views

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Views along the Roanoke River Trail

Roanoke River Trail (to Fishermen’s Trail) .70 of a mile out and back

This short trail offers beautiful views of the Roanoke River.  It doesn’t take long to do, but the stairs are steep. If you have mobility issues, I would skip it. If you are a family with kids able to hike a bit but not a lot, the Roanoke River trail taken to the Fishermen’s trail down to the river would be a great doable hike.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: The beginning of the Smart View Loop Trail.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Bridge on the Smart View Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Trees on the Smart View Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Cabin on the Smart View Loop Trail

Smart View Loop Trail 3 Miles

I said ‘wow’ on the Smart View Loop Trail so many times I lost track. The trail had very few hilly parts compared to the other trails we hiked on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. It wandered its way through woods and grassy meadows offering valley views. The meadow areas were lined with wildflowers adding to the beauty of the hike.

You will come across an old cabin along the trail, giving you an idea of how the first settlers of this area lived.

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Valley views on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Crossing into Cow Fields on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Cows on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Relaxing on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Following the water on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Cabin remains on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Rushing water on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Road on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Hikes: Bridge on the Rock Castle Gorge Loop Trail

Rock  Castle Gorge Loop 10.4 Miles

The Rock Castle Gorge Loop was the last hike we did on the Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway before entering the North Carolina portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Shortly after crossing the state border we drove to Stone Mountain State Park where we spent the last two full days of our trip before heading home.

Before I describe the trail, I want to share some “do as I say and not as I do” advice. Jack and I started this 10.4-mile hike in the mid-afternoon, thinking we surely had enough time to finish it before it got dark (which was around 8 p.m.). We didn’t bring along our headlamps even though we knew we would be cutting it close on finishing it before dark. We packed one large water bottle, but not large enough for two people hiking 10 miles. Plus, we packed only two of our favorite trail bars. We ended up having to run-walk the last portion of the trail to make it back to our truck before the last of the sunlight disappeared. We arrived back to the truck super thirsty, hungry, and kicking ourselves for making newbie hiking mistakes that we should not be making this many years into hiking.

I read the All Trails description of the trail while writing the post and noticed the recommendation to allow a full day for this hike. Oh, how I wish I had read the trail’s description before attempting to do hike it with just four hours of daylight left.

This trail is difficult terrain. It is probably the hardest hike I have ever attempted, and it turns out we made it harder than it had to be by doing the loop in a hurry and in the “non” recommended direction, which made for some of the steepest hillsides I have ever hiked.

After that description, you probably wonder why it made it on our can’t miss hikes of the Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway list. It is because this trail was the most beautiful trail we hiked our entire time on the parkway.

It offered so many different views, valley views, meadow views, farm views, waterfall views, river views, forest views, rock formation views, and on and on.

Hike this trail!  Start it in the morning and pack a lunch, snacks, plenty of water, and maybe even dinner. Take it slow, stop and soak up the views; you won’t regret it. Oh, and read the description in All Trails before attempting so that you know which way makes for a less grueling hike.

I hope the pictures of our hikes and our stories convince you to get out there and hike the trails of the Virginia portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Are you looking for an alternative to busy and expensive campgrounds and one-night Walmart stops on the way to your destination? Check out our post about our first time using Boondockers Welcome.

Share
Pin
Tweet
Share

Filed Under: Virginia Tagged With: Blue Ridge Parkway, boondock, Hikes, Hiking, RV, Virginia

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

About the Author

Hi, I am Victoria and I am married to Jack. We have 3 kids ages 20 to 26 Now that the kids are grown we have more time on our hands for travel. Sometimes our kids join us but mostly we travel just the two of us. This blog is where we share our adventures as well as travel tips.

Join Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

How To Spend A Weekend In The Beautiful Fort Pickens Area Of Gulf Islands National Seashore

July 22, 2022 By Victoria Huizinga Leave a Comment

55 Great Gift Ideas For People Who Love Road Trips (Portable & Compact)

February 25, 2022 By Victoria Huizinga Leave a Comment

How To Spend A Weekend At Fall Creek Falls State Park, TN

February 11, 2022 By Victoria Huizinga Leave a Comment

29 Gift Ideas For The Dad Who Can’t Get Enough Of The Outdoors

February 4, 2022 By Victoria Huizinga Leave a Comment

The Best Activities To Do In Carter Caves State Resort Park

January 28, 2022 By Victoria Huizinga Leave a Comment

29 Gift Ideas For Outdoorsy Moms (ideas for all budgets)

January 21, 2022 By Victoria Huizinga Leave a Comment

My Book Available On Amazon

Recent Posts

  • How To Spend A Weekend In The Beautiful Fort Pickens Area Of Gulf Islands National Seashore
  • 55 Great Gift Ideas For People Who Love Road Trips (Portable & Compact)
  • How To Spend A Weekend At Fall Creek Falls State Park, TN

FIND IT HERE

Copyright © 2023 • The Parents Flew the Nest
Privacy Policy