Adventure Guide

A curated list of top attractions from treks & trails to guided experiences in & around Nelson County, VA.

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THE WILD BUCKET LIST

These protected Virginia Wildernesses & National Forests are worthy of anyone’s expedition bucket list:

🌲 Three Ridges Wilderness

🌲 The Priest Wilderness

🌲 Saint Marys Wilderness

🌳 Wintergreen Trail System

🌳 Rockfish Valley Trail System

🌳 Sherando Lake Trail System

🛶James River Water Trails

🧭 See below for more trail recs & tag #NoPlaceLikeNelson to share your own adventures!

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GUIDED EXPERIENCES

Pair Wine 🍷 with a Scenic Tour ⛰ on Horseback 🐴

• Explore more of your favorite wineries on horseback with Indian Summer Guide Service!

Learn to Climb 🧗‍♀️ & Conquer ⛰

• Book the Blue Ridge Mountain Guides to help you climb your favorite Nelson ridges and peaks!

Join a Naturalist🌲for an Interpretive Hike 🥾

• The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen

Join a trail guide for a bike ride 🚲of a lifetime

• Three Ridges Touring

Take special occasions to new heights with a blue ridge ballooning experience 🎈

• Boar’s Head Ballooning

• Blue Ridge Ballooning

• Bonaire Charters

• Monticello Country Ballooning

And more!

• Nelson Paddle Sports 🛶

• Ski and Snowboard Leasons at Wintergreen Resort 🎿

• Soar Above the Treetops 🛩 with Shenandoah Soaring Club at Rockfish Gliderport

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Top Destinations by Region

MOUNTAIN REGION

Hike Three Ridges Trail

Located in Three Ridges Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest near Wintergreen Resort

⛺️2 Day Backpacking & Camping

🥾Difficult 14.4 mile Loop

🧭Appalachian Trail & Mau-Har Trail

🅿️ Reeds Gap, Blue Ridge Parkway

💡 For a quick visit, checkout the first overlook at 0.8 miles (one way) on the AT

The Priest Summit Trail

Located in The Priest Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest

🥾 Difficult 8.6 miles (6 hours) Out & Back

🧭 Appalachian Trail

🅿️ AT parking on Rt 56, Tye River

💡 Combine with Crabtree Falls Trail (less than 10 miles) and grab a shuttle back

Spy Rock

Coming Soon!

Humpback Rocks

Coming Soon!

Old Appalachian Trail

Coming Soon!

Saint Mary's Falls Trail

Located in the Saint Mary’s Wilderness of the George Washington National Forest

🥾 15.5 Miles (9 hours including lunch break)

🧭 Bald Mountain Trail, Mine Bank Creek Trail, St. Mary’s River Trail, FS162 (Dirt Road)

🅿️ Gravel area 70 yards from Blue Ridge Parkway

Crabtree Falls Trail

Located in the Montebello area of Nelson County in the George Washington National Forest

🥾 Easy 3.8 Miles Out & Back (3 hours)

🅿️ Parking available at Crabtree Falls (Rt 56)

🛏 The Cabins at Crabtree Falls

💡 Extend your adventure for a 13.9 Mile Out/Back (5.5 Hours) to Spy Rock or conquer the Priest Summit via Appalachian Trail

Shamokin Falls Trail

Located in Wintergreen’s mountain community in the George Washington National Forest

🥾 Moderate 0.9 Loop (30 Minutes)

🅿️ Laurel Springs Drive

White Rock Falls Trail

Located in the Sherando area of the George Washington National Forest

🥾 Easy 1.8 Miles Out & Back

🅿️ White Rock Gap Parking Area

💡 Extend your adventure for a 9.1 mile loop (5.5 hours) to Sherando Lake and back via Slacks Trail, Torry Ridge Trail, & White Rock Gap Trail

Apple Orchard Falls

Coming Soon!

Sherando Lake Rec Area

Located in the Glenwood & Pedlar Ranger Districts of the George Washington National Forest

🏖 25 Acre Spring-fed Lake with Sandy Beach

🧺 65 Picnic Sites | 1 Shelter

⛺️ April - October

🥾 Lake Loop Trails & Trails to White Rock Gap & White Rock Falls

ℹ️ Visit fs.usda.gov

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RIVER REGION

Upper James River Trail

Coming Soon!

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VALLEY REGION

Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail

Coming Soon!

Lake Monacan at Wintergreen

Coming Soon!

Rockfish Valley Trails

Located in the Old Wintergreen Historical District of the Rockfish Valley on Route 151

Attractions:

🦅 Creekside birding paradise

🦋 Butterfly Trail

🚩Natural History Center

🌳 Spruce Creek Park

Up to 6 miles of various loops to explore:

🥾 Butterfly Trail

🥾 Spruce Creek Trail

🥾 Rockfish River Trail

🥾 Reids/Glenthorne Trail

🥾 Beechgrove Trail

🅿️ Camille Trailhead 721 Rockfish Valley Hwy

🅿️ Spruce Creek Park & History Center 1368 Rockfish Valley Hwy

ℹ️ Rockfish Valley Foundation @RockfishValley