If you are looking for something to do with younger kids, look throughout the listings for the family friendly adventure notes.
Staff recommended means we, or members of our families, have experienced this first hand.
- Hiking and Backpacking
Please visit our bookstore for many wonderful books with detailed information.
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
An Appalachian Trail Home Page Lots of A.T. info and links
Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Organization
Local Hikes A thorough listing a hikes with many in our area.
National Geographic Map Store The most thorough topo maps for our parks and national forests.
Blue Ridge Parkway There are 100 hikes accessed by the Blue Ridge Parkway and this site lists some of them, but not in great detail. There is also a good book by Leanord Adkins, Walking the Blue Ridge: A Guide to the Trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway, 3rd Edition.
GORP, a national outdoor website, lists many hikes for our area. Select the state from the map to see each list. The only drawback is that you have to register with them to have full access to their site.
slackpacker.com Lists information on some trails in specific states.
Tennesee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club Maintains 127 miles of A.T. in N.C., Tennessee and Virginia. Organized hikes.
Wild Side Adventures Hiking and backpacking trips for women.
North Carolina
Gorges State Park Newest state park, still in development. Waterfalls, gorges, elevation rises 2,000 feet in only three miles, one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique plant and animal species in eastern United States. Extensive hiking trails. Backpack camping, river and lake fishing, picnicking. - Hanging Rock State Park Rock outcrops up to 2,500 feet, five waterfalls and cascades, mountain lake, access to scenic river. More than 70 tent, trailer and recreational vehicle campsites with showers; eight group tent campsites; six cabins. More than 15 miles of hiking trails, including nearly four miles of bridle trails, rock climbing. Lake swimming and fishing, rowboat and canoe rentals; boat access to nearby river. Visitor's center with exhibits, interpretive programs, three picnic shelters, historic bath house.
- Mount Mitchell State Park
Highest peak east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet, views up to 100 miles, North Carolina's first state park. Nine tent campsites, 11 miles of hiking trails. Trailheads for hikers, backpackers, equestrians using trail system on adjacent U.S. Forest Service lands. Exhibit hall, gift shop interpretive programs. Two picnic shelters, restaurant. - Pilot Mountain State Park One of the state's signature landmarks, peregrine falcon habitat, scenic river access. Nearly 50 tent, trailer and recreational vehicle campsites, showers; two canoe-in campsites; one group tent campsite. Ten miles of hiking trails, including seven miles of bridle trails, rock climbing. River fishing, canoe access, interpretive programs, picnic shelter.
- South Mountains State Park Rock outcroppings up to 3,000 feet, 80-foot waterfall. More than 40 miles of hiking trails, including 29 miles of bridle trails and 18-mile bicycling trail. Eleven tent campsites, 20 backpack campsites, four group backpack campsites, 15 equestrian campsites with 37-stall barn. Stream fishing, picnic shelter, interpretive programs.
- Stone Mountain State Park Rock dome rising 700 feet above valley floor, waterfalls, Blue Ridge Mountain overlooks. Historic sites, exhibits, interpretive programs. Nearly 40 tent, trailer and recreational vehicle campsites, showers, dump station; six backpack campsites; five group tent campsites. Two picnic shelters, more than 12 miles of hiking trails, including six-mile bridle trail. Rock climbing, stream fishing.
North Carolina Trails Great hiking site. Another site lists at least 300 trails.
Southwestern Trails
Western North Carolina Here's another site, as well, that lists "Highcountry Hikes". And another nice site that includes some nature observation notes.
Waterfalls in the Asheville, NC area are numerous and spectacular, with a cluster of them in Dupont State Forest. Also consider Sliding Rock, the natural waterslide and swimming hole
Virginia
Breaks Interstate Park, VA, KY The Grand Canyon of the South. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, swimming, rafting, cottages and campgrounds. family friendly adventure
Douthat State Park More than 40 miles of hiking trails, from easy to difficult. Small swimming lake with beach, camping, cabins and beautiful picnic areas. Be aware that Douthat is a premiere mountain bike destination, so you will be sharing the trail. See if you can spot one of the resident albino squirrels. Staff recommended. Family friendly adventure
Hiking with Kevin Myatt Kevin provides useful SW Virginia hike descriptions and maps in his articles for the Roanoke Times. Staff recommended.
Hiking Upward Excellent site of hikes in Virginia (mostly northern half) and West Virginia. Includes ratings of views, solitude, camping, streams and difficulty. Each hike includes a topo map and elevation change graph. Good driving directions. For added inspiration, you can even calculate how many calories you would burn on the hike, by entering your weight.
Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area, VA Some of the most spectacular hiking and views east of the Mississippi. Several long trails, including the Appalachian Trail pass through this 117,000-acre area in SW Virginia near the North Carolina border, and there are also many day trips. This is a place that will take you years to fully explore with experiences you will never forget. Be very conscious of the weather since some of these hikes are at altitudes of over 5,000 feet. There is a good chance you will encounter snow from November to May, but don't let that stop you. Please call the ranger station before you head there, since some of the access roads during the those months may be impassable to all but some hardy 4-wheel drive vehicles. Sometimes the rangers provide shuttles through the snowy sections. Staff recommended.
Mount Rogers Outfitters offers shuttles to all major trailheads within a 100 mile radius of Damascus, VA.
A great introduction to Mt. Roger's beauty is a popular day loop hike in the highlands that starts at Massie's Gap in Grayson Highlands State Park and connects with the AT and Rhododendron Gap trail: Park Map. The views are tremendous and wild ponies roam here, keeping it a bald area. Since we have not found a comprehensive website for Mt. Rogers trail descriptions and maps for this huge area, we strongly recommend The Mount Rogers Outdoor Recreation Handbook so you can plan your trips ahead of time. Family friendly adventure. Staff recommended
The Outdoor Forum has a good collection of hike information for Virginia. Includes camping and dining information as well.
Pine Mountain Trail, Jefferson National Forest, 24 miles,starting at Breaks Interstate Park (VA/KY border). Eventually will be 120 miles connecting Breaks Interstate Park with Comberland Gap National Park.
- Roanoke Area Greenways None are very long, but great for little kids, trail running, or those just gotta get out of the house moments. Family friendly adventure
- Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club Maintains 113 miles of the A.T. in Virginia from Roanoke south. Also organized hikes.
Roanoke Outdoor and Social Club has about 150 members and several planned hikes each month, as well as BBQs, and other outings.
Virginia Hiking Trails Over 180 trails listed.
Virginia's Official Tourism site lists many hikes in Virginia.
West Virginia
Beartown State Park One of the most magical places you will ever visit. A short hike, but worth the stop. Staff recommended. Family friendly adventure
Dolly Sods is an wind-swept, open wilderness area on top of a plateau with alpine-like vegation and wide-spread views, and a canyon area with waterfalls. It is 10,215 acres in NE West Virginia, close to Seneca Rocks and Canaan Valley. 25 miles of trails may or may not have signs or blazes. It is also a wonderful place to snowshoe and cross-country ski when the weather is right. Because of the wind and the tendency to catch clouds of precipitation, you should always venture there prepared for bad weather. Staff recommended. Family friendly adventure with teens.
New River Gorge area hiking trails. The Endless Wall Trail has spectacular views. Staff recommended. Family friendly adventure
West Virginia Trails Online Search for WV trails. Another site lists over 400 trails.
West Virginia State Parks recreation page.
Links for Hiking and Backpacking
