The Complete Guide to Visiting Virginia's Mountains

Virginia’s mountain ranges are world-famous for a number of reasons, including the challenging hiking trails, scenic winding drives, and the storied musical history of Appalachia.

Whether you travel in the spring, summer, fall, or winter, the mountains of Virginia invite you to come for a visit and stay a while.

Be sure to block off some down time on your itinerary — often the most memorable part of a stay in the mountains involves just sitting still and taking in the beauty of Virginia’s rolling landscape. Discover all there is to LOVE about the mountains of Virginia with this complete guide to visiting Virginia's mountains. 
 

EXPLORE VIRGINIA'S MOUNTAINS

Iconic Sites | Scenic Drives | Hiking & Biking
Mountain Towns | Craft Beverages | Arts & Culture
Farms & Orchards | Places to Stay

What are Virginia's Mountain Ranges? 

You’ll often hear Virginians refer to the mountains as the Appalachian Mountains, and while this is correct, the Appalachian chain actually runs down most of the eastern North American coast. To be more specific to a region, the Appalachian Mountains are divided further into smaller mountain chains. The two major chains that run through Virginia are the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains.

Iconic Sites in Virginia's Mountains

There are too many iconic mountain sites to list, but these are a few destinations that visitors rave about in the mountains of Virginia.

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

This gem in Southwest Virginia is blanketed in rugged but beautiful landscape and features the highest elevation point in Virginia, Mount Rogers. Hiking, horseback riding, biking, and camping are popular within the park.

Mabry Mill

Mabry Mill is considered the most iconic structure on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The site still gives tours with milling, blacksmithing, spinning, and other various demonstrations that showcase traditional Appalachian crafts.

McAfee Knob

Hikers take on a 4.5 mile hike through the mountains to reach McAfee Knob, the most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail. This site provides panoramic views of the Catawba Valley, Tinker Cliffs, and Roanoke Valley.

Shenandoah National Park

One of the most beautiful park’s in America, Shenandoah National Park contains countless scenic vistas to take in the mountains and the sweeping valleys below.

Scenic Drives in Virginia's Mountains

Want to get a front-row seat for the mountain views without hiking the exhaustive terrain to reach an overlook? Plan a road trip to discover Virginia’s mountainsides from behind the wheel.

Back of the Dragon

Route 16, called Back of the Dragon by those that conquer its curves, is a six hour drive through a hundred miles of Southwest Virginia. This is a route favored by motorcyclists, but anyone driving the route can appreciate the scenery.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Running from the Northern Shenandoah Valley to the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway winds through 469 miles of stunning mountain terrain.

Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive connects to the northern point of the Blue Ridge Parkway, traveling a further 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains. The views of the Shenandoah Valley are awe-inspiring, and there are more than 75 overlooks right off the road that let you stop and take it all in without hiking multiple miles. During the fall, the mountains are alight with the oranges, reds, and yellows of the changing foliage, attracting thousands of visitors to the route.

Find more scenic drives to take in Virginia's natural beauty. 

Hiking & Biking Trails in Virginia's Mountains

The mountains in Virginia were practically made for hiking and mountain biking. About a quarter of the Appalachian Trail runs through Virginia, and numerous trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway invite hikers to meander through the shady rolling landscape to spectacular payoff views. Intense mountain biking routes like the Spearhead Trails in Southwest Virginia provide a challenge to even the most seasoned rider.

Popular Hiking Spots:

• Cold Mountain
• Old Rag
• Whiteoak Canyon
• Dragon’s Tooth
• Crabtree Falls
• Sharp Top

Check out our list of Virginia's must-do hikes. 

Popular Mountain Biking Locations:

• Carvins Cove
• Flag Rock
• Southern Traverse
• George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
• Douthat State Park

Discover our favorite state parks for mountain biking. 

Visit these Virginia Mountain Towns

Dozens of small towns can be found within Virginia’s mountain regions, giving visitors a glimpse into what daily life in the mountains is like.

• Roanoke – One of the bigger mountain towns in Virginia with a bevy of great restaurants, hotels, and events along with the outdoor recreation. 
• Damascus – A small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains that packs a lot of personality, with the Appalachian Trail running right down the sidewalk of one of the main streets.
• Luray – Mountain road trippers can access Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive easily, plus enjoy exploring Luray Caverns and a charming main street area.

Keep reading for more of our favorite mountain towns. 

Enjoy Craft Beverages in Virginia's Mountains 

There are tons of wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries tucked away in the mountains of Virginia. Sample some impressive beverages when you add one of these scenic drink destinations to your travel itinerary.

• MountainRose Vineyards in Wise: The grapes used in wine production at Mountainrose Vineyards are grown in the mountains, lending to delicious, subtle aromas apparent in every glass of wine.
• Big Fish Cider Co. in Monterey: This microcidery uses locally grown apples and traditional cider-making techniques to craft incredible ciders, ranging from dry and crisp to semi-sweet.
• Davis Valley Winery & Distillery in Rural Retreat: Davis Valley Distillery produces several corn whiskey moonshines (in wonderfully classic flavors like Apple, Peach, and Cherry Pie) and a traditional grain vodka. 

Keep exploring craft beverages around Virginia. 

Explore Arts & Culture in Virginia's Mountains

Virginia's Mountain Music

Virginia boasts a thriving music scene, with live performances happening nonstop a venues and clubs throughout the Commonwealth. The mountains have a particularly rich music heritage, in part due to the legendary history behind the music.

Famous musicians like the Carter Family and Dr. Ralph Stanley called Virginia home, instilling the Appalachian mountain sounds into their songs that would inspire generations to come. Take a trip along The Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, to learn more about the music of Virginia’s mountain regions.

Trace Virginia's Appalachian music history and play along on the Crooked Road. 

A Crafting Legacy

In Virginia's mountains, artistic crafting traditions go back generations. Practices like basket weaving, pottery, quilting, and making instruments have evolved from functional projects to pieces that also demonstrate beauty, technique, and style. 

The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center in Abingdon offers a look at these practices and also offers artistic retreats, workshops, and classes. At the Virginia Quilt Museum in Dayton, explore the legacy of quilting and discover contemporary works that build on history. 

Keep exploring the traditions of basket weaving, quilting, and more in Virginia. 

Farms & Orchards in Virginia's Mountains

The cool air and rich soil of the Virginia mountains results in outstanding fresh produce. These farms and orchards let you interact with farm animals or pick your own selection of apples, peaches, and more.

• Graves’ Mountain Farm & Lodges in Syria: Pick your own apples from the trees or purchase them already picked by farmhands at Graves’ Mountain Farm. They also sell fresh-pressed cider and apple butter made from their fruits. In the fall, pumpkins and gourds are available.
• 7 Springs Alpaca Farm in Lebanon: You probably won’t have too many chances in your lifetime to pet an alpaca, but 7 Springs Alpaca Farm offers the opportunity to learn about them as you stroke their soft fleece coat.
• Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet: Nothing is better than a perfectly ripe peach picked straight off the tree, and you can do just that at Chiles Peach Orchard. Additionally, they have pick-your-own strawberries, apples, and pumpkins seasonally grown on the farm. 
• Gross Orchard in Bedford: Pick fresh peaches and apples and don't miss browsing the charming country store. The apple hand pies are a must. 

Discover more pick-your-own farms in Virginia. 

Places to Stay in the Virginia Mountains

From simple cabins to sprawling luxury resorts, Virginia’s mountains offer lodging for every visitors.

Resorts:

Each of these resorts are filled with luxury amenities and year-round activities like zip-lining, hiking, and a full array of spa services.

• Wintergreen Resort, Nellysford
• Massanutten Resort, Massanutten
• Bryce Resort, Bayse
• The Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs
• The Lodge at Primland, Auberge Collection—Meadows of Dan

Find more mountain resorts in Virginia. 

Cabins:

In addition to large resorts, the region is filled with private cabin rentals that provide a little peace and quiet during your visit to the mountains. You can also find state park cabins around the mountains where you can get a beautiful stay within any budget. 

• Eagle’s Lookout, Wintergreen
• Fariss Farms, Allisonia
• Dancing Bears Cottage, Middlebrook

Check out our favorite cozy cabins around Virginia.