From the regal James River winding through the foothills of the Blue Ridge to the high and mighty Allegheny Mountains forming the Virginia/West Virginia border, the Shenandoah Valley is a place of unspoiled beauty. It is where the spine of the Appalachians is veined by clear highland streams, cutting deep valleys that form grandstands where we can gaze upon the mountains above. A land of waterfalls and wildernesses,  the Valley is a natural respite where you can let your eyes move from the harsh light of the computer screen to the soft flora of rolling ridges.

There are plenty of ways to get outdoors in the Shenandoah Valley, but among the lesser known places are its designated Wildlife Management Areas. In WMAs in the greater Shenandoah Valley, you can float rivers big and small, feel the warm sun or a cool splash of water on your face, swim in a mountain stream, hike along the spine of a rock ridge, or camp in places visited by few others.

Use our guide to the Wildlife Management Areas in the Shenandoah Valley to find the ideal place for your outdoor adventure, plus things to do nearby. Consult the overview for tips about visiting a WMA. 

Goshen and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Goshen and Little North Mountain WMA

Photo Credit: Meghan Marchetti @virginiawildlife

What are Virginia Wildlife Management Areas? 

Wildlife Management Areas are managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources in order to enhance habitats for the state's undomesticated flora and fauna. They can be great places for outdoor recreation. Most are open for some type of hunting, fishing, birding, and hiking. 

Because of their central mission, you'll find WMAs to be more primitive than places like state parks. Don't expect to find visitor centers, campgrounds, or restrooms at your typical WMA. 

What to Know Before You Go

  • You'll need a pass to enter. All WMAs require either a daily access permit, a valid Virginia hunting or fishing license, a valid Virginia boat registration, a Restore the Wild membership, or a daily access pass to access the property. All are available for purchase on the Go Outdoors Virginia app and website.
  • DWR camping authorizations are mandatory for campers. You will need to obtain a free customer ID number if you have not previously registered with DWR’s Go Outdoors Virginia site. Camping authorizations are located under “Special Licenses” in the online license catalog. There is currently no charge for camping, but you must also have an access permit, fishing or hunting license, or boat registration to camp. Camping on WMAs is primitive, with no designated sites or facilities of any kind.
  • Know where you're going. Download the map for each WMA you plan to visit to help you when on the ground.
  • Leave no trace. Pack out your trash while visiting WMAs. 

Consulting the Go Outdoors Virginia app and website will be a great help to you when planning a WMA outing. The free app can help you secure permits and passes, plus let you browse nearby outdoor recreation opportunities. 

To help you get started, here are four rewarding WMAs in the greater Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that you can discover, along with nearby destinations to keep the adventure going. 

James River Wildlife Management Area

James River Wildlife Management Area

James River WMA

Photo Credit: Meghan Marchetti @virginiawildlife

Nearby Town: Lovingston
Potential Activities: Primitive camping, hiking, paddling, bicycling
Why Go There: Use the WMA boat launch to paddle the middle James River
What You Need to Know: E-bikes help you tackle hilly sections of closed forest roads

Situated on a hilly bend of the middle James River where Mayo Creek enters the James, James River Wildlife Management Area is mostly forested hills along with relic fields managed for wildlife. Closed roads south of Mayo Creek traverse rolling woods and are fun for bicyclers, while lands north of Mayo Creek have fewer roads to explore but do have a permanently open road to the Midway boat ramp—on WMA property and named after nearby Midway Mills—located halfway between Lynchburg and Richmond when travelers commuted via the James River.

Modern-day canoers and kayakers can access James River WMA  from James River State Park by paddling seven miles downstream passed Cunningham Island and the Wingina ramp before reaching James River WMA. Light rapids are interspersed with longer pools in this section. Or you can make the recommended 8.5-mile paddle starting at James River WMA, passing Buford Island and Dog Island among others enroute to the takeout at Howardsville, where the Rockfish River meets the James River.

More Outdoor Destinations Near James River WMA

  • Totier Creek Park in Scottsville: Paddlers love to circumnavigate the 66-acre reservoir, a serene spot where no gas motors are allowed. 
  • James River State Park near Buckingham: Camp, paddle, hike, stargaze, fish — there's activities galore and 22 miles of interconnected pathways to explore.
  • Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest near Sliders: Ideal for hiking and biking, with 69 miles of gated forest roads — don't miss the Carter Taylor Multi-Use Trail through the heart of the forest. 

Rapidan Wildlife Management Area

Rapidan Wildlife Management Area

Rapidan WMA

Photo Credit: Meghan Marchetti @virginiawildlife

Nearest Town: Graves Mill
Potential Activities: Primitive camping, hiking, trout fishing
Why Go There: Explore wild mountain woods and streams
What You Need to Know: Many portions of this WMA abut Shenandoah National Park. Download the WMA map for the exact locations

Broken into eight separate tracts stretching along Blue Ridge, mostly bordering Shenandoah National Park, Rapidan Wildlife Management Area is a mountain lover’s paradise. Three rivers — the South, the Conway, and the Rapidan — originate in Shenandoah National Park and then flow through the WMA, highlighting mountain stream scenes worth getting into.

Hiking, camping, and fishing are the name of the game here. Anglers seek native brook trout furtively feeding in the singing streams. The Rapidan Tract and Middle River Tract are the largest parcels. The Rapidan Tract can be used to visit Camp Rapidan, the preserved mountain retreat of President Herbert Hoover, with its intact buildings, interpretive history, and on-site hosts during the warm season. The Middle River Tract runs along the Conway River, where you trek along the stream and then on to Hazeltop, a mountain astride the Appalachian Trail. You can create fine loop hikes and backpacking routes combining WMA roads and trails with Shenandoah Park trails.

Note that some of the open roads in Rapidan WMA require four-wheel-drive vehicles.

More Outdoor Destinations Near Rapidan WMA

  • Big Meadows – Shenandoah National Park near Sperryville: Make Big Meadows your base camp for exploring the wonders of Shenandoah National Park. 
  • James Madison’s Montpelier in Orange: You'll find miles of trails and formal gardens to explore in addition to the home of James and Dolley Madison, where you can delve into the story of this nation's founding and the legacy of slavery in America. 
  • Chris Greene Lake Park in Ruckersville: The swimming beach is a big draw for this park, which is also great for paddling, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. 

Goshen and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Goshen and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Goshen and Little North Mountain WMA

Photo Credit: Meghan Marchetti @virginiawildlife

Nearest Town: Goshen
Potential Activities: Primitive camping, hiking, trout fishing, wildlife viewing
Why Go There: Savor the sights at Virginia’s largest wildlife management area
What You Need to Know: This mountainous tract comes in at a whopping 33,697 acres

Get lost (figuratively only, please) in the neighboring Goshen and Little North Mountain WMAs. The adjacent parcels are stretched out along the spine of Little North Mountain, then divided by the stunning Calfpasture River, from which rises Forge Mountain and Ragged Mountain, among others.

Access opportunities are plentiful, especially in the north and south ends of the WMA. Gated roads make for foot-friendly hiking trails. The Goshen parcel has the biggest road/trail network. Start off at VA 39 at the Guys Run Access or the Laurel Run Access, then use the WMA map to find your mountainside or streamside haven.

On the north end, park at the Trimbles Mill Access off Boy Scout Lane where you can hike up to Kings Gap, then go north to a knob on Little North Mountain. If you want to walk the high country, start at always open Troxel Gap Road. Primitive camping is allowed on this WMA, so consider backpacking or setting up a base camp after a short walk-in. Nearly all the WMA roads are open seasonally.

More Outdoor Destinations Near Goshen and Little North Mountain WMA

  • Ramseys Draft Wilderness near West Augusta: Make your way to Ramseys Draft, an eye-pleasing mountain stream draining through a range of peaks. 
  • Chessie Trail in Lexington: A 7-mile rail trail links Lexington to Buena Vista, running along the Maury River. 
  • Hidden Valley Recreation Area near Warm Springs: Ideal for a spring visit due to its vast fields of wildflowers that attract butterflies and birds. 

Gathright Wildlife Management Area

Gathright Wildlife Management Area

Gathright WMA

Photo Credit: Ron Messina

Nearest Town: Mountain Grove
Potential Activities: Boating, paddling, fishing, primitive camping
Why Go There: Access the untamed southwestern part of Back Bay
What You Need to Know: This WMA is divided by gorgeous Lake Moomaw

Set in beautiful Bath County, the 13,428-acre Gathright Wildlife Management Area is one of Virginia’s oldest. The area that is now 2,530-acre Lake Moomaw was once part of the WMA before the Jackson River was dammed here.

Want to strike for the top? Trek the Allegheny Mountain Trail, straddling the Virginia-West Virginia state line. Start near High Top off FR 55 and head south, gaining distant views into two states. Aquatic activities are numerous on Lake Moomaw. I’ve paddled this lake and highly recommend it. The impoundment is super scenic and you can angle for bass or trout. Worthy national forest campgrounds border the waters reflecting the mountains beyond them.

More Outdoor Destinations Near Gathright WMA

  • Jackson River Float Trip Accesses near Covington: Launch your boat or float from Johnson Spring, Smith Bridge, or Indian Draft and enjoy scenic waters between Lake Moomaw Dam and Covington.
  • Douthat State Park near Clifton Forge: This state park combines lake, creek, and mountain recreation with historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps nearly a century ago.
  • Blowing Springs Campground near Warm Springs:  A unique geological feature creates a duct that blows air out of the rocks at a constant 58 degrees.

 

Remember to consult Go Outdoors Virginia before visiting a Wildlife Management Area, and check out more ways to experience Virginia wildlife.