Those who love to hike, bike, fish, paddle, and otherwise enjoy adventure-filled opportunities in the outdoors will thrive in Augusta County, Virginia. Streams, mountains, backroads, peaks, underground, wilderness … it’s all waiting.
Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains is Augusta County. It’s a gateway to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive on its eastern border. To the west is the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest. Splitting the two is the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and a variety of rivers and streams, of which South River and Mossy Creek are key for trout fishing.
Let’s Hike!
A relatively new trail is the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail in Afton. Seven hundred feet below the peak of the mountain, it’s a 2.25-mile rail-trail that shoots below the Blue Ridge Mountains through a 4,700-foot train tunnel. Void of lighting, head lamps or flashlights are advised. You may also want a light jacket to ward off the year ‘round 50-something-degree temperature.
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Head to the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest with a day hike along the Torry Ridge and White Rock Falls circuit. At 9.1 miles, you can expect to spend more than five hours hiking, but we know you’ll want to admire the 30-foot White Rock Falls waterfall off a short spur trail just 1.5 miles in from the White Rock Gap trailhead. A great picnic spot is Sherando Lake.
Cycle Augusta
The Staunton Perfect Loop is 15 miles of rolling backroads that will help you clear your mind. The route isn’t very strenuous and rewards cyclists with a downtown conclusion, meaning food and drink can be found easily nearby.
Get ready for a climb when you take on the Natural Chimneys Park Loop, which features 2,818 feet of elevation change. At 36.6 miles long, this loop starts in downtown Staunton and heads north to Natural Chimneys Park and back again.
Great Fishing
Hands down, Mossy Creek is one of the best stocked trout fishing holes in Virginia, and one of the most challenging. You won’t wade in the water to catch a big brown trout here. Try casting from the bank and see how long your patience last. We hope you’re in it to win it.
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For native trout, head to St. Mary’s River where brookies thrive and reach up to about nine inches in length. The fight for aquatic life in St. Mary’s River goes on but through liming efforts over the decades, the acidic waters are more friendly to low pH-tolerant species.
Pitch a Tent
What’s your vibe? Go totally primitive with a national forest overnight or stay a bit more organized with common amenities at a campground. Sun Retreats Shenandoah Valley (formerly Shenandoah Acres Family Campground) offers a swimming lake and beach that has kept families returning for generations. Or check out the new renovations and improvements at Walnut Hills Campground.
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Make your grand escape for a summer full of outdoor explorations. There’s swimming, horseback riding, and more waiting for you in Augusta County, Virginia.
Header image courtesy of Augusta County Economic Development and Tourism.