Ultimate Ashburn Hiking Guide

Drive Time: Backyard access!

Trail Length: 45 miles total (do any section)

Elevation Gain: Minimal (paved)

Description: Paved multi-use trail perfect for walking, running, or cycling through northern Virginia

Views: Farm fields, small towns, tree-lined corridors

Trail Features: Fully paved, wheelchair accessible, multiple access points

Best For: Family bike rides, morning runs, dog walking, any fitness level

Drive Time: 10 minutes from home

Trail Length: 8.3 miles (full loop)

Elevation Gain: Minimal

Description: Easy loop trail around 350-acre reservoir with blue blazes marking the path

Views: Lake shoreline, sunset reflections, open water vistas

Trail Features: Counter-clockwise for best views, fishing spots, kayak launch

Best For: Morning coffee walks, photography, bird watching, peaceful lake scenery

Drive Time: 15 minutes from home

Trail Length: Scout Trail 3.3 mi (11 total miles in park)

Elevation Gain: 144 ft

Description: 357-acre park with color-coded trail network including historic sites

Views: Woodland scenery, historic sites, meadows

Trail Features: Civil War signal station, American Indian trail, Lanesville Historic District

Best For: Moderate woodland hikes, history buffs, well-marked trails

Drive Time: 15 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.2 miles (loop)

Elevation Gain: Minimal

Description: Short scenic loop through 67 acres with Potomac River overlooks

Views: Potomac River vistas, forested overlooks

Trail Features: Civil War ruins, riverside trails, quick access

Best For: 30-minute nature breaks, lunch hour hikes, river views

Drive Time: 15 minutes from home

Trail Length: 4 miles (out and back)

Elevation Gain: Minimal

Description: Scenic trail through Loudoun County countryside with stream crossings

Views: Open meadows, stream crossings, pastoral countryside

Trail Features: Well-maintained, family-friendly, multiple access points

Best For: Easy nature walks, bird watching, peaceful countryside hiking

Drive Time: 40 minutes from home

Trail Length: Piedmont Loop 4.9 mi (22 total miles)

Elevation Gain: 1,030 ft

Description: Beautiful state park with sweeping meadow views and AT access

Views: Expansive meadows, mountain vistas, Piedmont overlooks (0.25 mi!)

Trail Features: Multiple overlooks, Appalachian Trail connection, varied terrain

Best For: Meadow views, moderate climbs, great value (views for effort)

Drive Time: 40 minutes from home

Trail Length: Short hike to overlook

Elevation Gain: Minimal

Description: Easy access to spectacular Blue Ridge overlook on the Appalachian Trail

Views: Expansive Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley vistas, sunset views

Trail Features: Part of AT "Rollercoaster", quick access to views

Best For: Sunset viewing, easy mountain views, combo with Bear Chase Brewing

Drive Time: 45 minutes from home

Trail Length: ~5 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: Significant climb

Description: Classic AT section leading to massive rock outcrop with valley views

Views: Expansive valley vistas from dramatic rock overlook

Trail Features: AT white blazes, rocky summit, legitimate mountain climb

Best For: Moderate challenge with big payoff, AT experience, rock overlooks

Drive Time: 50 minutes from home

Trail Length: 13.5 miles (can do sections)

Elevation Gain: Relentless ups and downs

Description: Famous AT section with steep climbs and descents, known worldwide

Views: Shenandoah River Valley from multiple cliff-edge rocks

Trail Features: Legendary among thru-hikers, multiple summits, true challenge

Best For: Serious hikers, AT bucket list, testing your limits

Drive Time: 50 minutes from home

Trail Length: 4.7 miles (Section A)

Elevation Gain: Technical scrambling

Description: DC area's most challenging hike with serious rock scrambling along C&O Canal

Views: Potomac River gorge, Mather Gorge, rocky river sections

Trail Features: Hands-on rock scrambling required, technical sections, very popular

Best For: Scramblers, challenge seekers, rock climbing lite (Sections B&C easier)

Drive Time: 50 minutes from home

Trail Length: 7 mi loop (or 0.25 mi shortcuts to summit)

Elevation Gain: 1,499 ft (full loop)

Description: Lone mountain rising from Maryland piedmont with multiple trail options

Views: Stunning 360° panoramic summit views across Maryland countryside

Trail Features: Quick summit via Green/Orange trails or longer loops (5-7 mi)

Best For: Summit views, varied difficulty options, private mountain (donation)

Drive Time: 55 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.5 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 440 ft

Description: Quick hike to stunning Blue Ridge overlook with minimal effort

Views: Expansive Shenandoah Valley views, Blue Ridge panoramas

Trail Features: Short but rewarding, excellent views-to-effort ratio

Best For: Quick mountain views, photography, sunset watching

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.3 miles

Elevation Gain: Mostly flat

Description: Wheelchair-accessible boardwalk through old-growth hemlock forest

Views: Ancient forest, peaceful woodland setting

Trail Features: Accessible boardwalk sections, gentle loop, all skill levels

Best For: Families with kids, wheelchair users, peaceful forest walks

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1 mile loop

Elevation Gain: 230 ft

Description: Short hike to rocky summit with panoramic mountain views

Views: Stunning 360° panoramic views of Shenandoah Valley

Trail Features: Huge boulders at summit, slight incline, very accessible

Best For: Big views with minimal effort, all ages, photography

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.6 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 340 ft

Description: Second highest peak in Shenandoah with spectacular 270° panorama

Views: Massive 270° panorama from 4,040 ft summit

Trail Features: Well-maintained trail, rocky summit, suitable for all ages

Best For: Families, big views with easy access, sunrise/sunset

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 325 ft

Description: Easy streamside hike to impressive 80+ foot waterfall

Views: 80+ foot waterfall, cascading stream, forest scenery

Trail Features: Follows stream to falls, best in spring for water flow

Best For: Waterfall lovers, spring hikes, easy forest walks

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.1 miles

Elevation Gain: 305 ft

Description: Short hike to incredible valley viewpoint without scramble

Views: 360° view of entire Shenandoah valley

Trail Features: Easier route (vs. scramble), great views for effort

Best For: Valley views, avoiding crowds, quick summit experience

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.1 miles

Elevation Gain: 400 ft

Description: Short but exciting hands-on rock scramble to 360° summit views

Views: Complete 360° panorama of Shenandoah from rocky summit

Trail Features: Fun rock scramble required (use hands!), exhilarating climb

Best For: Adventure seekers, scramblers, big views with excitement

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 2.2 miles (Upper Hawksbill Trail)

Elevation Gain: 500 ft

Description: HIGHEST peak in Shenandoah at 4,049 ft with incredible 360° views

Views: Absolutely epic 360° panorama from park's highest point

Trail Features: Summit platform, well-maintained trail, bragging rights

Best For: Summit baggers, panoramic photography, clear day viewing

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,437 ft

Description: Series of spectacular cascading waterfalls through beautiful forest

Views: Multiple beautiful waterfalls, forest canopy, cascading streams

Trail Features: Well-maintained, passes 6 major falls, very scenic

Best For: Waterfall enthusiasts, forest hiking, spring water flows

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 1.4 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 440 ft (remember: you climb back UP!)

Description: Closest waterfall to Skyline Drive - 70-foot cascade down steep trail

Views: 70-foot waterfall, cascading water, forest scenery

Trail Features: Steep descent/ascent, very popular, close to Skyline Drive

Best For: Easy waterfall access, popular with crowds (go early!)

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 7.4 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,897 ft

Description: Wilderness loop with cemetery, waterfalls, and remote forest feel

Views: Cascading waterfalls, deep forest, historic cemetery

Trail Features: Less crowded, wilderness character, varied terrain

Best For: Avoiding crowds, wilderness experience, waterfall series

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 4 miles loop

Elevation Gain: 892 ft

Description: Beautiful circuit trail featuring 67-foot Rose River Falls through lush forest

Views: 67-foot waterfall, cascading stream sections, mountain laurel groves

Trail Features: Less crowded than Dark Hollow, loop option, seasonal wildflowers

Best For: Waterfall lovers avoiding crowds, spring blooms, moderate workout

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 6.4 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 1,722 ft

Description: Tallest waterfall in Shenandoah at 93 feet - worth the challenging hike

Views: Spectacular 93-foot waterfall (park's tallest!), mountain forest scenery

Trail Features: Steep descent to falls, remote feel, best flow in spring

Best For: Serious waterfall enthusiasts, solitude seekers, spring hiking

Drive Time: 1 hour 45 minutes from home

Trail Length: 9.4 miles loop

Elevation Gain: 2,600 ft

Description: THE most popular hike in Shenandoah with epic 1-mile rock scramble

Views: Stunning 360° summit views, rock scramble adventure

Trail Features: Famous rock scramble (use hands!), very challenging, legendary

Best For: Bucket list hike, scramblers, serious hikers (4-6 hrs total)

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: 9.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 2,365 ft

Description: Challenging loop with multiple viewpoints and stream crossings

Views: Multiple incredible overlooks, mountain panoramas

Trail Features: Less crowded than Old Rag, stream crossings, varied terrain

Best For: Serious hikers avoiding Old Rag crowds, full-day challenge

Drive Time: 1 hour 30 minutes from home

Trail Length: Varies (AT section)

Elevation Gain: Significant

Description: Most spectacular Appalachian Trail section through Shenandoah

Views: Expansive and frequent views, culminating at Mary's Rock 360° panorama

Trail Features: Epic AT section, multiple viewpoints, challenging elevation

Best For: AT enthusiasts, view collectors, challenging full-day hikes