This easy hike north of New Castle on VA 685 starts with a wheelchair accessible trail and leads past remnants of mining to a beautiful cascading waterfall. GPS: N37 34.19' / W80 03.240'. Eastern Divide Ranger District: (540) 552-4641. DeLorme: Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 52, D2.
A long hike northwest of Roanoke. Take exit 140 off I-81 and follow VA 311 to trail-head parking opposite the intersection of VA 311 and VA 624. Volunteers have recently cleared the North Mountain leg of this difficult 28.7-mile loop. An added bonus is the proximity of Dragons Tooth, one of Virginia’s most impressive short hikes. (540) 552-4641. GPS: N37 22.514' / W80 08.935'. DeLorme: Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 42, B1.
From Blacksburg, take VA 460 west to VA 641; make a right onto VA 641 and follow to a parking lot (within 0.5 mile of where the Appalachian Trail [AT] crosses the road). The Rice Fields are beautiful open meadows on top of Peters Mountain accessed via the AT. For 10 miles along this stretch, the AT follows the Virginia–West Virginia border. Where it intersects the Allegheny Trail, the AT descends back into Virginia. This is an out-and-back hike with no loop possibilities. (540) 552-4641. GPS: N37 21.306' / W.80 45.944'. DeLorme: Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 40, B3. (Also see page XX.)
A gem of a park located 3 miles north of Marion on VA 16. There are 14 miles of trails in this 2,180-acre state park. Highlights include inspired views from the Lake Trail of early morning mist rising off Hungry Mother Lake against a backdrop of brilliant fall foliage. Molly’s Knob Trail leads 1.9 miles to the Vista Trail and a 3,270-foot peak with views of Mount Rogers. (276) 781-7400, www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/hungry-mother. GPS: N36 53.036' / W81 31.597'. DeLorme: Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 23, A5.
A 5.8-mile point-to-point on a former railroad grade along the Guest River west of St. Paul. Starting at the northern end, this pleasant walk is a gradual and scenic descent into the gorge. The railway hauled the coal and saltpeter mined in the gorge, leaving behind sheer cliffs. The area harbors several threatened and endangered animals and plants. (540) 328-2931, www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/sites/guest-river-gorge-trail. GPS: N36 55.378' / W82 27.053'. DeLorme: Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 20, A4.