No visit to Virginia is complete without a drive through some of the mountain towns nestled in the Appalachian Mountains and a stop to learn some of the unique history of the settlers who made homes in the mountains while working in the mines or scratching a living off the many mountains in Virginia.
10 Breathtaking Mountains In Virginia
There are many ways that you can enjoy the mountains in Virginia. Skyline Drive and the historic Blue Ridge Parkway make the gorgeous mountain views accessible from a car for people who don’t want to try hiking on the mountains in Virginia. There are plenty of lookouts dotting these roads where people can stop to see the view or get photos. Some of them also have short loop hikes where people can walk out to the summit of a mountain without too much effort. But for those that love a challenge and love the outdoors there are plenty of fantastic places to camp, hike, fish, boat, and climb in Virginia like these 10 popular mountains in Virginia.
Mount Rogers
Located in: Grayson Highlands State Park Height: 5,729 feet Nearby City: Grayson Known For: Mount Rogers is the tallest mountain in Virginia. Even though it’s a popular spot for hiking it’s not a tourist-friendly destination. Unlike some other popular mountains there are no restaurants or gift shops here. The only way to get to the summit is to hike up there. There are two primary trails that are used to get to the summit, the Massie Gap or Elk Highlands Trailhead. You can also challenge yourself by taking the trail that approaches the summit from the north called the Mount Rogers Trail. As you hike the approximately nine miles from the base to the summit you will hike through one of the few remaining spruce fir forests that the Appalachian mountains are famous for. There are only six of these forests left, and only two in Virginia. When you’re hiking Mount Rogers be very careful to not damage any of the spruce-fir forest trees because there aren’t that many of them left.
Old Rag Mountain
Located in: Shenandoah National Park Height: 3,284 feet Nearby City: Sperryville Known For: Hiking on Old Rag Mountain in the stunning Shenandoah National Park is something that many hikers have as a goal. But Old Rag Mountain is one of the toughest mountains in Virginia to hike. You need to be an experienced hiker that is willing to take some risks to take on this hike. It was ranked by Outside magazine as one of the top 25 hikes in the world. It’s also been called the most scenic hike in Virginia. What makes hiking Old Rag Top Mountain so difficult? Rock scrambling. The summit of Old Rag Mountain is all rock and you’ll need to scramble up rocks using your arms, legs, hands, and most of your body. Hikers who aren’t skilled at rock scrambling can easily sprain or strain a foot or a hand or break a bone making it necessary to be medically rescued from the mountain. Hikers who have done the Old Rag Mountain hike say it’s worth the risk. But, if you’re going to attempt this hike make sure that you bring plenty of food and water with you and practice some rock scrambling before you go.
Hawksbill Mountain
Located in: Shenandoah National Park Height: 4,049 feet Nearby City: Sperryville Known For: Another stunning view can be seen from the summit of Hawksbill Mountain. This mountain sits on the border of North Carolina and Virginia. At the summit you get a 360 degree panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, and the Linville Gorge. There are two ways to get to the summit. If you’re an experienced hiker and don’t mind a bit of rock scrabbling you can start at the bottom near the Linville Gorge and hike up the entire mountain. For that approach you can pick up the Jonas Ridge Trail. It’s about a 6 mile trek total to get to the summit and down. If you don’t want to take the long route to the summit you can drive on the Blue Ridge Skyway to the Hawksbill Gap parking area. You can walk from the parking area about a mile to the summit where there is a nice observation platform so you can really appreciate the stunning view. Just be aware that the summit is rock and may be slippery so wear appropriate footwear even if you are just walking to the summit from the parking area.
Mary’s Rock
Located in: Shenandoah National Park Height: 3,514 feet Nearby City: Sperryville Known For: Mary’s Rock has spectacular views of the Shenandoah Valley and is a very popular hiking spot for bird watchers and wildlife enthusiasts as well as hikers. You will often see other people when you’re hiking Mary’s Rock because it’s such a popular spot. There are also just two primary trails to the summit which can mean that the trails occasionally get crowded, especially where the trails that lead to the summit connect to the Appalachian Trail. The most commonly used approach is the Panorama trail. If you’re taking the Panorama Trail approach you can start at the Panorama parking area and pick up the trail there. You will need to take a short connecting trail to the Appalachian Trail to get to the summit.
Whitetop Mountain
Located in: Jefferson National Forest Height: 5,518 feet Nearby City: Mouth of Wilson Known For: Whitetop Mountain is one of the traditional Appalachian Mountains in Virginia. It has a thick spruce -fir forest, the only other one in Virginia besides the one on Mount Rogers. It also has many of the grassy flat meadows that in the Appalachian area are called “balds”. When you get to the summit you can take in the expansive view of the Jefferson National Forest that surrounds the mountain and some stunning wildflowers in the bald on top of the summit. Whitetop Mountain has a lot of wildlife, especially birds. You can also see animals like deer, porcupines, rabbits, and other forest dwelling animals. But the really exciting part of hiking Whitetop Mountain is the chance to see wild ponies that live on the grasses in the balds. Virginia is one of the few areas of the country outside of the West that has wild horses and ponies living in the national parks and protected areas. If you do see wild ponies when you’re hiking the mountains in Virginia remember that they are wild and it’s best not to approach them.
Balsam Beartown Mountain
Located in: Jefferson National Forest Height: 4,710 feet Nearby City: Burke’s Garden Known For: Like many of the mountains in Jefferson National Forest the hiking on Balsam Beartown can involve a bit of rock scrambling. For hikers that are interested in mountain climbing hiking Balsam Beartown and other mountains in Virginia can be a great way to practice their skills and improve their techniques. Just be careful if you’re hiking Balsam Beartown or any other mountains in the Jefferson National Forest in the winter because the temperatures can drop significantly very quickly. Make sure that you always have extra clothes and supplies with you. Because rock scrambling can cause some unique injuries it’s also a good idea to carry splints, supportive elastic bandages, and other first aid equipment for strains and sprains in case you injure yourself when you’re scrambling over rocks.
Reddish Knob
Located in: Shenandoah Mountain Height: 4,397 feet Nearby City: Harrisonburg Known For: Reddish Knob is one of the peaks on the Shenandoah Mountain ridge that lies along the border between Virginia and West Virginia. It’s famous for being a spot where hawks come during their fall migration. Bird and wildlife enthusiasts pack this peak in the fall to see huge numbers of different types of hawks that roost on the mountain. In addition to the hawks that come around the end of September visitors can see bald eagles, peregrine falcons and American kestrels at different times of the year. It’s a popular spot for birding all year long, but particularly in the fall. While it’s possible to hike up Reddish Knob from the base of the Shenandoah Mountain it’s not necessary. There is a paved road that leads to a parking area that is almost at the summit of the mountain. The walk to the summit from the parking area is just about a half mile. But be on the lookout for grouse and wild turkeys that will wander into the road stopping traffic.
Roanoke Mountain
Located in: Blue Ridge Mountains Height: 2,192 feet Nearby City: Roanoke Known For: Roanoke Mountain is famous for being one of the easiest mountains in Virginia to hike. That’s because you really don’t need to hike to experience the beautiful mountain views from the summit. This mountain sits just outside the city of Roanoke and you can drive almost all the way to the top. In about 20 minutes from downtown Roanoke you can be standing in a different world with amazing views, cool breezes, and nothing but the sound of the wind. To get to Roanoke Mountain take the Blue Ridge Parkway to the exit for Roanoke Mountain and drive to the parking area. There’s a four mile loop trail from the parking area that goes all the way around the summit and back to the parking area. But you don’t have to go far along the trail to start seeing the beautiful mountain vistas. About a mile up the trail you’ll be fully immersed in the beauty of the mountain.
Haw Orchard Mountain
Located in: Grayson Highlands State Park Height: 5,089 feet Nearby City: Mouth of Wilson Known For: Haw Orchard Mountain is another one of the mountains in Virginia that can be accessed by both serious hikers and people who just want to experience some fresh mountain air without a lot of physical effort. Serious hikers can pick up a trail at Massie Gap to challenge themselves going up the steep trails along the side of the mountain. Visitors who want an easier route can head to the Grayson Highlands State Park Visitor’s Center where there is plenty of parking as well as other conveniences. From the parking area visitors can take a short walk to the top of the mountain. But keep in mind when you’re planning your visit that the road to the Visitor’s Center is closed most of the winter because it’s blocked by snow and ice. After getting to the summit of Haw Orchard Mountain visitors will be treated to magnificent views of the surrounding mountains in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Bluff Mountain
Located in: Jefferson National Forest Height: 3,322 feet Nearby City: Monroe Known For: Bluff Mountain is part of the Appalachian Trail so when you’re hiking on Bluff Mountain you may come across some thru-hikers who are either coming from or heading towards Georgia. You will have plenty of time to stop, sit down, and make friends when you’re taking a break from this hike. It’s one of the most strenuous hikes in Virginia. The trail to the summit is only about two miles but it’s about two miles of nearly straight up incline. The Fire Service used to maintain a fire tower at the summit of Bluff Mountain and part of that structure and the steps to get to it are still there. Enjoy the view of some beautiful wild flowers and other foliage as you make this steep trek to the top. If you make it to the summit you will get treated to views of the Shenandoah Valley that can’t be beat.
10 Tallest Mountains In Virginia
Mount RogersWhitetop MountainHaw Orchard MountainStone MountainBluff MountainBalsam Beartown MountainBeartown MountainBuck MountainGrave MountainRound Top
Highest Point In Virginia
Mount Rogers- 5,729 feet
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Virginia is famous for the beautiful wilderness and mountains. Almost a full quarter of the Appalachian Trail runs through Virginia, along with sections of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachian Mountains. Virginia is also the center of Appalachian culture and history. What is the tallest mountain in Virginia? Mount Rogers is the tallest mountain in Virginia. Even though it’s a popular spot for hiking it’s not a tourist-friendly destination.
