2021 was a busy year for The Hoppy Hikers. We completed over 100 hikes and 71 were worthy of a blog post. We climbed 43 summits and made first-time visits to over 50 breweries. All the amazing hikes we completed in 2021 made selecting our favorites a difficult task. After much discussion (over several beers) […]
2021 Favorite Hikes & Breweries Read More »
Highlights: New River Gorge, great views, rock formations Distance: 3.1 miles loop Elevation change: 384 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: Lansing-Edmond Road (route 82), north of the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. The Fern Creek Trailhead parking area has room for about 30 vehicles Website: New River Gorge National Park Beer Pairings: Freefolk Brewery—Fayetteville Fog
Highlights: New River Gorge, great views, rock formations Distance: 4.0 miles out and back Elevation change: 361 feet Difficulty level: Easy/moderate Trailhead Parking: Grandview Visitor Center, New River Gorge National Park, 4700 Grandview Road, Beaver, WV Website: New River Gorge National Park Beer Pairings: Weathered Ground Brewery—Jethro porter & Tallahatchie IPA The Hike: New River
Grandview Rim Trail Read More »
Highlights: Historic Woolen Mills, Riverview Park, Rivanna River Distance: 4.2 miles out and back Elevation change: 170 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: Wool Factory, 1837 Broadway St., Charlottesville, VA Website: Rivanna Trails Beer Pairings: Selvedge Brewing Co.—Britches Get Stitches IPA & Flannel Stout The Hike: The Rivanna Trail is a 20-mile network of multi-use
Rivanna River Trail Read More »
Highlights: Historic High Bridge, civil war earthworks, Appomattox River Distance: 8.2 mile out and back Elevation change: 270 feet Difficulty level: Easy/moderate Trailhead Parking: High Bridge Trail State Park, Camp Paradise parking area, 1466 Camp Paradise Road; Rice, VA, park fee required. Website: High Bridge Trail State Park Beer Pairings: Three Roads Brewing Co.—Drive By
Highlights: Fantastic views, rock scramble, Appalachian Trail Distance: 1.1 mile loop Elevation change: 217 feet Difficulty level: Moderate with rock scramble, easy without the scramble Trailhead Parking: Skyline Drive Bearfence Trailhead parking area mile 56.4, park fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Octonia Stone Brew Works—Rokuhnite Me Amadeus lager & Worth One’s Basalt
Bearfence Rock Scramble Read More »
Highlights: Waterfalls, wildflowers, Appalachian Trail Distance: 4.9 mile loop Elevation change: 1,081 feet Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: Skyline Drive South River Picnic Area mile post 63, park fee required. Park near the rest rooms at the far end of the picnic grounds. Website: Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Patch Brewing Co.—Home Field Advantage porter
South River Falls Loop Read More »
Highlights: Views, wildflowers, wildlife, waterfalls, Appalachian Trail Distance: 10.5 miles out and back Elevation change: 2,570 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Crabtree Falls Trailhead parking area, Route 56, Tyro VA, $3 parking fee Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: Blue Mountain Barrel House—Red Zeppelin Red IPA & Classic Lager The Hike: The Priest is a famous
Crabtree Falls to The Priest Read More »
Highlights: Views, wildflowers, bird watching, Rockfish River Distance: 2.6 miles out and back Elevation change: 120 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: Rockfish Valley Trail Trailhead parking area, Route 151, Nellysford VA Website: AllTrails and Rockfish Valley Trail System Beer Pairings: Brewing Tree Beer Co.—Chapter 2 IPA & Flip Flop Pilsner The Hike: This easy
Rockfish River Trail Read More »
Highlights: Appalachian Trail, stream crossings, wildflowers, history Distance: 7.8 miles loop Elevation change: 1,780 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Skyline Drive Thornton River Trailhead parking area mile 25.4, park fee required Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: Iron Pipe Aleworks—Shapeshifter IPA & Gandalf the Haze IPA The Hike: This hike doesn’t have amazing views or spectacular
Thornton River Loop Read More »
