bird watching

Fort Monroe Seawall

Highlights: Fort Monroe, Chesapeake Bay views Distance: 3.4 miles out and back Elevation Change: 36 feet Trail Surface: Paved Difficulty Level: Easy (smooth surface, no elevation gain) Trailhead Parking: Fort Monroe Visitor & Education Center, 30 Ingalls Rd, Fort Monroe, VA Website: AllTrails and National Park Service Beer Pairings: 1865 Brewing Co.—High Noon Pale Ale […]

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Rice Fields AT Shelter

Highlights: Mountain meadow, AT shelter, great views Distance: 5.2 miles out and back Elevation Change: 1,259 feet Trail Surface: Rocky Difficulty Level: Moderate (rocky surface, elevation gain) Trailhead Parking: From Blacksburg US 460 west, turn left on Route 641, in 1.5 miles turn left on to Pocahontas Road. In 150 yards reach the AT crossing

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Mary’s Rock AT North

Highlights: Appalachian Trail, amazing views, mountain laurel in June Distance: 3.7 miles out and back Elevation Change: 1,210 feet Trail Surface: Very rocky Difficulty Level: Moderate (rocky surface, elevation gain) Trailhead Parking: Panorama parking area, Skyline Drive MP 31.5; park entrance fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park and AllTrails Beer Pairings: Hawksbill Brewery—Hooray for Luray

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Back Bay Wildlife Refuge Loop

Highlights: Birding, ocean views, wildlife  Distance: 9.5 mile loop Elevation change: 35 feet Difficulty level: Moderate/strenuous Trailhead Parking: Visitor Contact Station, 4005 Sandpiper Road, Virginia Beach VA; park entry fee required Website: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, AllTrails, and False Cape State Park Beer Pairings: Reaver Beach Brewing Co.—Hammerhead IPA & Soup of the Night

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First Landing State Park Loop

Highlights: Broad Bay, bald cypress swamp, rare plants and wildlife  Distance: 8.6 mile loop Elevation change: 251 feet Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: 2500 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, Trail Center Parking Area; park entry fee required Website: First Landing State Park Beer Pairings: Wasserhund Brewing Co.—Great Dane’ish Pilsner & Doggy Paddle IPA The Hike:

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Bassett Trace Nature Trail

Highlights: Nature trail, lake views, bird watching Distance: 2.9 miles out and back Elevation change: 265 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: Griffin Hotel, 136 E. Francis Street, Williamsburg Website: Colonial Williamsburg Beer Pairings: Precarious Beer—Fortune and Glory Pilsner & Chug Rug IPA The Hike: Located near Bassett Hall and owned by Colonial Williamsburg, this

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Waller Mill Park Lookout Tower Loop

Highlights: Lake views, bird watching Distance: 2.9 mile loop Elevation change: 185 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: 901 Airport Road, Williamsburg VA, $2.00 parking fee Website: Williamsburg Parks and Recreation Beer Pairings: Alewerks Brewing Company—Protocol Porter & Fractionate IPA The Hike: Waller Mill Park in Williamsburg is centrally located near Interstate 64 and Colonial

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Texas Beach

Highlights: James River, bird watching Distance: 3.6 miles out and back Elevation change: 128 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: North Bank Park, 1941 Texas Ave., Richmond VA Website: James River Park and AllTrails  Beer Pairings: Strangeways Brewing, Scott’s Addition—Zappa On Strat IPA & Less Than Zero IPA The Hike: Texas Beach is a popular

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Hughlett Point Preserve

Highlights: Chesapeake Bay views, bird watching Distance: 3.2 mile loop Elevation change: 23 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: Route 605, Kilmarnock VA, the small parking area accommodates 11 vehicles Website: Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation Beer Pairings: Kilmarnock Brewhaus—Grier’s Gaire Pilsner & Edelweiss IPA The Hike: Located on Virginia’s Northern Neck, Hughlett Point

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Rappahannock River

Rappahannock River Heritage Trail & Canal Path Loop

Highlights: River views, wetlands, history Distance: 3.1 mile loop Elevation change: 90 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: Old Mill Park, 2201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg VA Website: City of Fredericksburg Beer Pairings: Red Dragon Brewery—Yorkshire Brown Ale & Rose of Sharon Welsh Ale The Hike: We have had several requests for shorter hikes closer to

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