wildlife

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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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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Pony Pasture and Wetlands Loop

Highlights: River views, wetlands, bird watching Distance: 2.7 mile loop Elevation change: 26 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: Pony Pasture Park, 7200 Riverside Drive, Richmond Website: James River Park and AllTrails Beer Pairings: Veil Brewing Co. (Forest Hill)—Stay Hydrate IPA & Crucial Taunt Double IPA The Hike: The Pony Pasture has been a favorite

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Buffalo Mountain Preserve

Highlights: Great views, rare plants, wildlife Distance: 2.2 miles out and back Elevation change: 560 feet Difficulty level: Easy Trailhead Parking: State route 727 near Union VA. The small parking area accommodates about 10 vehicles Website: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Beer Pairings: Buffalo Mountain Brewery—McDaniel’s Scotch Ale & Copperhead IPA The Hike: Buffalo

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Great Dismal Swamp to Lake Drummond

Highlights: Historic site, Lake Drummond, Great Dismal Swamp Distance: 9.1 miles out and back Elevation change: 42 feet Difficulty level: Easy/Moderate Trailhead Parking: Washington Ditch entrance – 3076 White Marsh Road, Suffolk, VA. Follow the gravel road past the entry gate for one mile to the parking area Website: US Fish & Wildlife Service Beer

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Endless Wall

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

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Grandview Rim Trail

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

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South River Falls Loop

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

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Crabtree Falls to The Priest

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

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