wildlife

Thornton River Loop

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 […]

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Dragon’s Tooth

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail, rock scrambles, wildflowers, Triple Crown Distance: 5.5 miles loop Elevation change: 1,340 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Dragon’s Tooth Trailhead, route 311 Website: Visit Roanoke and Hiking Upward  Beer Pairings: A Few Old Goats Brewing—Oatmeal Stout & Galactic Retribution IPA  The Hike: Dragon’s Tooth was our 3rd Triple Crown

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Tinker Cliffs

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail, wildflowers, Triple Crown Distance: 7.5 miles out and back Elevation change: 1,810 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Andy Layne Trail Parking, Catawba Road route 779 Website: Visit Roanoke and AllTrails Beer Pairings: Parkway Brewing Co.—Triple A Red Ale & Grapefruit Get Bent Mountain IPA  The Hike: Tinker Cliffs is

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Rock Castle Gorge

Highlights: Great views, meadows, cascades, wildflowers, birdwatching, historic buildings Distance: 11.2 mile loop Elevation change: 2,226 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: CC Camp Lane route 605, Floyd VA; alternate trailhead Blue Ridge Parkway mile 168, Saddle Overlook parking area Website: Hiking Upward and Blue Ridge Parkway, National Park Service Beer Pairings: Buffalo Mountain Brewery—McDaniel’s

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Dutch Gap Conservation Area

Highlights: River and lagoon views, birdwatching, wildlife, wildflowers Distance: 5 mile loop Elevation change: 30 feet Difficulty level: Easy/moderate Trailhead Parking: Citie of Henricus parking area,  341 Henricus Park Road, Chester VA Website: Chesterfield County Beer Pairings: Molly’s Blind Dog Brewery—Charlie’s Brown Ale & Train Wreck IPA The Hike: Dutch Gap is a nearly 800

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Three Ridges: Reeds Gap to Tye River

Highlights: Great views, Appalachian Trail, wildflowers, stream crossings Distance: 10.8 miles one way Elevation change: 2,231 feet Difficulty level: Strenuous Trailhead Parking: Reeds (Reids) Gap, Beech Grove Road, route 664 and Blue Ridge Parkway Website: AllTrails Beer Pairings: Wild Wolf Brewery—Nelsonite Brown Ale & Notorious H.O.P. IPA The Hike: Several of our friends have hiked

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Fortune’s Cove Preserve

Highlights: Mountain views, wildlife, wildflowers, stream crossings Distance: 3.7 miles loop Elevation change: 790 feet Difficulty level: Easy/Moderate Trailhead Parking: Route 651, Fortune’s Cove Lane, Lovingston VA Website: Fortune’s Cove Preserve  Beer Pairings: Wood Ridge Farm Brewery—Hop Notch IPA & Mr. Brown Stout The Hike: Fortune’s Cove is a hidden gem located about 40 miles

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Lewis Falls & Blackrock

Highlights: Waterfalls, views, wildflowers, wildlife Distance: 3.3 mile loop Elevation change: 990 feet Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: Big Meadows Lodge parking area, Skyline Drive mile 51, park fee required Website: Shenandoah National Park Beer Pairings: Big Meadows Lodge—Fresh Squeezed IPA by Deschutes Brewery & Amber Lager by Skipping Rock Beer Co. The Hike: This

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York River State Park

Highlights: River and marsh views, birdwatching, wildflowers Distance: 6.7 miles out and back Elevation change: 257 feet Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: York River State Park Visitor Center, 9801 York River Park Rd., Williamsburg, VA park fee required  Website: York River State Park Beer Pairings: Talleysville Brewing Co.—Broken Post Pilsner & Pinch Point APA The

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AT: Beagle Gap to Calf Mountain Shelter

Highlights: Meadows, views, wildlife, birdwatching, wildflowers, AT shelter Distance: 4.9 miles out and back Elevation change: 821 feet Difficulty level: Moderate Trailhead Parking: Beagle Gap parking area, Skyline Drive mile 99.5, park fee required Website: Hiking Upward Beer Pairings: Dr. Ho’s Humble Pie—Skipping Rock Kolsch & Blue Mountain Full Nelson The Hike: This hike follows

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