Easy Hikes

Easy

This trail can be accessed from the parking area off Hale Lake Road or from the Comers Rock Campground. It’s an easy climb up some rock steps to the top where you can enjoy breathtaking views north toward Rural Retreat and south overlooking the Elk Creek valley. 

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

3714 Highway 16
Marion, Virginia 24354
800-628-7202

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73909

Easy

This short walk begins just behind Big Walker Country Store on the Walker Mountain Trail. The trail climbs up to the ridgetop to Monster Rock, a large rock outcrop that provides a nice view of the mountains and valleys to the north. If have time and are in for more adventure continue the Walker Mountain Trail out the ridgeline. This trail is lightly used and not well marked so take care to make sure you stay on the trail. 

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

3714 Highway 16
Marion, Virginia 24354
800-628-7202

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73909

Easy

From Austinville to Foster Falls you will see the historic New River start moving faster as the river gradient increases creating small riffles and rapids. Along this section of trail, you will travel through a tunnel and 3.6 miles from Austinville you will pass the historic Shot Tower. It will be on the right up on the ridge. Finally, you will arrive at Foster Falls, be sure to check out the class III-IV rapid and picturesque cliffs that make up Foster Falls.

New River Trail State Park
116 Orphanage Drive 
Max Meadows, Virginia 24360

276-699-6778

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/new-river-trail

Easy

After leaving Foster Falls the trail travels through some beautiful wooded areas and past an old mine shaft above the river. Keep a keen eye out for folks riding horses and yield the right of way.

New River Trail State Park
116 Orphanage Drive 
Max Meadows, Virginia 24360

276-699-6778

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/new-river-trail

Easy

The Stephen F. Austin Memorial Park and monument honoring Stephen F. Austin who was known as the “Father of Texas” is just down the hill from the Austinville access point.

New River Trail State Park

116 Orphanage Drive 
Max Meadows, Virginia 24360
276-699-6778

https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/new-river-trail

Easy

Raven Cliff Recreation Area has a small primitive campground, picnic area, and a day use area with large open fields. The Raven Cliff Furnace trail meanders along Cripple Creek to the 1810 iron ore furnace. You can’t miss the roughly 30’ tall trapezoidal structure on your right. The furnace was built from sandstone that was cut from the nearby rock.

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area

3714 Highway 16
Marion, Virginia 24354
800-628-7202

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gwj/recarea/?recid=73909

Easy

This is a great trail to stretch your legs on if you are short on time or have little ones that need to burn off energy. Take the right leg of the Crystal Springs Loop trail from the parking area, the trail will cross the creek and a small stream before passing the group campsite/picnic area. Just past the picnic area/group campsite you will take the trail to the left, Salamander Meander. Just past the next creek crossing you can take the Crystal Springs Loop trail back to the parking area.

Crystal Springs is an 1,800-acre recreation area offering hiking, mountain biking, camping, backpacking, picnicking, and a Kids in Parks TRACK Trail just three miles from Downtown Wytheville. The thirteen miles of hiking and mountain biking trails range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. The newly built Terrain Park gives the intermediate to experienced mountain biker a fun place to practice on balance beams, teeter totters, rock gardens, log crossings, and other obstacles. There is a lot of history tucked away in the mountains that make up Crystal Springs. Prior to the Town of Wytheville acquiring the property, families farmed and logged the land. Piles of rocks that were cleared from the fields by farmers still stand along Woodpecker Run trail as testament to how difficult farming in the mountains could be. The Short Cut trail and the southern portion of the Boundary trail follow and old wagon road that crossed Lick Mountain. Stories passed through the generations tell of moonshiners using this road to move their product out of the sight of law enforcement. In the 1930’s, the Town of Wytheville purchased the land to preserve the watershed, which flowed to the town, and to build a water reservoir. The reservoir remains and is approximately 60 square feet and 8 feet deep, although years of erosion have fill it with sediment. Hike the Crystal Springs Loop trail to see the remnants of the reservoir. Along the Waterline trail you can see sections of the water pipe that carried water from the reservoir down the valley. Evidence of the past is scattered all throughout Crystal Springs, but you will have to look closely as it is now camouflaged by mother nature.

723 Pump Hollow Road
Wytheville, Virginia 24382
276-223-3368

https://www.wytheville.org/recreation/crystalsprings.php