Here’s a secret: If you want to hike in Shenandoah National Park in the fall, skip the Front Royal entrance (lines there get insane during leaf season). Instead, an easy day trip from D.C. is to drive down towards Sperryville, VA and hit the park at the Thornton Gap entrance. From here, there are a ton of great hiking options of various lengths. After your hike, head back to Sperryville for some pizza and beer (with a view!).
The length of this outing really depends on the length of your hike. It takes about 1.5 hrs to get to Sperryville from DC. From here, it’s about another 50 minutes or so to the trails below in Shenandoah. Your best bet is to leave DC by 8 am, hit the trail at 10:30 or 11, and then be back in Sperryville for a late lunch and a beer. This way you can be back in DC by dinnertime.
Tip: If you’re doing this with friends, meet and park at Rappahanock Pizza Kitchen in Sperryville and load into one car to enter the park. Cell service will be spotty from here on out, and you’ll save on entrance fees (it’s per car).
Hiking Trails
There are a few good options around this portion of the park.
Laurel Prong, Rapidan Camp, Jones Mountain Trail via Appalachian Trail is a woodsy loop that’s about 7.5 miles and usually isn’t incredibly crowded. There are a few stream crossings, some waterfalls, and a good view from a rocky outcrop near the top of the ridge.
Dark Hollow Falls Trail gets very crowded so get here early. It’s a short 1.5 mile out and back to a waterfall. This is a good trail on a hot summer day, because it’s shady and water-centric.
Sperryville Food & Drink
Tiny Sperryville is a solid little foodie town — Three Blacksmiths gets rave reviews and there are a few breweries and a distillery (Copper Fox).
Post-hike, your best bet is to swing by Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen and pick up a few ‘zas to go. Drive over to Pen Druid Brewing and set up at one of their picnic tables overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. The brewery is known for its experimental fermentation styles.
On the way out of town, stop at one of the little farm stands and pick up some peaches or apples to take back to D.C. with you.
