Wildflowers and ferns can be found along the way on many of the hiking trailing in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are some trails, however, Mother Nature favors over others.
The trails are open to the public.
Distance: 0.7 miles (loop).
Difficulty Level: easy. 🟢
Time: 0.5 hour.
Elevation Change: 30 ft.
Key Features: wetlands, streams, family-friendly.
Blaze Color: blue.
Access: Parking lot off of Towee Court.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.8 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: difficult. ◆
Time: 1 hour.
Elevation Change: 370 ft.
Key Features: rocky, wildflowers, geology.
Blaze Color: red.
Access: The closest access to the eastern end of the trail is from the 0.4-mile Pedlars Edge Access Trail off of Blackrock Circle. The closest access to the western edge is from Blackrock Park via the Plunge Trail.
• Google Maps directions to parking area on the western end.
• Google Maps directions to Blackrock Park.
Distance: 0.7 miles (one way).
Blaze Color: yellow.
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Elevation Change: 580 ft.
Time: 1 hour.
Key Features: scenic vista, hiking, wildflowers, rocky, forest.
Access: Parking is at the resort’s Discovery Center parking lot.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 1.1 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 1 hour.
Elevation Change: 250 ft.
Key Features: rocky, wildflowers, stream.
Blaze Color: red.
Access: Closest access is the Chestnut Park Access Trail (limited shoulder parking).
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.6 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 0.5 - 1 hour.
Elevation Change: 200 ft.
Key Features: rocky, winter views, highest elevation, birdwatching.
Blaze Color: red.
Access: Park at the Devils Knob Overlook.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 1.1 miles (one-way).
Difficulty Level: moderately difficult. ◆
Time: 0.5 -1 hours.
Elevation Change: 510'gain/260’loss.(starting at Fortunes Ridge Drive)
Key Features: waterfalls, hiking, dense forest, stream.
Blaze Color: red.
Access: Closest access is from the intersection of Fortunes Ridge Dr and Wintergreen Dr. (Limited parking, 1-2 cars)
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.8 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 0.5 - 1.0 hours.
Elevation Change: 370 ft.
Key Features: rocky, wildflowers, streams.
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: Parking is at the resort’s Discovery Center/Snow Tubing parking lot.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.5 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: easy to moderate. 🟦
Time: 0.5 hours.
Elevation Change: 10 ft. gain/200 ft. loss.
Key Features: viewpoint, easy access, stairs
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: Parking is available at Wintergreen Resort’s Wintergarden parking lot. Parking and access is also at the Founders Overlook Access as well as the parking lots for Wintergreen Resort.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 1.6 miles (loop).
Difficulty Level: moderate to difficult. 🟦
Time: 1-2 hours.
Elevation Change: 410 ft.
Key Features: rocky, wildflowers, loop hike.
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: Access from the Wintergreen Resort Lot F.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 2.0 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: easy to moderate. 🟦
Time: 1 hour.
Elevation Change: 240 ft gain/750 ft loss.
Key Features: wildflowers, birdwatching, family-friendly.
Blaze Color: Yellow/Red.
Access: Access at the southern end is at the Discover Ridge Parking area.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 1.7 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 1-2 hours.
Elevation Change: 700 ft.
Key Features: waterfall, streams, wildflowers, family friendly.
Blaze Color: blue.
Access: Parking at the end of Old Stoney Creek Road (at gate).
Google map directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.3 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 0.5 hours.
Elevation Change: 180 ft.
Key Features: waterfall, rocky.
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: Closest access is from the Laurel Springs Access Trail on Laurel Springs Drive.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 3.0 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: easy to moderate. 🟦
Time: 2-3 hours.
Elevation Change: 800 ft./260 ft.
Key Features: rocky, wildflowers, fungi, scenic views.
Blaze Color: red.
Access: The north end is accessed at the Old AT Access on Laurel Springs Road. The south end is accessed on Cedar Drive.
Google Maps directions to parking area at the north end.
Distance: 0.6 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 0.5 hour.
Elevation Change: 30 ft.
Key Features: waterfall, streams, family-friendly.
Blaze Color: blue.
Access: Parking on Pauls Creek Court.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 1.0 mile (one way).
Difficulty Level: most difficult. ◆◆
Time: 1-1.5 hours.
Elevation Change: 750 ft.
Key Features: rocky, geology.
Blaze Color: red.
Access: Southern end of the trail is accessed from Fortune Ridge Road. The northern end of the trail is accessed from the Devils Knob trail and the White Oak trail.
Google Maps directions to the limited parking at the trailhead on Fortune Ridge Road.
Distance: 0.3 miles (loop trail).
Difficulty Level: easy. 🟢
Time: 0.5 to 1 hour.
Elevation Gain: 42 ft.
Key Features: streams, hiking, wildflowers, birding, family-friendly, forest, loop hike.
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: The trail can be accessed from a small parking lot (4-6 cars) located at the corner of Blue Ridge Drive and Shamokin Springs Road.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.9 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: easy. 🟢
Time: 1-2 hours.
Elevation Change: flat.
Key Features: streams, wildflowers, family friendly, paved, flat, picnic.
Blaze Color: blue.
Access: Parking is off of Stoney Creek West, 1/10th of a mile past Creekside Close on the left side of the road.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.1 miles.
Difficulty Level: easy. 🟢
Time: 15 minutes.
Elevation Change: none.
Key Features: wildflowers, family-friendly.
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: Park at the Trillium House parking lot. On the corner of Wintergreen Drive and Devils Knob Loop.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.8 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: difficult. ◆
Time: 1.0 hours.
Elevation Change: 270 ft.
Key Features: rocky, streams, challenging.
Blaze Color: red.
Access: Access the trail from the Old Appalachian Trail. Park at the Old AT Access on Laurel Springs Road.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.4 miles (one-way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 0.5 hours.
Elevation Change: 240 ft.
Key Features: waterfalls, hiking, wildflowers, rocky.
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: Closest access is on Laurel Springs Drive from the Laurel Springs Access Trail.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Distance: 0.5 miles (one way).
Difficulty Level: moderate. 🟦
Time: 30 minutes.
Elevation Change: 150 ft.
Key Features: wildflowers, rocky, birding.
Blaze Color: yellow.
Access: Park at Founders Vision Overlook for access to north end of trail.
Google Maps directions to parking area.
Wintergreen has over 30 miles of mountain and valley trails,
from extra easy to very challenging
Paper trail maps make for a more safe and enjoyable hike at Wintergreen. Maps are available at Wintergreen Resort's Mountain Inn and the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen.
While Wintergreen is a resort community, know that the many of the mountain and valley trails here–like most trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains–insist on being taken seriously.
It’s wise to have serious footwear as no path is perfect. A serious respect for the wildlife (both big and tiny, plant and animal) is also smart. The weather is a different force among the mountains that deserves extra consideration. Allow plenty of time for your hikes so as to be more safe and to also fully enjoy the trails. Don’t rush. Be alert. Take care when walking in Wintergreen’s wilderness, which starts and ends with your first and last step on any trail.
The best way for people and pets to avoid ticks is to stick to paths or trails that are wide and sunlit, according to the Center for Disease Control.
Go to the interactive Google map of Wintergreen hiking trails here.
Guided hikes are offered by the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen on most Saturdays, with an additional hikes during the fall and summer. Find out more HERE.
You hike at your own risk.
Therefore,…
Be aware that the weather can change rapidly.
Do not hike alone.
Do not underestimate the terrain.
Carry drinking water and a snack.
Be aware of wildlife and respect its space.
Wear proper attire, including footwear.
Carry a hiking map.
Stay on marked trails.
Be aware of your limitations.
Carry a cellphone, but know that coverage is not everywhere.
Most of the trails are open in the winter, but just a little snow and ice can make even easy trails treacherous.
What's that bird?
Check in with the most recent Wintergreen area eBird reports on the links here; click on the name of the bird species on the list to see a photo.
• The Wintergreen Nature Foundation's Trillium House bird sightings
• Spruce Creek Park bird sightings
• more Wintergreen area eBird reports
eBird is the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year by eBirders around the world. Learn more
The Wintergreen Sporting Club’s Hiking group explores hiking opportunities in the central Virginia area. The group’s hikes will vary from easy to challenging, long and short. Learn more.
