Roanoke Outdoor Adventures

Outdoor Adventures in Virginia's Blue Ridge

The majestic mountains provide a scenic backdrop for all the outdoor adventures in the Roanoke Valley in Virginia's Blue Ridge.

But to fully enjoy your experience of over 1,000 miles of trails in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, you've got to put on some sturdy shoes and hike, bike, climb, and paddle among them.

The region has received numerous awards and accolades for our outdoor amenities, including being named a Top Mountain Town and Top Trail Town from Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.

Virginia's Blue Ridge is a Silver-Level Ride Center®, designated by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). As the only place in the eastern half of the country with this designation, Virginia's Blue Ridge is America's East Coast Mountain Biking Capital!

The Roanoke Valley was named one of the ten most bike-friendly areas in the United States by USA Today Travel and our mountain biking has been featured by internationally-known outlets such as Pinkbike, Singletracks, Men's Journal, and Mpora. The popular Carvins Cove is regarded as a bucket list trail system for mountain bikers from around the world.

Interested in hiking? Roanoke is the largest city on the Appalachian Trail, and the local trio of Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs has become collectively known as the Triple Crown of Virginia - showcasing three of the most beautiful summits of the A.T.

The region is home to the Blue Ridge Parkway, regarded as "America's Favorite Drive" because of its spectacular beauty, Smith Mountain Lake - the "Jewel of the Blue Ridge," and amazing Virginia State Parks.

You can also explore the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, which feature an assortment of options for hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, and camping.

With championship fishing, beautiful rivers for kayaking and canoeing, perfect spots for birding and wildlife watching, awesome disc golf courses, hiking trails with stunning panoramic views and challenging mountain biking trails, we've got a little bit of everything outdoor-related in Virginia's Blue Ridge.

We also feature a pet-friendly section full of activities you can enjoy with your pet in Virginia's Blue Ridge, as well as a list of kid-friendly outdoor experiences for your younger Trailsetters!

Start planning your trip now to enjoy all the following:

Bring your favorite energy bar. You're going to need it with all the outdoor adventures you'll find here.

For additional ideas and resources on planning an outdoor experience in the region, check out Roanoke Outside.

The following is a comprehensive list of all the outdoor-related activities you can enjoy in Virginia's Blue Ridge.