Clarke County: Trails, Nature and History

Clarke County appeals to travelers who want to include nature and history in their travel plans. Destinations vary in trail length, surface and historical focus.

Trails and outdoor activities

The Appalachian Trail runs for 22 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Clarke County. At Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield, there are more than five miles of paved trails for walking, running and cycling. This offers a long section of trail and paved paths for three specific activities as different planning options.

Chet Hobert Park adds a two-mile fitness trail to the options. At the park’s outdoor pool, the shallow area has step-free access with no entry lip.

Nature and wildlife watching

The State Arboretum of Virginia occupies the central 172 acres of Blandy Experimental Farm. At Cool Spring, visitors can see a colony of great blue herons; there are also bald eagle nests there. Seasonal sightings may vary. If wildlife watching is your main focus, take these fluctuations into account when planning. The arboretum and the wildlife at Cool Spring offer different nature themes for your stay.

Historic places and their stories

Burwell-Morgan Mill was built in 1785 as a high-capacity industrial facility and served as an anchor for a thriving trading community. It is listed in both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The mill therefore brings together an industrial and commercial history with lasting landmark status.

The story of Josephine City School turns to education and Clarke County’s African American community. Formerly enslaved people and free Black residents built the school in 1882 to provide their children with an elementary education. The original Josephine City School is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2003, the Josephine School Community Museum became the first museum dedicated to the history of Clarke County’s African American community.

Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield also has a Civil War connection: its 195 acres played an important role in the Battle of Cool Spring on July 18, 1864. Here, the history of the battlefield and today’s paved trails for walks, runs and bike rides come together at the same named campus.

Long Branch Historic House and Farm is a historic residence dating from 1811, set on a 400-acre property in Boyce, Virginia. The grounds are open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset for picnicking, hiking and cycling. As this is an operating farm, restrictions apply; take them into account when planning a visit to the grounds.

Practical information for your visit

When approaching Blandy from Route 50, follow the paved road to an information kiosk and the main parking lot. At Barns of Rose Hill, a ramp entrance and an elevator to the concert hall on the second floor are accessible to visitors using wheelchairs or mobility aids. These details offer different kinds of guidance: specific directions to Blandy and access information for the concert hall.

Inner tubes, life jackets and a shuttle service are provided at Watermelon Park. Confirm seasonal details before you arrive.

Discover more destinations: Boyce, Spotsylvania County, Montgomery, Orange County, Carroll County, Falls Church, Mathews County, Newport News.

For the broader travel overview: Virginia.