Madison County: Hiking Trails, History and Wine

At Old Rag Mountain, challenging rock-scrambling sections are part of the hikes; at the top, 360-degree panoramic views await. But you can also plan a trip to Madison County around historic sites, the landscape of Shenandoah National Park and wineries with tastings. Consider whether longer hikes, cultural history or food and wine experiences should be the focus of your days.

Hikes for Different Ability Levels

The trails at Old Rag Mountain combine significant elevation gain with a strenuous rock-scrambling section. If you choose these hikes, take their physical demands into account when planning your day. The route to Upper Whiteoak Falls also calls for careful route selection: the shortest round trip on the Whiteoak Trail is 4.6 miles and includes more than 1,000 feet of rocky elevation change. The falls plunge 86 feet there. The distance and elevation change give a concrete sense of what this hike involves.

There are different ways to plan a hike to Rapidan Camp. One recommended hiking route leads from the Milam Gap parking area to the camp over four miles. Ranger-led tours with a shuttle from the Byrd Visitor Center are also offered; participation requires a reservation. This gives you the choice between a hike and a guided tour with a shuttle.

Getting Around Shenandoah National Park

From Madison, follow Route 231 and Route 602 to reach the Old Rag parking area. Another way to get your bearings is Skyline Drive: it runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park and is the only public road through the park. The mile markers along the drive help you find areas of interest in the park.

Water also shapes the park landscape: Shenandoah National Park includes more than 90 mountain streams, over 70 of which contain fish. The Rapidan Wildlife Management Area extends across Madison County and Greene County. Opportunities there include horseback riding, hiking, hunting and fishing. The park’s streams and the management area’s variety of activities offer different ways to enjoy days in nature.

Historic Places and Traces of the Past

Since 1793, the town of Madison has served as the county seat and economic center of Madison County. The Madison County Courthouse Historic District preserves a late-19th-century commercial center and several Victorian homes. Hebron Lutheran Church dates to 1740 and is considered America’s oldest continuously used Lutheran place of worship.

James City connects local history with events of the Civil War. Founded in 1796, it had Madison County’s second post office by 1810. On October 10, 1863, James City was the site of an artillery engagement between Confederate and Union troops. The James City Historic District comprises 14 buildings that once made up the small trading center in the northern part of the county.

The buildings and memorials at Criglersville Elementary School offer further historical insights. The property includes three historically intact buildings and a roadside monument to people displaced during the creation of Shenandoah National Park. The Mountain Museum of the Madison County Historical Society is housed in the former home economics building. Camp Hoover was developed between 1929 and 1932 as President Herbert Hoover and First Lady Lou Henry Hoover’s “Summer White House” on a 164-acre property they owned.

Wine, Tastings and Trail Rides

In Etlan, Blue Quartz Winery and Shotwell Run Brewing Company share a tasting room and taproom with views of Old Rag Mountain. Early Mountain Vineyards covers more than 300 acres along the historic Monticello Wine Trail and has a tasting room. Regional food is served daily at the Marketplace. These places combine tastings with different ways to experience winegrowing and local cuisine.

Other offerings have their own distinct focus: DuCard Vineyards offers small-group tours of its vineyards, highlighting the grape-growing practices used there. At Blue Quartz Winery, Fieldstone Trails offers guided horseback rides. Prince Michel Vineyard & Tap 29 Brewery has a self-guided tour of its winemaking facility followed by a wine tasting. At Revalation Vineyards, tastings take place on the porch of an 1830 log cabin, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Discover More Destinations

Syria, Hood, Accomack County, Shenandoah Valley, Essex County, King George, Lynchburg, Wise County

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