Hiking is a great way to spend family time outdoors enjoying nature in any season. Spring hiking offers the opportunity to see spring flowers along the way. You'll also enjoy cooler temperatures than later in the year.
Check out the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid event calendar any time for all of the best local and virtual events. Find Your Family Fun® with a springtime hike in the Lynchburg area:
Multipurpose Hiking and Biking Trails
Blackwater Creek Bikeway: This is one of the most popular hiking and biking trails in Lynchburg. Public parking is available at both the Ed Page entrance off Langhorne Road and the East Randolph Place entrance off Rivermont Avenue. The 3-mile paved trail is perfect for jogging, walking, or biking. Beginning at the Ed Page entrance, it’s about three miles to the entrance to the RiverWalk Trail, or approximately two miles before reaching the Point of Honor Trail Section.
Percival's Island Natural Area and RiverWalk Trail: Beginning where the Blackwater Creek Trail ends on Jefferson Street, RiverWalk first travels along Riverfront Park through historic downtown Lynchburg. The multi-use trail then crosses onto Percival’s Island, a beautiful natural area with a paved trail and earthen trails criss-crossing its length. Hollins Mill Tunnel, a popular spot with families, is located approximately one mile from the RiverWalk Trail trailhead.
Peaks View Park Ivy Creek Greenway: The Ivy Creek Greenway is a 1.75 mile multi-use, paved, linear trail that passes through Peaks View Park on the lower level (Ardmore Drive Entrance). This trail includes flat sections, easy enough for the youngest hikers and cyclists.
Peaks View Park Bill Foot Recreation Area Trails: Numerous unpaved hiking and mountain biking trails are located within the recreation area. Mountain bike trails range from easy to difficult, with choices for beginners and experienced riders.
Riverside Park: Riverside Park is one of Lynchburg's favorite parks. Paved walking and biking trails provide scenic views throughout the park. Park at the fully accessible train-themed playground. Ride past the transportation exhibit, which includes a train locomotive, tender, and caboose, the Fink Deck Truss Bridge, which is a national engineering landmark, and the hull of the packet boat, Marshall.
Hollins Mill Park and Point of Honor Trail: Hollins Mill Park provides large shade trees, picnic areas, fishing access, a canoe launch, and views of Blackwater Creek and historic Hollins Mill Dam. Follow the paved trails to the Blackwater Creek Bikeway, including the Point of Honor Trail section.
Riveredge Park, Madison Heights: Located at 150 Rocky Hill Road in Madison Heights, Riveredge Park is just across the James River from Downtown Lynchburg. In addition to a paved biking trail, the park offers seasonal kayak and canoe rentals, a boat ramp, fishing access, a picnic area, and a children's playground.
Falling Creek Park, Bedford: Falling Creek Park is located approximately one mile from US Rt. 460 on Falling Creek Rd. behind the Bedford County Nursing Home. The 10 mile trail network in the park is designed for hiking, mountain biking and trail running. The trails vary in difficulty from easy to advanced. In addition, mountain bikers will love Falling Creek Bike Park, designed for all skill levels of mountain bikers and BMX riders.
New London Tech Trails, Forest: Located in the New London Business and Technology Center park in Forest (off US Rt 460 west of New London Elementary School), multiple trails have been created in the park, making it a destination for beginner trail runners and cyclists alike. There's also an 18-hole, pro-level disc golf course which opened in 2021.
Easy Family Hikes
Our family's favorite Lynchburg unpaved hiking trail is Creekside Trail, easily accessible from the Blackwater Creek Bikeway and other locations in Lynchburg. However, a section of Creekside Trail is currently closed due to a large hole which opened up between the Elk Trail and Ivy Creek swinging bridge in May 2018. Additional damage and erosion caused by torrential flooding struck the trail in August 2018.
The Lake Trail is located at Ivy Creek Park, located at 118 Clemmons Lake Place in Lynchburg. The primary portion of the trail, which begins at the parking lot, is ADA compliant. The paved trail ends at a boardwalk which crosses a small wetland area. The remainder of the trail winds through the woods before re-joining the paved section.
Indian Gap at MP 47.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a favorite stop for kids. A 10-minute hike in the woods brings you to the Indian Rocks, giant boulder formations perfect for family photos.
Otter Lake at MP 63.1 on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a small fishing lake. Walk down the stairs in the parking area and you'll find a shallow creek to hike across using stepping stones. A short hike up the trail brings you to a kid-sized cave. Retrace your steps or continue on the loop trail around the lake.
Take the James River Trail at the James River Visitor Center at MP 63.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway for an easy walk across a long bridge over the James River to the restored James River and Kanawha Canal Lock exhibit.
Thunder Ridge Trail at MP 74.7 on the Blue Ridge Parkway rewards your short hike with excellent views of Arnold Valley from a scenic rock overlook. This is a perfect location for family photos during any season.
Abbott Lake Trail at MP 85.7 and Elk Run Trail at MP 85.9 are both located near the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Enjoy an easy hike around Abbott Lake or a wooded hike on Elk Run Trail.
Moderate Family Hikes
The Alpine Trail, located in Riverside Park, offers views of the James River as you hike. The Alpine Trail, built during the 1920s and 1930s, was the first walking trail developed in a Lynchburg park. Trailheads are local just past the Overlook behind the Sprayground play area and near the Fink Deck Truss Bridge.
James River Footbridge to Matt's Creek Shelter and back is a 4 mile hike. To reach the parking lot from Lynchburg and other points south, take US 501 north. Turn left at the north end of the bridge after you cross the James River to continue on US 501. Trail parking is on the left, just past Virginia State Route 812.
Otter Creek Trail begins at MP 60.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Otter Creek Campground. The 3.5-mile hike follows the creek from the campground through the woods to the James River Visitor Center.
The Trail of Trees begins near the James River Visitor Center at MP 63.6 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Signs along the trail identify many species of trees and shrubs native to the valley.
Access the Fallingwater Cascades National Recreation Trail from either the Fallingwater Cascades parking area at MP 83.1 or the Flat Top parking area at MP 83.5, both just north of the Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenic loop trail offers views of the falls, benches along the trail, footbridges and lots of photo opportunities.
Johnson Farm Loop Trail begins at MP 85.9 at the Peaks of Otter Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Follow the signs through the woods to the restored Johnson Farm, which offers seasonal living history demonstrations.
Crabtree Falls is located about an hour from Lynchburg in the George Washington National Forest in Nelson County. There are five major cascades in the falls, one of the tallest sets of waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. A short walk from the parking lot brings you to the bottom of the falls. It's 2.8 miles to the top of the falls and back, with several stopping points along the way. To get to Crabtree Falls, take Route 29 North, turn left on Route 151 North just past Amherst, then left on Route 56 West and follow the signs to the parking area. From the Blue Ridge Parkway (MP 27), take Route 56 East for 6.3 miles.
Strenuous Family Hikes
Apple Orchard Falls Trail at MP 78.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Recreation Trail starting at Sunset Field Overlook and leading to Apple Orchard Falls. The views of the falls are well worth the hike. Although the hiking distance is relatively short, the return trip is all uphill so pace yourselves.
Sharp Top Trail is one of the most popular hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Start at MP 86.0 for the 1.5-mile hike to the top of Sharp Top Mountain, where you'll enjoy 360-degree panoramic views. If you're feeling adventurous, climb on the giant boulders. There's a shelter near the top of the mountain for overnight hikers.
Devil's Marbleyard can be hiked as an out-and-back 3-mile hike or a longer (8+ mile) loop hike. Whichever way you choose to hike, the reward is the 'marbleyard' which is filled with giant Antietam Quartzite boulders, some as big as cars. You can access this trail from the Blue Ridge Parkway, but you'll be traveling on a very narrow, very bumpy fire road. You can also access the Petites Gap Parking area from Natural Bridge Station. Be aware that cars not parked in the parking area are subject to towing.
Check out our guide to Hiking Off the Blue Ridge Parkway to find Parkway hikes for all ages and abilities. Find the best family-friendly local events on the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid event calendar any time.
***NOTE*** - The Blue Ridge Parkway closes for snow and ice, so check the Blue Ridge Parkway road closures website before you head out!
Head a little farther north to the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and discover 10 Awesome Hikes in Shenandoah National Park. From mountaintop views to waterfalls, there's a hike for everyone in Shenandoah National Park.
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