Appalachian Trail Corridor · Damascus to Harpers Ferry · Hiking · Point to point
Appalachian Trail — Virginia Sections
About 550 miles of the AT across Virginia, split into planned sections with shelters, water, and towns.
- Distance
- 557.5mi
- Climb (listed)
- Not on file
- Time (hiking est.)
- Your call
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Terrain
- RockyRidgeline
The route
Where it is
No route line is on file for this trail yet, so the map shows the trailhead only. Trailfinder publishes lines only when they can be assembled from OpenStreetMap and checked against the agency distance.
What it feels like
What it feels like
A 557.5-mile corridor you sample rather than finish: pick a trailhead, go out as far as the day allows, and turn around. Rocky tread that slows every step.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- No fee for the Appalachian Trail itself — NPS states an entrance pass is not required to access the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. However, Virginia A.T. sections running through Shenandoah National Park require a park entrance fee, and NPS states this applies to people hiking in from the park boundary, not just drivers on Skyline Drive. Shenandoah entrance fees: $30.00 private vehicle (unlimited entry for the vehicle and all passengers, seven consecutive days from purchase); $25.00 motorcycle (valid 7 days); $15.00 per person for walk-up or bicycle entry, age 16 and older (children under 16 free); $55.00 annual park entrance pass (one year, pass holder plus passengers in the same vehicle, up to 4 adults). Shenandoah went fully cashless on July 1, 2025 and accepts only mobile or electronic payment for entrance and campground fees; passes can also be bought online through Recreation.gov or from third-party vendors in nearby towns that accept cash. Camping fees are separate from the entrance pass.
- Permits
- Backcountry camping rules differ by managing agency. Shenandoah National Park requires a backcountry permit for overnight trips, and since January 2024 the permit must be bought in advance through Recreation.gov (recreation.gov/permits/4675336) or by phone at 877-444-6777. The cost is $9 per person plus a $6 reservation fee, bookable up to 90 days ahead or on the day the trip starts. Permits are no longer issued in person or at in-park self-registration stations. When booking, A.T. thru-hikers can identify themselves as such, which covers a 14-day window and removes the need to name a specific camping zone for each night. Group size is capped at 10, permits run to a maximum of 14 consecutive nights, and no more than 2 consecutive nights at one site.
- Hours
- Not on file
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Spring reliability varies by season and section. Treat all water.
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
How hard it will feel
Difficulty, explained
Hard
Ranges from gentle valley walking to sustained rocky climbs. Difficulty depends entirely on the section chosen.
Commitment is up to you: turn around whenever you like on a long, level corridor.
- Distance
- +0
- A 557.5 mi corridor you can join for as little or as much as you like.
- Climb
- —
- Elevation gain not on file.
- Footing
- +2
- Rocky tread slows every step and needs attention on the descent.
- Technicality
- +0
- Nothing technical recorded; walking the whole way.
- Exposure
- —
- Exposure not on file.
Our reading (Easy) differs from the agency's (Hard). The agency knows its trail; the breakdown shows which factor moved ours.
Commitment
How long it takes
This is a corridor you join for as long as you like, so there is no honest total. Plan with a pace instead:
- Hiking:
- ~27 min per mile
- Running:
- ~13 min per mile
Terrain
Underfoot
- Surface
- Dirt, Rocky
- Technicality
- Rocky tread; no scrambling recorded
- Crossings
- None recorded
- Exposure
- Not on file
Recorded hazards
- Remote terrain
- Lightning on exposed ridges
- Rapid weather change
- Water scarcity in late summer
What you'll see
On the record
- Longest state section of the AT
- Shelters roughly every 8-12 miles
- Excellent trail towns
Setting on file: Mountain, Ridgeline, Forest.
When to go
Seasonal character
Appalachian Trail CorridorThe northbound thru-hiker bubble passes through Virginia from April into June. Summer is humid with afternoon storms; fall is the most stable hiking weather of the year.
General seasonal character, not a live condition report. Check the agency's alerts page for closures.
Who it fits
Is this for you?
- Runners
- Yes, running is supported
- Families
- Not recommended for young children
- Strollers
- Not stroller friendly
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Accessibility
- No notes on file
- Experience
- Experienced hikers; fitness and footing matter
The long version
About this route
Virginia carries more Appalachian Trail mileage than any other state. Rather than treating it as one route, this directory breaks the Virginia AT into planned sections with access points, shelters, water sources, resupply, and shuttle notes.
Use the Appalachian Trail guide for section-by-section detail. Distances and facility information change; always confirm against the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the managing agency before a trip.
WildlifeBlack bears throughout. Use proper food storage every night. Wildlife guide
If not this one
Related, and why
Roanoke & the New River Valley
McAfee Knob
- Distance
- 8mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,415ft
- Time (agency)
- ~5h
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
Shorter version · 8 mi if time is short.
Shenandoah Valley
Chessie Nature Trail
- Distance
- 7mi
- Elevation gain
- 48ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~2h43
- Crushed stone
- Riverside
Nearby · 14 mi from this trailhead.
Shenandoah Valley
Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve
- Distance
- 3.5mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~1h36
- Scramble
- Ridgeline
Nearby · 24 mi from this trailhead.
Charlottesville & the Blue Ridge
Crabtree Falls
- Distance
- 2.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,069ft
- Time (agency)
- ~2h45
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Waterfall
Nearby · 29 mi from this trailhead.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- No fee for the Appalachian Trail itself — NPS states an entrance pass is not required to access the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. However, Virginia A.T. sections running through Shenandoah National Park require a park entrance fee, and NPS states this applies to people hiking in from the park boundary, not just drivers on Skyline Drive. Shenandoah entrance fees: $30.00 private vehicle (unlimited entry for the vehicle and all passengers, seven consecutive days from purchase); $25.00 motorcycle (valid 7 days); $15.00 per person for walk-up or bicycle entry, age 16 and older (children under 16 free); $55.00 annual park entrance pass (one year, pass holder plus passengers in the same vehicle, up to 4 adults). Shenandoah went fully cashless on July 1, 2025 and accepts only mobile or electronic payment for entrance and campground fees; passes can also be bought online through Recreation.gov or from third-party vendors in nearby towns that accept cash. Camping fees are separate from the entrance pass.
- Permits
- Backcountry camping rules differ by managing agency. Shenandoah National Park requires a backcountry permit for overnight trips, and since January 2024 the permit must be bought in advance through Recreation.gov (recreation.gov/permits/4675336) or by phone at 877-444-6777. The cost is $9 per person plus a $6 reservation fee, bookable up to 90 days ahead or on the day the trip starts. Permits are no longer issued in person or at in-park self-registration stations. When booking, A.T. thru-hikers can identify themselves as such, which covers a 14-day window and removes the need to name a specific camping zone for each night. Group size is capped at 10, permits run to a maximum of 14 consecutive nights, and no more than 2 consecutive nights at one site.
- Hours
- Not on file
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Spring reliability varies by season and section. Treat all water.
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
Provenance
- Facts:
- verified against the managing agency · last checked August 29, 2026.
- Readings:
- anything marked Trailfinder reading is derived by Trailfinder from those sources, not published by the agency.
Before you go: Trail conditions, access rules, weather, water availability, and closures can change. Check the linked official source before leaving and choose a route appropriate for your experience and current conditions.