What is better than waking up in the morning and deciding to go on a hike? Honestly nothing. Hiking gets your mind off of some things, but also helps you exercise. I love hiking. I may complain about the way up, but I usually shut up once I see the view that I was looking forward to seeing.
If you live in Southwest Virginia these are the best day hikes to go to:
1. McAfee's Knob (Catawba, VA)
This is one popular place to get your picture taken after completing the 4.4-mile hike up. Trust me the views are amazing, but be careful not to fall off. If you hike on the weekend make sure to check out the Homeplace restaurant that is right down the road for some delicious food.
2. Buffalo Mountain (Floyd, VA)
This is a steep one-mile hike up to the summit. At the summit, you can go and explore at the top and see almost all of the surrounding area from where you are at.
3. Devils Marbleyard (Natural Bridge, VA)
If you are a klutz be cautious on this 3-mile hike. You will encounter walking on rock fields and climbing up the rocks. If you climb to the very top you get great views of the surrounding areas, but the boulder at the top is what the climb is about.
4. Cascade Falls (Pembroke, VA)
A flat 4-mile moderate hike to a 66-foot waterfall, so make sure to bring a bathing suit to cool off. Make sure you bring cash because there is a parking fee of $3.00.
5. St. Mary's Falls (Raphine, VA)
I went here recently and the falls were beautiful. I had a hard time with the paths and how they were marked. It took about 2-3 miles to get to the falls [but probably because we couldn't find the path]. Make sure to bring a bathing suit as well, the deepest part of the swimming area is around 8 feet!
6. Dragon's Tooth (Catawba, VA)
After a 1-mile hike up, there is a 1-mile is rock climbing portion. The rock climbing part isn't too extreme, but still be careful if you are a klutz. At the top, you can climb up on to the "tooth" and snap some pictures. There are ideal places to Eno at the top, meaning bring one if you have one.
These are my 6 favorites in SWVA. I recommend to go and check these hikes out. It's a fun way to better yourself! And don't forget to take a selfie at the top!
