The weather is beautiful, and it’s time for the whole family to get out of the house for some kid-friendly hikes. The Charlottesville area is known for its beautiful outdoors, including hiking trails that are perfect for adventurers of all sizes and skill levels.
So leave the screens behind because we’ve rounded up eight of the best kid-friendly hikes around Charlottesville. Looking for a stroller-friendly trail near the downtown? Ready to clamber over mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway? We’ve got you covered.
Start with our six best tips to make hiking as a family a success. Then keep reading to find the Charlottesville hiking trail that’s perfect for your family. Happy trails!
6 Tips to Make Kid-Friendly Hikes More Fun
1. Pack snacks and drinks. Hiking is hard work for little legs, especially once the weather gets warm. A water bottle for each hiker is a must, and don’t forget to throw some snacks in your bag as well. Think variety: fruit, trail mix, and protein bars are all good for keeping your energy up. You may even want to toss in a few special treats in case your hikers need some extra motivation—or a reward to look forward to on the car ride home.
2. Watch your pace. Remember, kids aren’t going to hike at the same speed as adults. And they’re not going to have fun if they feel like they’re constantly having to catch up to you. Let your kids set the pace. If you have kids of different ages, consider hiking with friends so that groups of kids can move at different speeds.
3. Let them stop. Kids like to explore outside, so be prepared to stop for sticks, stones, flowers, frogs, and more. There’s no need to limit pauses to snacks and hydration breaks. If your kids want to toss 100 rocks into a creek, let them enjoy the time in nature their own way.
4. Choose a fun trail. How far the hike is from your house is less important than whether it’s engaging for the whole family. Look for a path with things that will be exciting to them, like rock scrambles, creek crossings, swinging bridges, wooden boardwalks, waterfalls, or swimming holes.
5. Plan for a treat. Everyone enjoys a special treat after an outdoor adventure, and the promise of something like ice cream can be enough to motivate everyone through that last tired half hour of a hike. Remember, no family outing will have 100% perfect moods; even a mostly successful hike with minimal grousing deserves a treat at the end.
6. Bring the right equipment. In addition to snacks and water, don’t forget things like bug spray, sunblock, hats, and a travel first aid kit. If you’re going somewhere with water, consider packing water shoes and a towel so you don’t have to worry about wet socks on the walk home. Having the right equipment at hand will help ensure your family want to get back outdoors next time.
Now that you’re packed and prepared, here are our best family-tested, kid-approved hikes in the Charlottesville area.
Listen In: Sage Mother Podcast
Our Publisher Jen had the joy of joining the Sage Mother Podcast for a heartfelt conversation about some of her favorite topics—gardening with kids, raising backyard chickens, and nurturing a love of the outdoors. She talked with Andrea and Kristin about simple ways families can slow down and reconnect through nature, engaging all five senses and savoring the everyday magic found right outside our doors.
Tune in here to listen: Sage Mother Podcast – Episode with Jennifer Bryerton
It’s a conversation full of encouragement for parents who want to cultivate wonder, togetherness, and a little more dirt under their fingernails.
9 Kid-Friendly Hikes Around Charlottesville
1. Ragged Mountain Natural Area (Charlottesville)
Known for: Playful wooden carvings along the trails (bears, owls, etc.)
The 980-acre Ragged Mountain Natural Area is a hidden gem near downtown Charlottesville. It’s a 10-minute drive from UVA’s Rotunda, yet this nature preserve feels worlds away. The centerpiece is the pristine 170-acre reservoir that is open to kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. It’s perfect for a kid-friendly hike. The wooded 7.0-mile Lake Front Trail runs along the perimeter of the reservoir, but there’s no need to walk the entire loop, especially with little ones (with little legs) in tow.
We suggest printing out a trail map to ensure you don’t miss any of the wooden statues. Kids will love stumbling upon these whimsical wood carvings, like owls and bears, which turn up every so often at trail junctions. Walk out to the end of the peninsulas, like Rocky Peninsula, for fantastic views across the reservoir. Note that dogs are not allowed at this nature preserve.
2. Blue Ridge Tunnel (Crozet)
Known for: Exploring the dark tunnel with headlamps and flashlights
In November 2020, the Blue Ridge Tunnel under Rockfish Gap re-opened, enabling visitors to hike through this historic railroad tunnel from the 1850s. There are two trailheads. We recommend starting at the East Trailhead in Afton, which has a large parking area and porta-potties.
Not only is it fun to walk 0.9 miles through a dark railroad tunnel, but your kids can learn how the tunnel was built and all about chief engineer, Claudius Crozet, from the educational placards along the way. In fact, the tunnel is sometimes called the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel.
Plan to bring headlamps or a flashlight for this hike through Afton Mountain, which runs 4.6 miles end to end (and back again). It gets very dark inside the tunnel, and the light from your cell phone is no match for this National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
3. Jack Albright Loop (Blue Ridge Parkway)
Known for: The remains of a small plane that crashed in the 1960s
Honestly, how often can you say you spent the afternoon (even just a few minutes) checking out the remains of a 1960s plane crash? This expedition through the forest begins at the Humpback Gap Overlook parking area on the Blue Ridge Parkway, about a 30-minute drive from Charlottesville.
The 3.8-mile loop hike begins on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail and rewards hikers within the first mile with big views across the Rockfish Valley from the Glass Hollow Overlook. A rocky outcrop makes this a perfect stop to break for a snack or a few sips of water.
Shortly, you’ll veer left for the Jack Albright Loop, but keep your eyes peeled. At the 2.5-mile mark, an unmarked (and hard-to-see) spur trail on the left leads to the years-old wreckage of the Beechcraft Bonanza. Continue looping on this trail until you return to the parking area.
4. Sugar Hollow Reservoir and Blue Hole (Albemarle County)
Known for: A really cool swimming hole
You can’t swim or paddle at the 47-acre reservoir at Sugar Hollow (fishing only), but there is a swimming hole that you’ve got to see to believe. The kid-friendly adventure begins at the parking area at the end of Sugar Hollow Road in Crozet.
Two kid-friendly hikes lead into Shenandoah National Park from this parking area. To reach the swimming hole (known as the Blue Hole), begin at the silver gate on the east side of the lot. Skip stones across the North Fork Moormans River, then gently ascend along a horse trail.
Within 1.5 miles, you’ll arrive at a small cascading waterfall and a cooling water basin that’s just right for a splash. Save some energy for the return walk to your car. The second hike begins at the red gate on the west end of the parking lot and leads to tumbling Big Branch Falls.
Does your family include a pup or two? Check out these Dog and Family-Friendly Hiking Trails in Charlottesville for even more fun outdoor adventure ideas.
5. Calvary & Chimney Rocks (Shenandoah National Park)
Known for: Flat top rocks, panoramic views, and a Junior Ranger program
If you’ve got a rock hound or two in your family, a one-hour drive from Charlottesville is all you need. Head to the Calvary and Chimney Rocks hike at Shenandoah National Park for rock scrambling at its finest. This 3.2-mile out-and-back hike is a two-for-one deal, exposing inquisitive hikers to both Calvary and Chimney Rocks.
This hike is actually more like a three-for-one deal given all the large and mid-size rocks you’ll see as you walk through a talus slope (essentially, a rock slide) at the mid-way point of this hike. Then, you’ll reach Calvary Rocks, a wonderland of gigantic rocks to scramble for wide-open vistas.
Chimney Rock is a scenic overlook with lots of flat top rocks. There are really big views there, too. Plan to settle in for a snack and water break. And before you start your hike, stop in Loft Mountain Wayside to pick up a Junior Ranger activity book so your little ones can earn a badge.
6. Walnut Creek Park (North Garden)
Known for: Post-hike fun on the lake beach and disc golf course
The 525-acre Walnut Creek Park in North Garden is a favorite among families thanks to more than 12 miles of kid-friendly hiking trails. Check out The Blue Wheel (2.0 miles) and Wilkins Way (4.0 miles), both of which boast refreshing views across scenic 45-acre Walnut Creek Lake.
Nearly all of the short trails have fun names, including Wahoo Way and Bike Factory Trail. There’s even a swimming beach on the south side of the park, near the Jungle Trail. In-season, you can rent canoes or kayaks from the Beach House.
Post-hike, make time for disc golf at the 18-hole course, which requires players to toss frisbees through the woods, across fields, and over water. Round out the day with fishing or a picnic at the park.
7. Humpback Rocks (Blue Ridge Parkway)
Known for: Rock scrambling and 360-degree views
The Humpback Rocks hike, which starts near milepost 5.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a must-do area hike for outdoor lovers of all ages. It’s got challenges, like some heart-pounding elevation. It also has serious rewards, like wildly scenic 360-degree vistas.
Several benches and a wooden staircase make the climb more manageable for children. There are also some rock scrambles, even a massive downed tree to navigate on the way to the top, which kids will love. Then, get ready for spectacular views across the Shenandoah Valley.
This hike can be tackled as a short and sweet (but steep) 2.0-mile out-and-back hike. Or, families can opt for a 4.3-mile loop that includes a mild descent along a forested stretch of the Appalachian Trail on the way back to the Humpback Gap Overlook parking area.
Want to celebrate the seasons with the whole family? Visit our guides to the best spring, summer, and fall festivals in the Charlottesville area!
8. Heyward Community Forest (Charlottesville)
Known for: Rock-outcrops and a mountain stream
The Heyward Community Forest is 142 acres of undeveloped land bordering Ragged Mountain Reservoir just outside of Charlottesville. Through volunteer work, they have built new trails that are great for explorers young and old. The trails are designed for walkers, joggers, and bikers. It is a relatively gentle hike that still offers some fun hiking challenges.
To visit the property, please follow their directions to 1730 Reservoir Road for more details on how to get there and park in the lower parking lot.
9. The Saunders-Monticello Trail (Charlottesville)
Known for: Stroller-friendly boardwalk trail minutes from the Downtown Mall
The Saunders-Monticello Trail is a forested, 4.3-mile out-and-back hike that winds its way to the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Education Center at Monticello. Along this stroller-friendly trail, kids can see native plants, as well as a small pond.
Gently curving boardwalks guide hikers into the forest canopy, which is filled with flowering trees in the spring. There are lots of side trails too, including the Spring Room Trail and Mountain Trail, if you want to create your own hike. The free trails are open to hikers, bikers, and wheelchairs.
As a bonus, the hiking trails at Monticello are a short seven-minute drive from the Downtown Mall. This is especially good if your kids still have energy to burn. Pop in and out of shops or simply stroll the eight-block brick-paved pedestrian walk from the Omni to Ting Pavilion. Another easy walk is the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont in the centrally located McIntire Park.
Happy hiking!
is the author of Hiking with Kids Virginia: 52 Hikes for Families (FalconGuides). She also shares top hikes across the state for all levels at gohikevirginia.com.
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