Virginia's Wilderness Area Beside The Blue Ridge Parkway Has A Waterfall Swimming Hole And Enchanting Trails

If you're planning a road trip along "America's Favorite Drive," Blue Ridge Parkway, you'll definitely want to take a break and explore the nearly 10,000-acre wilderness to the north. Virginia's Saint Mary's Wilderness Area is a mountainous forest region with deep gorges inside George Washington National Forest. Once, it was home to many iron mines, but today it is protected, and nature has taken this region back. There are plenty of trails to explore through the rocky woods, but the most popular route is almost certainly the St. Mary's Falls Trail. It takes hikers on a tricky path with multiple water crossings, but in the hot weather, people still flock to it to beat the heat. There are multiple woodland pools along the way, and some adventurous hikers even take a dip in the water. At the end, hikers are rewarded with cascading waterfalls and the meditative sound of splashing on the rocks.

The Saint Mary's Wilderness Area and this popular hike are about two hours west of Richmond along Interstate 64, and two hours north on Interstate 81 from the underrated town of Floyd with its booming arts and wine scene. If you want to spend the night in nature and get an early start on the trails in the morning, pack up everything you'll want for a quick and easy camping retreat and hit the trail because camping is permitted in the wilderness area. However, while you might see some people set up campsites along the popular trail, you should be aware that you're not actually allowed to camp within 500 feet of the falls themselves or 200 feet of the stream. It is completely free to hike these trails and even spend the night here, so relax and enjoy the wild.

The St. Mary's Falls Trail might just be the highlight of your trip to George Washington National Forest — if you are prepared for the river crossings. The trailhead is easy enough to find on St. Mary's Road, a narrow gravel route through the woods to the small parking lot for the hike. The trailhead and a map of the region can be found towards the back of the lot, with a path leading into the woods beyond. At first, this is little more than a pleasant walk through the woods, but soon enough, you'll come upon a series of river crossings. Expect to have to wade into the water, and how much water there is will depend on the weather and season. Come with the right gear — consider hiking poles and sturdy shoes for the slippery, uneven ground. Expect to be hiking for about an hour and a half before you reach the falls.

You will likely hear the falls before you see them, and the sound of rushing water will only get louder as you approach the final waterfall at the end of this hike. Don't expect a quiet experience alone in nature, though. This is a popular area, and in the heat of summer, you should expect to see other hikers here, many of them splashing around in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.

While the Saint Mary's Falls Trail is definitely the most popular trail in the Saint Mary's Wilderness Area, it's not the only one. If you're interested in seeing this incredible place from above, try the Cellar Mountain Trail. While it's not necessarily one of those trails that should only be attempted by very experienced and skilled hikers, it is a much harder route than the St. Mary's Falls Trail, and it takes a lot longer to complete, too. You should expect to be hiking for around four hours up a relatively steep path, which can be overgrown in places — but you'll be rewarded by an almost private experience in nature with incredible overlooks along the way.

If you want to take in the views without necessarily committing to a long trek through the woods, consider driving about 20 minutes away from the St. Mary's Falls Trailhead along VA-56 E to the Big Spy Mountain Overlook. This is known as the Big Spy Mountain Trail, but it actually refers to a short, paved path as seen above. The view from the top is incredible and definitely worth a look after a day in the wilderness.