With the Shenandoah National Park literally right on our doorstep, Front Royal, VA is the perfect basecamp for hikers. So what are you waiting for? Hop in the 2022 GMC Terrain AT4, crank up the volume on its premium 7-speaker Bose Sound System, and blast your favorite song as you cruise on down the scenic Skyline Drive for some of the finest hiking trails near Front Royal.
3 Great Hiking Trails Near Front Royal, VA You Can Drive To
Fox Hollow Trail
Starting at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, just a 15-minute drive from Front Royal, this easy 45-minute trail is a short-and-sweet introduction to hiking in the Shenandoah National Park--perfect for the family's littler legs! Kids will love the self-guided "Hiking Through History" adventure brochure, which is packed with fun activities to keep your little explorers engaged as you traverse the former home of the Fox family, whose cemetery remains on this charming site.
The old residents of Fox Hollow were displaced by the establishment of the National Park back in 1935, but evidence of their dwelling there can still be seen in the historic stone walls they built when clearing their farmland, and when the gorgeous purple periwinkles they planted around the hollow bloom in springtime.
Snead Farm Loop
For a more challenging hike that also begins at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, the trail that takes you up to the historic Snead family barn is a culturally fascinating 2.5-hour adventure along a 3.7-mile circuit. You'll get a real taste of what life in the area must have been like at the turn of the twentieth century, as Snead Farm is still in pretty good shape--if a little overgrown!
Hoping to take the dogs with you? No problem! Pets are allowed on this trail, just so long as you keep them on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Your four-legged companions will be very happy in the back of the 2022 Buick Envision Essence--a favorite of dog owners with its generous 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
Lands Run Falls
Slightly further afield--about a 22-minute drive from Front Royal--is Lands Run Gap. From the parking area there, a pleasant 1.3-mile (roughly 1.5-hour) round trip will take you down the fire road to Lands Run Falls--a pretty little woodland waterfall that cascades down 80 feet into a gorge--and back again in time for lunch.
Lands Run Falls is a hidden treasure, and can be tricky to find--but worth it when you do! Just stick to the trail and keep an ear out for the sound of running water--although the waterfall tends to dry up completely in the hotter and drier months, so we recommend visiting in the spring. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful area to explore at any time of year.
Ready to set out on Skyline Drive for a hiking adventure? Come visit us at Front Royal Buick GMC, where the right car is waiting for you!
