Round Hill / Virginia

a.t. communities™

★ Round Hill / Virginia ★

NOT FAR FROM THE BUSTLE AND BUZZ OF WASHINGTON, D.C., the pastoral town of Round Hill, Virginia is a refreshing destination, offering an escape from the daily grind.

NOT FAR FROM THE BUSTLE AND BUZZ OF WASHINGTON, D.C., the pastoral town of Round Hill, Virginia is a refreshing destination, offering an escape from the daily grind.

TIP: Grab your camera or smartphone for remarkable and shareable photos of the sunset from Bears Den Rocks. Linger in the fading light. And make certain you have a headlamp or headlight to find your way back.

Photo by Jody Brady

From left: Sunset from Bears Den Rocks. By Dean Clark; An elaborate carving greets visitors at Bears Den; Blackburn Trail Center is well-known for its hospitality to hikers. Photos by Laurie Potteiger

Located in western Loudoun County — in the northwest tip of Virginia, and not to be confused with other towns in Virginia of the same name — Round Hill recently joined an impressive list of nearly 50 other cities and towns to become an official A.T. Community, recognizing the Trail as a community asset and pledging to support ongoing stewardship.

The historic town of fewer than a thousand residents is nestled in picturesque countryside and farmlands near Sleeter Lake, seven miles from the Shenandoah River, under an hour’s drive from Shenandoah National Park, and within close proximity to the Appalachian Trail. The town sits between two well-known and photogenic Trail centers — Bears Den to the south and the Blackburn to the north. Round Hill provides access to what is often called the “Roller Coaster,” a rocky 13-mile stretch of the Trail with many ups and downs.

WELCOMING ACCESS TO THE A.T.
Round Hill

Bears Den

One of the A.T.’s most popular Trail centers, Bears Den offers easy access to the Trail, a family-friendly nature trail, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Make your way down a narrow gravel road off Blue Ridge Mountain Road (Va. 601). A historic stone wall and wooden carving greet your arrival and invite exploration. Beyond the wall, you find a historic stone mansion. Built in the 1930s to resemble a castle, complete with a pitched roof and turrets, the mansion was once home to an opera singer. It is now owned by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, managed by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and available for group rentals. Beyond, the A.T. beckons.

Blackburn Trail Center

With a history as interesting as Bears Den, the Blackburn Center invites a look-see from hikers on the nearby Appalachian Trail and welcomes groups up to 22 people to stay overnight, for an exceptionally reasonable charge of $6 per person, per night.

Built in 1913 by a prominent Washington, D.C. physician and eventually purchased and managed by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Blackburn is distinct for its beautiful mountain forest setting and a wrap-around porch that nearly surrounds the entire massive cottage — with scenic views to the southeast towards Washington, D.C., and a westward view into West Virginia from the A.T. in between side trails.

Grab a tasty treat at Mom’s Apple Pie; Visit a local vineyard; Fish on Sleeter Lake

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN AND AROUND
Round Hill

Round Hill’s Historic District

Check out historic churches, former boarding houses, and other historic structures. Settled in the late 1800s, and officially made a town in 1900, the National Register of Historic Places and state of Virginia list nearly 200 buildings in the area.

Sleeter Lake

Throw a line in from the shores of Sleeter Lake. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are plentiful on this peaceful, motor-restricted lake. Insider tip: the fishing is best under a new moon.

Equestrian Arts

Experience the gentility of horse country and equestrian arts. Several stables in the area offer riding lessons and preset hunter-jumper shows.

Mom’s Apple Pie Hill High

Pick up fresh-from-the-oven breads, yummy preservative-free pie, and other baked goods at Mom’s Apple Pie Hill High, which offers traditional apple pies along with a mouth-watering selection of unusual pies including: almond amaretto, bourbon walnut, and butter pecan.

Loudoun County’s Wines

Take a tasting tour of Loudon County’s wines. With approximately three-dozen vineyards and several breweries, visitors have a wide range of options including guided tasting, farm-to-table food pairings, live music, and patios among tended gardens.

Hill High Marketplace

Stop by the Hill High Marketplace, a former orchard with a covered wagon out front, for organic produce, baked goods, and original artwork, produced by the marketplace’s studio tenants.

Take a Day Hike Near
Round Hill

Cool Spring Waterfall Park and Hike

3 miles, out and back /Hike level: Easy

This out-and-back hike takes you on a paved path through the old golf course along the Shenandoah River, then off-road on a flat footpath that winds through a grove of paw-paw trees, across a stream over stepping stones, and then a few more steps until you reach a beautiful waterfall.

The land surrounding your hike was the site of the Battle of Cool Spring in 1864 and recently, Shenandoah University reclaimed the property and maintains it as an outdoor classroom for both its community and the general public. Beyond the waterfall is the River Ridge Trail, which connects into a network of trails, including the Appalachian Trail (just north of Raven Rocks).

Raven Rocks Hollow Run

4 miles, out and back /Hike level: Moderate

This out-and-back hike takes you up and away from Rte. 7 for about 1.5 miles before a half-mile steep descent to Raven Rocks Hollow Run, the turnaround spot. You’ll find a nice shady place to hang out and enjoy a snack before returning south to your car. If you’re thirsty, there’s a spring about 100 yards down a blue blaze trail where you can collect water (filtration recommended).

Keyes Gap to David Lesser Shelter

6 miles, out and back /Hike level: Moderate

This is a simple walk in the woods along the A.T. starting from the Keyes Gap parking lot with the turn-around point at the David Lesser shelter — an excellent example of an Appalachian Trail shelter used by thru-hikers walking from Georgia to Maine. It’s the perfect midway point to relax and eat your lunch, complete with a picnic table and swing. Just downhill from the shelter is a stream where you can collect water (filtration recommended). And it is a historical hike. Keyes Gap was of strategic importance during the Civil War, as it provided an alternate “back route” from Virginia to the key point of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Find out more about Round Hill, where to hike and play, and its entire outdoor-loving philosophy at: roundhill.at

*Hiking info courtesy Sean Lloyd: roundhill.at/hikes

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