Lace up your hiking boots and lather on some SPF — it’s time to venture into the great outdoors. Summer is the perfect time to embark on a little outdoor adventure. Luckily, Northern Virginia is surrounded by countless campsites, parks, and rivers that encourage you to do just that. Whether your idea of a great day outside includes a peaceful camping retreat or a thrill-seeking ride through rushing waters, these outdoor destinations within driving distance of NoVA are sure to satisfy.
Take to the Water in Harpers Ferry
Drive time from Dulles: About 1 hour
Head to West Virginia for a family-friendly ride down the Shenandoah or Potomac rivers.
River & Trail Outfitters is a hub for outdoor adventures in Harpers Ferry, with opportunities for mellow inner tubing, white-water tubing, white-water rafting, kayaking, and canoeing.
If your ideal day on the water is spent letting the current gently push you along, opt for mellow tubing. Trips can take between one and three hours. You can choose whether you’d rather float down the Shenandoah or the Potomac, depending on how mellow you want the ride to be.
For a slightly more adventurous day, try white-water tubing. This trip takes participants through rushing waters and over ripples and waves. Expect a one-to-two-hour trip that will sweep you through the Shenandoah and Potomac as you use your arms to maneuver around rocks along the way. Need a rest? Stop at one of the route’s rocks or sandy shores to take a breather.
True adventurers should try the white-water rafting option. It is a 6.5-mile watercourse that runs through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The trip will take you along two rivers and into three states: Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. This trip is slightly longer, at three to four hours.
There are four check-in locations, so make sure to double-check your booking for the right address. Age and weight requirements for children vary depending on the course.
Nearby, you will find the Brunswick Family Campground. With 11 acres, it’s the only private campground located on the Potomac River and C&O Canal. It has RV and tent sites, as well as cabins. Rent bikes, canoes, and kayaks, and soak up your time in the Mountain State’s great outdoors. Multiple locations, tubing $32–$53, rafting $64–$89
Go Camping at Belle Isle State Park
Drive time from Dulles: About 3 hours
Breathe in the fresh air and take a stroll along the sand on a camping trip at Belle Isle State Park on the Rappahannock River in the Northern Neck. With 7 miles of shoreline, this 892-acre park is a stunning spot to kick back and explore Virginia’s natural beauty.
The park has options for either full-service or primitive camping sites. The full-service sites provide a more structured camping experience, with access to the campground bathhouse, fire ring grills, and electric and water hookups. Each site can accommodate two vehicles.
By comparison, the primitive tent camping experience is a more bare-bones version of camping. Campers can only access the sites by taking a boat or by hiking about 1.5 miles from the nearest parking lot. These sites have picnic tables and fire pits but do not have electricity. Campers must bring their own water.
If glamping is more your speed, the Bel Air House and Bel Air Guest House provide elegant indoor lodging in historic buildings.
While at the park, rent a canoe or kayak or explore the park’s 10 miles of trails. There is fishing available on the pier and saltwater fishing from the banks.
Keep an eye out for the park’s diverse fauna. You may spot white-tailed deer, groundhogs, reptiles, amphibians, and other wildlife. Bring some binoculars and go bird-watching for blue herons, ospreys, hawks, and bald eagles. 1632 Belle Isle Rd., Lancaster, Virginia, park entrance $5, lodging and rental prices vary
Swing from the Treetops at Go Ape
Drive time from Dulles: Up to 1 hour
Soar, swing, and zip through the treetops at Rock Creek Regional Park with Go Ape’s exhilarating adventure courses.
The Treetop Adventure course is a two-to-three-hour experience that involves taking a zip line, swinging from ropes, and moving between the trees from great heights. Adrenaline junkies are in for a real adventure; there are 45 distinct obstacles to navigate. The longest zip line on the course is 400 feet long, and the highest platform is a dizzying 52 feet off the ground. Bring the older kids. Participants must be at least 10 years old and at least 4 feet and 7 inches tall.
For a slightly tamer and shorter version, try the Treetop Discovery course. It incorporates many elements of the Treetop Adventure option. There are only 19 obstacles; the longest zip line is 320 feet; and the highest platform is 38 feet. The same age and weight requirements apply.
This is the flagship location for Go Ape, which now has locations in 12 states, including Virginia.
Elsewhere in the park, more adventures await. There are over 13 miles of hiking trails, some of which will bring you near picturesque Lake Needwood and Lake Frank, plus opportunities for boating, fishing, and archery. Rock Creek Regional Park: 6129 Needwood Lake Dr., Rockville, Maryland, $44.95–$64.95
Paddle in Delaware
Drive time from Dulles: About 3 hours
Love trees? Take a trip to Delaware’s Trap Pond State Park to take in the sight of bald cypress trees. This park is the northernmost naturally occurring stand of the trees that emerge from the water to form a fascinating landscape.
Staff-led pontoon tours show off the trees that are more typically seen in southern swamps. The tours educate visitors on the park’s ecosystem and history (it dates back to the 1700s). Tours last an hour, and tickets can be purchased at the boathouse on the day of the tour or reserved in advance.
You can explore the wetlands in a rowboat, canoe, kayak, or pedal boat — all of which are available to rent in the summertime. There are over 9 miles of canoe or kayak trails. There’s a ramp where you can launch small, motorized boats.
In addition to taking in the sights, you can go fishing for catfish, American eel, and largemouth bass.
From land, visitors can hike or bike through the Bob Trail, a 4.6-mile path through the park that shows off views of the pond. The park offers free bicycles during the summer. Take the time to watch for the various birds that live around Trap Pond, including bald eagles, woodpeckers, orioles, tanagers, and warblers.
Make it more than a day trip with an overnight stay at one of the park’s campsites. They vary from tent sites to cabins and yurts.
And don’t forget to snap a photo for the park’s annual amateur photo contest before heading home. It runs until mid-August. 33587 Baldcypress Ln., Laurel, Delaware, park entrance $8 per vehicle, rental and tour prices vary
Feature image courtesy Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
This story originally ran in our July issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
