Agri-Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

Botetourt County is known for it's stunning mountain views, outdoor adventures and agri-tourism opportunities.  

The mighty James River is part of the adventure and begins its majestic journey in Botetourt County and winds through Rockbridge County, the Blue Ridge Mountains and southern Shenandoah Valley on its way to the Chesapeake Bay. The unspoiled beauty of the river is more accessible than ever through the Upper James River Water Trail. Paddlers, anglers and families can get back to nature and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Upper James and a portion of the Maury River. 

Hiking more your speed? The Appalachian Trail, the country's premier hiking trail passes right through Botetourt on its way from Georgia to Maine. The Appalachian Trail enters southwestern Botetourt on Tinker Mountain around mile 713, then crosses the valley at Daleville before heading into the Blue Ridge Mountains on its northeastern route. The Appalachian Trail has several access points in Botetourt. One of the easiest accesses is from US 220 at Interstate 81 just behind the Stop In Food Store (Exxon station). There is a public parking area there, too. The trail crosses several county roads in the Troutville area before going into the Jefferson National Forest on Mountain Pass Road. The trail then runs the ridge tops along the county's eastern border as it continues northeast paralleling and criss-crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway and leaving the county near Thunder Hill at mile 769.

In 2018, Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) earned International Mountain Bicycling Association(IMBA)’s Silver-Level Ride Center designation and subsequently staked a claim as “America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital.” This solidified VBR as a mountain biking destination. In 2022, it was announced that Virginia's Blue Ridge would be  base of operations for the U.S. Women’s Pro-Cycling Team that will train for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and beyond. Much of this training will take place in the mountains of Botetourt County. 

For other outdoor adventures and hiking information in Botetourt County, visit Virginia's Blue Ridge.