Wintergreen trails for
elementary school kids

Make sure your children take on trails that match their skill level, size, and physical and emotional maturity. Children mature at different rates and physical abilities between kids of the same age vary widely. An eye on the weather is always wise in the mountains, but especially when hiking with kids. Check over these proven tips for hiking with young kids from Jessica Averett.
Looking for Wintergreen-area playgrounds for children? Go here.

The trails are open to the public

Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve
Distance: 0.3 miles.
Blaze Color: Yellow.
Difficulty Level: EASY.
Key Features: unique area, streams, birding, family favorite.
Google map directions to trailhead

Fortunes Ridge Trail
Distance: 1.1 miles.
Blaze Color: Red.
Difficulty Level: MODERATE TO DIFFICULT; maybe not good for younger children.
Key Features: waterfalls, ecology, and dense forest.
Google map directions to trailhead

The Plunge
Distance: 0.2 miles.
Blaze Color: Yellow.
Difficulty Level: MODERATE (if you take your time) TO DIFFICULT; maybe not good for younger children.
Key Features: spectacular views, geology.
Google map directions to trailhead

White Oak Trail
Distance: 0.5 mile.
Blaze Color: Yellow.
Difficulty Level: MODERATE.
Key Features: wildflowers, morning birding.
Google map directions to trailhead

ravens roost benches.JPG

Ravens Roost Park
Distance: 0.1 miles.
Blaze Color: Yellow.
Difficulty Level: EASY.
Key Features: overlook platform, bird watching, great vista.
Google map directions to trailhead

Highlands Leisure Trail
Distance: 0.5 miles.
Blaze Color: Yellow-Red.
Difficulty Level: EASY TO MODERATE.
Key Features: ski slope overlook, easy access.
Google map directions to trailhead

Upper Shamokin Falls Trail
Distance: 0.4 mile.
Blaze Color: Yellow.
Difficulty Level: MODERATE.
Key Features: waterfall, stream, a family favorite. Morgans Loop offers a return from Upper Shamokin Falls with another view of the waterfall.
Google map directions to trailhead

Trillium Field copy.jpg

Trillium Field
Distance: 0.1 mile.
Blaze Color: Yellow.
Difficulty Level: EASY.
Key Features: trillium flowers, informative signage, easy walk.
Google map directions to trailhead

•Trails in Wintergreen’s valley

• Lower Shamokin Falls Trail
Distance: 1.7 miles. Blaze Color: Blue. Difficulty Level: MODERATE.
Key Features: cascading waterfall, long hike.
Google map directions to trailhead at the end of Old Stoney Creek Road

Stoney Creek Park
Distance: 1 mile. Blaze Color: Blue. Difficulty Level: EASY.
Key Features: valley picnic spot, streamside, easy hike. Note: Not a loop trail.
Google map directions to trailhead in Stoney Creek

• Allen Creek Nature Preserve
Distance: .7 miles. Blaze Color: Blue. Difficulty Level: EASY.
Key Features: wetland, rare plants, picnic spots.
Google map directions to trailhead in Stoney Creek

• Pauls Creek Trail
Distance: 0.6 mile. Blaze Color: Blue. Difficulty Level: MODERATE.
Key Features: waterfall, streamside, family favorite.
Google map directions to trailhead in Stoney Creek


Spruce Creek Park on Route 151

Children and the parenting and grandparenting networks around Wintergreen, Nelson County, and beyond are in agreement: The wooden swing sets made with branches, a huge sandbox pit, large rocks to climb on, a mud kitchen, and (most unique) a creek kids are welcome to play in (and more) that sits behind the Rockfish Valley Foundation’s Natural History Center on Route 151 south of Nellysford is awesome. More here

Wintergreen has over 30 miles of mountain and valley trails,
from extra easy to very challenging 

Paper trail maps make for a more safe and enjoyable hike at Wintergreen. Maps are available at Wintergreen Resort's Mountain Inn and the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen.

While Wintergreen is a resort community, know that the many of the mountain and valley trails here–like most trails in the Blue Ridge Mountains–insist on being taken seriously.

It’s wise to have serious footwear as no path is perfect. A serious respect for the wildlife (both big and tiny, plant and animal) is also smart. The weather is a different force among the mountains that deserves extra consideration. Allow plenty of time for your hikes so as to be more safe and to also fully enjoy the trails. Don’t rush. Be alert. Take care when walking in Wintergreen’s wilderness, which starts and ends with your first and last step on any trail.

The best way for people and pets to avoid ticks is to stick to paths or trails that are wide and sunlit, according to the Center for Disease Control.

The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen offers guided hikes on most Saturday mornings. The two-hour or so hikes (usually on trails rated moderate) focus on the nature of Wintergreen's surrounding wilderness such as tree and wildflower identification, g…

Guided hikes are offered by the Nature Foundation at Wintergreen on most Saturdays, with an additional hikes during the fall and summer. Find out more HERE.

You hike at your own risk.
Therefore,…

  • Be aware that the weather can change rapidly.

  • Do not hike alone.

  • Do not underestimate the terrain.

  • Carry drinking water and a snack.

  • Be aware of wildlife and respect its space.

  • Wear proper attire, including footwear.

  • Carry a hiking map.

  • Stay on marked trails.

  • Be aware of your limitations.

  • Carry a cellphone, but know that coverage is not everywhere.

  • Most of the trails are open in the winter, but just a little snow and ice can make even easy trails treacherous.

Also see four famous hiking trails near Wintergreen


The Wintergreen Sporting Club offers a hiking group for property owners.
Learn more HERE

What's that bird?Check in with the most recent Wintergreen area eBird reports on the links here; click on the name of the bird species on the list to see a photo.• The Wintergreen Nature Foundation's Trillium House bird sightings• Spruce Creek Park …

What's that bird?

Check in with the most recent Wintergreen area eBird reports on the links here; click on the name of the bird species on the list to see a photo.

• The Wintergreen Nature Foundation's Trillium House bird sightings

• Spruce Creek Park bird sightings

• more Wintergreen area eBird reports

eBird is the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year by eBirders around the world. Learn more