Virginia’s Peaks of Otter is one of my favorite spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway. With multiple incredible hikes, a lodge, and the beautiful Abbott Lake in the shadow of Sharp Top Mountain, it’s a perfect stop for hikers.

In the summer of 2017, I managed to snag a position as an Interpretive Park Ranger Intern at Shenandoah National Park; it was one of the best summers of my life! I got to explore much of the park in my time off, hiking to my heart’s content. The great thing about Shenandoah is that a lot of the hikes are on the shorter side and are relatively easy to access from Skyline Drive, which means you can see a lot in a short time. Here are a few of my favorite - and some of the park’

Hike along the ADA-accessible Alluvial Fan Trail at Rocky Mountain National Park featuring mountain views and a waterfall.