The Trails of Virginia: Hiking the Old Dominion [Paperback]

Allen De Hart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1995

In this new edition of the most comprehensive guide to the trails of Virginia, Allen de Hart gives directions to and descriptions of more than 1,400 trails, noting nearby points of interest, botanical and zoological features, and characteristics of the region's terrain. From the mountains to the coast, he covers all national, state, county, and city recreational areas with hiking or interpretive trails accessible to the public. Maps and photographs supplement the descriptions.

The third edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect the addition of hundreds of miles to the state's trail systems, with commentary on which trails are best suited for foot traffic, bicycles, and horses, and which trails are handicapped-accessible. The book also includes information on how to prepare for hikes, more comprehensive introductions to parks and scenic areas, and sections on Native American and pioneer trails.

This book is an indispensable reference for hikers, walkers, birders, anglers, and anyone interested in exploring the Old Dominion's wealth of natural areas.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Extensive research, careful observations, and the guide's concise format make [the book] a perfect guide for choosing an untried trail." -- Blue Ridge Country, August 2004

About the Author

Allen de Hart has been hiking, designing, constructing, maintaining, and writing about southeastern trails for more than sixty years. His eleven guidebooks cover trails in five states. A Virginia native, De Hart is professor emeritus of history and cultural affairs adviser at Louisburg College and founder of the De Hart Botanical Gardens in Patrick County, Virginia, and Louisburg, North Carolina. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 421 pages
• Publisher: Univ of North Carolina Pr; Revised edition (April 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807845086
• ISBN-13: 978-0807845080
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,650,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hiking Virginia's Trails, March 28, 2000

By 

Randy Porter (Crozet, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Trails of Virginia: Hiking the Old Dominion (Paperback)

Allen de Hart's The Trails of Virginia:Hiking the Old Dominionis a classic and exhaustive study of places to hike throughout a statethat is known for its beauty and history but less acknowledged for its vast array of outdoor recreational opportunities. The author doesn't just cover his personal favorites or the 50 best walks, but every trail in the state. He's included information on distance, history, scenic features, degree of difficulty, and directions - every piece of information the hiker will need. I've used this book countless times in not only planning a hike, but also in the process of researching and writing my own outdoor guides. No matter where you plan to hike or what your level of fitness is, a well-worn copy of the Trails of Virginia should sit on your bookshelf as it does on mine.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good support book, but other books needed., October 8, 2009

By 

Kirk Scott (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Trails of Virginia: Hiking the Old Dominion (Paperback)

When I was shopping for books about Virginia trails, I was looking for a overall good book with well laid out trails, simple maps, and trail insights. This book is not that book.

I have the DeLorme atlas for Virginia so I could use these in tandem, but that would be much more time consuming given the alternatives available.

I have used various online resources and the FalconGuide for Virginia to layout a much better hike. The book excels at telling what to expect along trails, but has too large of a scope to cover any one portion of the state in depth.

If you are a long term resident and hiker in Virgina, this would be an interesting book to add to your collection as a reference. Do not buy this book if you are looking for pre-determined hike.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The single best resource for hiking in Virginia, December 3, 2010

By 

jeffincville (Beautiful Charlottesville) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Trails of Virginia: Hiking the Old Dominion (Paperback)

This is the most comprehensive resource available for hiking trails in Virginia. It is not for the novice seeking advice on good loop hikes for an initial journey into the mountains. Nor is it optimal for someone seeking information on trails in Shenandoah National Park. There are other books for that.
This book contains information on trails that are not found in other guidebooks, and has given me a wealth of new hiking opportunities. I wish it had maps, but I can also get out my own maps and figure out trail locations. If you are interested in lesser used trails in Virginia's National Forests and Wildlife Management Areas and want to get past the same trails described in all the other guidebooks, this is the best resource available.