Great Channels of Virginia Hike: Virginia’s Best Kept Secret?

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• Hiking distance: 6.6 miles
• Hiking time: 2 hr. 45 min.
• Parking: Brumley Mountain Trailhead

This is super important to know!

There are TWO trails to get to the Great Channels of Virginia: the Channels Trail and the Brumley Mountain Trail.

I did not realize this. I typed in “Channels Trail Parking” and we ended up on a gravel road I did not recognize. I had watched a few YouTube videos beforehand and knew what the parking lot at the trailhead was supposed to look like.

This was not it.

Defeated, I was about to give up because it was already late in the afternoon, and I had no clue where to find this trailhead.

My husband came to the rescue and figured out there are actually two trailheads. The one we wanted, Brumley Mountain Trail, was located 20 minutes down the road. See the map below.

The Channels Trail is a difficult 11-mile out-and-back trail.

The Brumley Mountain Trail is a moderate 6.6-mile out-and-back trail. * This is the preferred trail, and the one we hiked.

The Great Channels of Virginia used to be private property until it was sold in 2004 to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Brumley Mountain Trail is not that old. It was constructed by hundreds of volunteers from the Mountain Heritage of St. Paul and dedicated in 2013.

I didn’t purchase the AllTrails App until AFTER this hike.

If I had, I would have ended up at the right trailhead to begin with.

This $35.99 app is so worth it. I have used it on numerous Virginia hikes since the Great Channels, which has saved me from getting lost.

I wish I had discovered this app sooner!

It is super easy to use. Search for your hike. Download an offline map. That way even if you lose your cell signal, you will always know which direction to go.

The app even notifies you if you accidentally go off-trail. I love it! We will be doing some hiking in Maine soon, and I can’t wait to use it more.

If you use the AllTrails map for this 6.6-mile hike, the trail is listed as “The Great Channels via Brumley Mountain Trail.”

If you want to do the much harder 11-mile hike, then search for “Middle Knob via Channels Trail” on the AllTrail app.

The Brumley Mountain Trailhead at the Channels Natural Area Preserve is limited to only 10 vehicles.

Parking is located right off Route 80. If those ten spots are occupied, do NOT park on the side of the road or you may be ticketed.  

We hiked this trail on a Thursday afternoon around 4 pm in the late spring. Luckily, there was only 1 other car besides ours.

No entrance fee.

The trailhead is marked by a big sign advertising Raven Ridge Lodge.

Although we did not stay here, those that have rated this rustic rental quite highly.

The first part of the hike is slightly uphill along a gravel road. As you curve to the left, you will come across a brown gate that states “foot travel to the Channels only.”

You will eventually come to a split. Stay left and go past the gate to keep on the Brumley Mountain Trail.

About 5 minutes later you will come across a few cabins on your right called The Channels Retreat.

You can rent these two homey cabins on Airbnb: Lucky Bear and Ole Timer.

Those that have stayed have rated these accommodations highly.

Shortly after passing the cabins, you will trade in the gravel road for a dirt path on your left. This section is part of the Channels Natural Area Preserve.

Take a look at the signboard shortly after you turn on the dirt path.

Someone wrote “chased by a mountain lion 12/1/20.”

What?!?

Is this true or someone’s idea of being funny? Mountain lion sightings have occasionally occurred in Virginia, so maybe it’s true. Thankfully, we did not meet any feline friends on our hike.

As you press on, you will walk around another metal gate as the trail continues westward.

We passed some beautiful wildflowers along the way.

You will reach another split. The signage will point you left, towards the Channels Spur Trail.

Almost there! 10 minutes more.

You know you have made it when you see the old Hayters Knob Fire Tower perched on top of the Middle Knob in the distance. This fire tower stopped operating in 1970.

Walk behind the fire tower, and you will notice a small nondescript trail, which terminates in a grouping of large boulders.

It does not look like much from the top but once you navigate down and around, you will be surrounded by a labyrinth of towering narrow sandstone boulders.

This is the fun part!

I’m petite, so I really enjoyed trying to see how far I could squeeze my body through all of these narrow crevices.

Large vines snaked across the dirt floor. Some of the boulders were encased in thick green moss. It looks like something out of a movie set.

It was easy to get lost. At one point, I wound my way deep into this slot canyon and finally had to call out to my husband to try to find my way back. Luckily, it’s not too big.

I had worked up quite a sweat by the time we reached the entrance to the Great Channels of Virginia. I really appreciated the noticeable drop in temperature as I walked through the maze of these sandstone outcroppings.

The best part?

We had this little hidden gem all to ourselves! I cannot guarantee there will be no crowds if you take on this hike. But I will tell you, we were the only people there on a Thursday at 5 pm on a spring day.  

Ok, were we sure there were no mountain lions?

After about 20 minutes of exploring, we quickly retraced our steps to beat the setting sun.

We were staying in the nearby town of Abingdon. After our hike to the Great Channels, we swung by a local Abingdon favorite, 128 Pecan, for a casual dinner.

After a sweaty hike, I was a little worried we would be underdressed in our hiking clothes.

No judgment here though. The staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating.

This charming restaurant serves up some great Southern classics. We enjoyed some delicious fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese as a starter. Love pimento cheese!

I can also highly recommend the chili-rubbed salmon with cheddar grits.

If you are traveling from northern Virginia, you will definitely want to make a long weekend of it to enjoy this hike.

We made Abingdon our base and enjoyed several other amazing outdoor adventures nearby.

The Virginia Creeper Bike Trail is one of Virginia’s best biking experiences. We took a shuttle to Whitetop and biked all 34 miles back to Abingdon. Don’t worry, most of it is downhill.

Along the way, you will pass over cool bridges, rolling farmlands, babbling creeks, and quaint little towns. This is truly an epic biking trail.

Two words: Wild ponies.

I loved this hike. Mount Rogers is the highest summit in Virginia. If you attempt this 10.5-mile hike to the summit, you will come across wild ponies, open meadows, rocky peaks, and moss-covered forests.

At times, you will think you are in the Scottish Highlands, and at other times, you would swear you are in the Pacific Northwest. An absolutely incredible hike.

This adorable historic foodie town is a must-visit. USA Today even rated it as the Best Small Town Food Scene.

In addition to 128 Pecan, we also really enjoyed The Girl & The Raven (our favorite!), White Birch, and Greeko’s Grill & Cafe.

You could stay in the Airbnbs/Vrbo rentals that I referenced above: Raven Lodge and The Channels Retreat. I did not stay there, but they are highly rated.

We chose to stay in nearby Abingdon at an adorable Vrbo rental right off the Virginia Creeper Trail.

It is located within walking distance of Abingdon Vineyards and has a beautiful river to relax by.  

I loved the modern farmhouse chic decor, and the host was incredible. Highly recommended!

Slot canyons do not only exist out West. The Great Channels of Virginia prove that. Navigating through the moss-covered sandstone labyrinth and around snaking massive tree vines was incredibly unique! Just remember to put in the right trailhead in Google maps, and enjoy one of the most interesting hikes Virginia has to offer.

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Questions about our hike to the Great Channels?

Let me know in the comments below!