Wildlife management area

Rapidan Wildlife Management Area

State land on the east slope of the Blue Ridge in Madison and Greene counties, with native brook trout in the upper Rapidan and Conway rivers.

See it on the map Official website Directions
Skyline Drive Banco Etlan Luray Madison Nethers Sperryville Syria Rapidan Wildlife Management Area
Fields toward the Blue Ridge from Route 231 near Etlan, Madison County.
Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo of the surrounding area.

The area is 10,326 acres in eight separate tracts of steep, rocky mountain land. Its main streams are the Rapidan, the Conway and the South River. The Rapidan and all its tributaries are catch and release.

The pin is the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail parking point at the end of the road past Graves Mill. DWR describes the roads into the tracts as narrow, rough and not built to state standards, and recommends four-wheel drive.

Deer, turkey, squirrel, grouse, woodcock and black bear are hunted here in season.

Size
10,326 acres in eight tracts
Trout
Brook trout in the Rapidan and Conway; wild brown trout in the Conway
Rapidan River and tributaries
Catch and release
To use the area
A Virginia fishing, hunting or trapping license, or a DWR access permit
Roads
Rough; four-wheel drive recommended

Hours change with the seasons in rural Virginia. Call or check the website before you drive.

Where to stay, by the drive

Rank on the map

Ordered by drive time to the parking area, then by how close the stay is to this area and how complete and current its listing is. How ranking works.

Fields toward the Blue Ridge from Route 231 near Etlan, Madison County.
Unclaimed Some pet-friendly units

Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges

Lodge rooms, cabins, farmhouses and campground · Syria

49min drive

23.5 mi by road · 6.3 mi straight

Evening light on the rocks of Bearfence Mountain.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Pocosin Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 59.8 · sleeps 8

57min drive

29.6 mi by road · 4.5 mi straight

24 more beyond 60 minutes
Moss phlox on the rocks at Crescent Rock Overlook in spring.
Unclaimed

Lewis Mountain Cabins

Rustic cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 57.5

1 hr 2 mindrive

32 mi by road · 4 mi straight

Main Street in Sperryville, Virginia, in October.
Unclaimed

Hopkins Ordinary

Bed and breakfast with a brewery · Sperryville

1 hr 3 mindrive

35.8 mi by road · 19 mi straight

Evening light on the rocks of Bearfence Mountain.
Unclaimed

Lewis Mountain Campground

National park campground (first-come, first-served) · Skyline Drive, mile 57.5

1 hr 3 mindrive

32 mi by road · 4 mi straight

Panorama across a field toward Old Rag from Route 231 near Etlan.
Host verified Dogs welcome

Birch's Library

Cabin, 1865 homestead · Syria

  • Fire pit
  • Wi-Fi
  • Kitchen
  • Creek or river
  • A/C
  • +1
  • Book direct
1 hr 9 mindrive

28.5 mi by road · 9.2 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Boar's Head Resort

Resort · Charlottesville

1 hr 9 mindrive

37.8 mi by road · 26.8 mi straight

The Big Run watershed from Big Run Overlook, South District.
Unclaimed

Massanutten Resort

Resort lodging · McGaheysville

1 hr 12 mindrive

39.2 mi by road · 19.2 mi straight

Lower Doyles River Falls.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Doyles River Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 81.1 · sleeps 12

1 hr 18 mindrive

39.4 mi by road · 19 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Keswick Hall

Resort hotel · Keswick

1 hr 19 mindrive

42.8 mi by road · 28 mi straight

Exterior of Big Meadows Lodge.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Lodge

Lodge rooms and cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 51

1 hr 21 mindrive

39.4 mi by road · 7.7 mi straight

Sunrise over Big Meadows.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Campground

National park campground (reservation only) · Skyline Drive, mile 51

1 hr 21 mindrive

39.2 mi by road · 7.6 mi straight

Loft Mountain Wayside on Skyline Drive.
Unclaimed

Loft Mountain Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 79.5

1 hr 21 mindrive

39.3 mi by road · 18.7 mi straight

Fog and red blueberry over Big Meadows in fall.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Rock Spring Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 48 · sleeps 8

1 hr 22 mindrive

41.1 mi by road · 9.1 mi straight

Aerial view of Luray, Virginia.
Unclaimed

The Mimslyn Inn

Historic inn · Luray

1 hr 30 mindrive

53.6 mi by road · 17.1 mi straight

Late fall panorama from Pinnacles Overlook on Skyline Drive, with Old Rag Mountain in the distance.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Corbin Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 37.8 · sleeps 12

1 hr 31 mindrive

49.5 mi by road · 12.9 mi straight

Exterior of the Skyland dining room and taproom.
Unclaimed

Skyland

Lodge rooms and cabins inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 41.7

1 hr 37 mindrive

47.3 mi by road · 11.9 mi straight

Fall color in Mathews Arm Campground.
Unclaimed Dogs welcome

Range View Cabin (PATC)

Primitive hike-in cabin inside the park · Skyline Drive, mile 22 · sleeps 8

1 hr 39 mindrive

52.6 mi by road · 23 mi straight

Fall color in Mathews Arm Campground.
Unclaimed

Mathews Arm Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 22.2

1 hr 42 mindrive

53.1 mi by road · 24.4 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Hotel 24 South

Historic hotel · Staunton

1 hr 43 mindrive

66.6 mi by road · 40.7 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Blackburn Inn

Inn and conference center · Staunton

1 hr 44 mindrive

66.7 mi by road · 40.6 mi straight

Downtown Middleburg, Virginia.
Unclaimed

Salamander Middleburg

Resort and spa · Middleburg

2 hr 1 mindrive

77.3 mi by road · 52.3 mi straight

Sources

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Checked October 30, 2026.

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