Wildlife management area

G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area

Nearly 4,000 acres on the east slope of the Blue Ridge near Linden and Markham, crossed by seven miles of the Appalachian Trail and known for its spring display of large-flowered trillium.

See it on the map Official website Directions
Bluemont Boyce Chester Gap Delaplane Hume Markham Marshall G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area
Main Street in downtown Front Royal.
Jason Riedy · CC BY 2.0

Photo of the surrounding area.

The pin is the first of two parking areas on Leeds Manor Road (Route 688), about a mile north of I-66 at Markham (exit 17). The area has 11 parking areas in all; the ridge-top section is reached from Linden by Freezeland Road (Route 638).

Lake Thompson is a 10-acre public fishing lake by Route 688 with handicapped parking and a small unimproved launch. DWR has stopped stocking it with trout indefinitely because its water level is inconsistent.

Size
Nearly 4,000 acres
Appalachian Trail
Seven miles through the area
Spring
Large-flowered trillium at the higher elevations
Lake Thompson
10 acres; trout stocking stopped indefinitely
To use the area
A Virginia fishing, hunting or trapping license, a boat registration, or a DWR access permit

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.

Downtown Middleburg, Virginia.
Unclaimed

Salamander Middleburg

Resort and spa · Middleburg

31min drive

16.5 mi by road · 13.3 mi straight

Main Street in Sperryville, Virginia, in October.
Unclaimed

Hopkins Ordinary

Bed and breakfast with a brewery · Sperryville

55min drive

32.4 mi by road · 24.4 mi straight

22 more beyond 60 minutes
Aerial view of Luray, Virginia.
Unclaimed

The Mimslyn Inn

Historic inn · Luray

1 hr 1 mindrive

38.9 mi by road · 32.7 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 16 mindrive

37.7 mi by road · 22.2 mi straight

Fall color in Mathews Arm Campground.
Unclaimed

Mathews Arm Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 22.2

1 hr 18 mindrive

38.4 mi by road · 21.3 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 22 mindrive

46 mi by road · 31.1 mi straight

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

1 hr 27 mindrive

51.9 mi by road · 37.2 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 33 mindrive

50.3 mi by road · 32.9 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 43 mindrive

51.6 mi by road · 34.3 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 44 mindrive

56.2 mi by road · 35.9 mi straight

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

Massanutten Resort

Resort lodging · McGaheysville

1 hr 52 mindrive

68.9 mi by road · 56.7 mi straight

Sunrise over Big Meadows.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Campground

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

1 hr 56 mindrive

60.3 mi by road · 38.2 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

1 hr 56 mindrive

74.6 mi by road · 46.4 mi straight

Exterior of Big Meadows Lodge.
Unclaimed

Big Meadows Lodge

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

1 hr 57 mindrive

60.4 mi by road · 38.3 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Hotel 24 South

Historic hotel · Staunton

1 hr 59 mindrive

102.8 mi by road · 80.9 mi straight

West Beverley Street in Staunton.
Unclaimed

Blackburn Inn

Inn and conference center · Staunton

2 hrdrive

102.9 mi by road · 80.9 mi straight

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

2 hr 1 mindrive

77 mi by road · 44.6 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

2 hr 1 mindrive

77 mi by road · 44.7 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Keswick Hall

Resort hotel · Keswick

2 hr 10 mindrive

90.8 mi by road · 68.1 mi straight

The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.
Unclaimed

Boar's Head Resort

Resort · Charlottesville

2 hr 12 mindrive

83.3 mi by road · 69.5 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

2 hr 17 mindrive

84.4 mi by road · 61.5 mi straight

Loft Mountain Wayside on Skyline Drive.
Unclaimed

Loft Mountain Campground

National park campground · Skyline Drive, mile 79.5

2 hr 20 mindrive

84.2 mi by road · 61.4 mi straight

Sources

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Checked October 30, 2026.

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