Thanks to Visit Loudoun, festival "Trailblazer" sponsor, for this shoutout in its  Loudoun "Must-Do Experiences" article:

Hike the Appalachian Trail
in its Centenary Year
2025 marks the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the non-profit that oversees the maintenance and conservation of the world-famous 2,200-mile trail that runs from Maine to Georgia. Loudoun is home to a spectacular 13-mile stretch of the AT known as The Rollercoaster, a swooping, rocky hike along the spine of the Blue Ridge on the western border of the county.

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary with a short hike from Bears Den Overlook above historic Bluemont, opposite Bear Chase Brewing Co. The northern stretch from Bears Den across Route 7 takes you up and over rocky outcrops and boulders to the Blackburn Trail Center, a rustic 1910-built lodge and refreshment station north of the Town of Round Hill.

You can hike the trail year-round but a good time to visit in 2025 is June 7 for the Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival. The festival celebrates the “trail towns” of Hillsboro, Round Hill and Bluemont.

Visit Loudoun article by Douglas Rogers.

We have great bands lined up! (More on this soon.) We have great speakers on board! (More on that, too.) We have another art show in the works! 

And, of course, all those family friendly activities: climbing wall, nature crafts, camping demos, pony rides and ice cream!

Also joining us as the festival: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, A.T. Museum, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Virginia Master Naturalists and Gardeners, Blue Ridge PRISM, Sweet Run State Park, American Chestnut Foundation, Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains...and more great organizations working to protect all our green spaces.

To make all this happen, we count on volunteers (that could be you), sponsors (ISO more sponsors) and our online auction (now collecting donations). We would love to have you help with any of these—and we hope to see you all on June 7th at the Old Stone School grounds in Hillsboro, VA. 

Please send us all questions and suggestions—and get ready for Loudoun's biggest celebration of the A.T. and all the Great Outdoors.