Afton lies in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Village history, the fall hawk count, trails, and culinary offerings give the area a variety of facets. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering your interests and the timing together: Some offerings are seasonal, while others are easy to compare by trail length or historical context.
Village History and Architecture
The Greenwood-Afton Rural Historic District includes the village of Afton, dating to the mid-19th century. Afton Chapel also offers a clear link to the area’s history: It was built in 1898 as a non-denominational church. Swannanoa is an Italianate-style marble villa dating to 1912. The marble palace has 52 rooms and was built as a replica of the Villa Medici in Rome. Interior features include a Tiffany stained-glass window made of 4,000 individual pieces and a vaulted ceiling depicting Mrs. Dooley.
The Blue Ridge Tunnel also combines a notable building history with practical directions. It opened on April 13, 1858, and was the longest railroad tunnel in North America when it opened. The tunnel is part of a 2.25-mile gravel trail connecting Afton with Rockfish Valley. The historical opening date and the trail’s current length answer two different questions: when the tunnel was built and how long the trail is.
Fall Migration and Trail Options
An average of nearly 30,000 raptors pass by Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch each fall. From August 15 to November 30, the organization conducts a fall count every day. The main counting site is on the grounds of the Inn at Afton. If the count is the main reason for your trip, its set timeframe is a useful starting point for choosing your dates.
For cyclists, a 40-mile ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway leads to Milepost 0 on Afton Mountain; a loop through Afton is optional. Together with the 2.25-mile gravel trail at the Blue Ridge Tunnel, this offers two clearly different trail lengths.
Fruit, Wine, and Beer
At Critzer Family Farm in Afton, pre-picked fruit and pick-your-own fruit are available seasonally. Before you travel, check which picking option is offered for your dates. The Nelson 151 also begins in Afton and is a food and drink trail featuring wineries, breweries, cideries, and distilleries. Its digital passport covers 15 stops along a scenic 15-mile route. The number of participating stops may change, so check before planning your trip.
The two names that include 151 refer to different things: Virginia Route 151 begins in Afton and is a designated Virginia Scenic Byway. The Nelson 151, by contrast, is a food and drink trail. At Afton Mountain Vineyards, one of Virginia’s pioneering wineries, the vines date to 1978. The winery grows 11 grape varieties on 26 acres at an elevation of 1,000 feet; these growing details may change over time.
Blue Mountain Brewery is a brewpub on Route 151 with its own standard and seasonal beers, a kitchen serving freshly prepared food, and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brewing Tree Beer Company offers a kitchen serving freshly prepared food, a creekside beer garden, and rotating Virginia small-batch beers. At Wild Man Dan Brewery, visitors can learn how ale is made while sampling Chai-Laxin or Dark Matter IPA. The availability of this offering may change; check before traveling. Visitor offerings at the other two businesses may also change.
If you’re looking for hotels in Afton, your travel dates are a useful first filter: The hawk count is tied to the fall season, fruit is seasonal, and the number of stops on the Nelson 151 may change. First decide which of these experiences matters for your stay, then check the relevant dates and offerings.
Discover more destinations: Lovingston, Rockfish, Nellysford
For the broader travel overview: Nelson County.
