With summer’s warm weather approaching, outdoor adventures are picking up. However, whether you’re backpacking or going on a day hike, hot weather can be tricky. High temperatures can negatively impact your physical performance and put you at risk for heat illness. Knowing which foods you should eat on hot days can significantly impact how your adventure goes. It can be as simple as drinking enough water and choosing the right foods to pack with you.

Shenandoah National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country. Home to approximately 200,000 acres of biodiverse habitat as well as the famous Skyline Drive, the park has served as a nature preserve and has provided recreational opportunities for people since it was created in 1926. Although we have known this area of the Blue Ridge mountains as an important landmark ever since, there are also indigenous histories critical to the area.

The GWHVA interns from JMU have created an incredible resource for us. The story maps including all sorts of information organized by region to include definitions of different types of outdoor parks ans spaces, lists of outdoors spaces in each region, photos of hikes and spaces in the regions, lists of ADA accessible hikes, cultural and indigenous histories of each region, flora and fauna specific to each region, and environmental challenges.

We are starting a new series of posts that provide information on the different types of outdoor spaces in Virginia. Each of these outdoor spaces are accessible to the public for hiking and other recreational activities.

If you are someone that finds yourself drawn to outdoor spaces, or if you have an interest in hiking and other various outdoor activities, then you have probably heard of the phrase “Leave No Trace.” But what does that phrase really mean? In simple terms, it encompasses the idea that we should be conscious of how we think and act while we’re out and about in the environment.

As we all know, hiking is one of the best ways to spend time outdoors. With 22 national and 41 state parks in Virginia alone, the hiking opportunities are endless. There are many things that bring hikers together, including the written and unwritten rules of the trail. Practicing proper hiking etiquette ensures an enjoyable trail experience for all hikers, and knowing what norms and best practices can be key for your next adventure.