Culture
County connections and services
Outdoor
Trails, parks, and adventure.
Stay
Cabins, inns, and cozy lodging.
Culture
County connections and services
Outdoor
Trails, parks, and adventure.
Stay
Cabins, inns, and cozy lodging.
Culture
County connections and services
Outdoor
Trails, parks, and adventure.
Stay
Cabins, inns, and cozy lodging.
Nelson County
A mountain-lined haven of history, adventure, and natural beauty in the heart of Virginia.
Virginia’s Hidden Blue Ridge Gem
Virginia’s Hidden Blue Ridge Gem
Nestled in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Nelson County is a 471-square-mile playground of rolling hills, pristine rivers, historic towns, and laid-back hospitality. From cascading waterfalls and forest trails to craft breweries and charming inns — Nelson delivers a little something for everyone.
Nestled in the heart of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Nelson County is a 471-square-mile playground of rolling hills, pristine rivers, historic towns, and laid-back hospitality. From cascading waterfalls and forest trails to craft breweries and charming inns — Nelson delivers a little something for everyone.
Montebello & Crabtree Falls
Waterfalls, mountain trails, and river escapes
Montebello is a quiet mountain village just off milepost 27 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here you’ll find Crabtree Falls—the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi—and the cool, clear waters of the Tye River. Surrounded by orchards, farms, and valley views, it’s the perfect place to unplug and enjoy nature with the whole family.
Montebello & Crabtree Falls
Waterfalls, mountain trails, and river escapes
Montebello is a quiet mountain village just off milepost 27 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here you’ll find Crabtree Falls—the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi—and the cool, clear waters of the Tye River. Surrounded by orchards, farms, and valley views, it’s the perfect place to unplug and enjoy nature with the whole family.
Montebello & Crabtree Falls
Waterfalls, mountain trails, and river escapes
Montebello is a quiet mountain village just off milepost 27 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here you’ll find Crabtree Falls—the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi—and the cool, clear waters of the Tye River. Surrounded by orchards, farms, and valley views, it’s the perfect place to unplug and enjoy nature with the whole family.
Piney River & the Blue Ridge Railway Trail
Riverside biking, covered bridges, and historic railways
This region is made for outdoor enthusiasts. The seven-mile Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail offers an easy, scenic walk or bike ride along two rivers, five bridges, and a picture-perfect covered bridge at Naked Creek. The Piney River is a favorite for fishing, and history fans will find plenty of old rail-era remnants along the way.
Piney River & the Blue Ridge Railway Trail
Riverside biking, covered bridges, and historic railways
This region is made for outdoor enthusiasts. The seven-mile Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail offers an easy, scenic walk or bike ride along two rivers, five bridges, and a picture-perfect covered bridge at Naked Creek. The Piney River is a favorite for fishing, and history fans will find plenty of old rail-era remnants along the way.
Piney River & the Blue Ridge Railway Trail
Riverside biking, covered bridges, and historic railways
This region is made for outdoor enthusiasts. The seven-mile Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail offers an easy, scenic walk or bike ride along two rivers, five bridges, and a picture-perfect covered bridge at Naked Creek. The Piney River is a favorite for fishing, and history fans will find plenty of old rail-era remnants along the way.
Schuyler
Waltons heritage, soapstone, and James River access
Schuyler is known as the hometown of Earl Hamner Jr., creator of The Waltons. Visitors can explore the Waltons Mountain Museum or stay at the charming bed and breakfast located in Hamner’s childhood home. The community is also linked to the region’s industrial past as the headquarters of Alberene Soapstone—once the largest employer in Virginia. Its historic district features classic Sears catalog homes, and the James River is just minutes away.
Schuyler
Waltons heritage, soapstone, and James River access
Schuyler is known as the hometown of Earl Hamner Jr., creator of The Waltons. Visitors can explore the Waltons Mountain Museum or stay at the charming bed and breakfast located in Hamner’s childhood home. The community is also linked to the region’s industrial past as the headquarters of Alberene Soapstone—once the largest employer in Virginia. Its historic district features classic Sears catalog homes, and the James River is just minutes away.
Schuyler
Waltons heritage, soapstone, and James River access
Schuyler is known as the hometown of Earl Hamner Jr., creator of The Waltons. Visitors can explore the Waltons Mountain Museum or stay at the charming bed and breakfast located in Hamner’s childhood home. The community is also linked to the region’s industrial past as the headquarters of Alberene Soapstone—once the largest employer in Virginia. Its historic district features classic Sears catalog homes, and the James River is just minutes away.
Nellysford & Wintergreen
Craft beverages, resort recreation, and scenic valley trails
In the center of Nelson County is Nellysford, a Virginia Main Street community and a popular starting point for exploring the Nelson 151 craft beverage trail. Along this scenic 20-mile route are fifteen tasting destinations—including wineries, cideries, breweries, a meadery, and two distilleries. Nearby Wintergreen Resort offers skiing, hiking, golfing, and year-round mountain recreation. Visitors can also enjoy the Rockfish Valley Loop Trail, local shops, and a variety of lodging options.
Nellysford & Wintergreen
Craft beverages, resort recreation, and scenic valley trails
In the center of Nelson County is Nellysford, a Virginia Main Street community and a popular starting point for exploring the Nelson 151 craft beverage trail. Along this scenic 20-mile route are fifteen tasting destinations—including wineries, cideries, breweries, a meadery, and two distilleries. Nearby Wintergreen Resort offers skiing, hiking, golfing, and year-round mountain recreation. Visitors can also enjoy the Rockfish Valley Loop Trail, local shops, and a variety of lodging options.
Nellysford & Wintergreen
Craft beverages, resort recreation, and scenic valley trails
In the center of Nelson County is Nellysford, a Virginia Main Street community and a popular starting point for exploring the Nelson 151 craft beverage trail. Along this scenic 20-mile route are fifteen tasting destinations—including wineries, cideries, breweries, a meadery, and two distilleries. Nearby Wintergreen Resort offers skiing, hiking, golfing, and year-round mountain recreation. Visitors can also enjoy the Rockfish Valley Loop Trail, local shops, and a variety of lodging options.
Afton
Wineries and breweries, Blue Ridge Tunnel, and mountain overlooks
At the northern tip of the county, Afton is home to wineries, breweries, and one of our most iconic landmarks—the historic Blue Ridge Tunnel. This restored 19th-century engineering marvel is now a dramatic shared-use trail for hikers and cyclists. Interpretive signs tell the story of visionary engineer Claudius Crozet and the workers—including Irish immigrants and enslaved laborers—who constructed the tunnel. It’s a powerful mix of outdoor adventure and local history.
Afton
Wineries and breweries, Blue Ridge Tunnel, and mountain overlooks
At the northern tip of the county, Afton is home to wineries, breweries, and one of our most iconic landmarks—the historic Blue Ridge Tunnel. This restored 19th-century engineering marvel is now a dramatic shared-use trail for hikers and cyclists. Interpretive signs tell the story of visionary engineer Claudius Crozet and the workers—including Irish immigrants and enslaved laborers—who constructed the tunnel. It’s a powerful mix of outdoor adventure and local history.
Afton
Wineries and breweries, Blue Ridge Tunnel, and mountain overlooks
At the northern tip of the county, Afton is home to wineries, breweries, and one of our most iconic landmarks—the historic Blue Ridge Tunnel. This restored 19th-century engineering marvel is now a dramatic shared-use trail for hikers and cyclists. Interpretive signs tell the story of visionary engineer Claudius Crozet and the workers—including Irish immigrants and enslaved laborers—who constructed the tunnel. It’s a powerful mix of outdoor adventure and local history.
Lovingston
Historic town, craft tastings, and river recreation
Centrally located on Route 29, Lovingston is the county seat—a small, walkable historic district with locally owned shops, lodging, and restaurants. It’s also the gateway to the Nelson 29 craft beverage trail, home to wineries, breweries, and the nation’s first American single-malt whisky producer. Nearby, the Rockfish River provides kayaking and fishing opportunities, and the Fortune’s Cove Preserve offers a challenging five-mile hike with seven scenic overlooks.
Lovingston
Historic town, craft tastings, and river recreation
Centrally located on Route 29, Lovingston is the county seat—a small, walkable historic district with locally owned shops, lodging, and restaurants. It’s also the gateway to the Nelson 29 craft beverage trail, home to wineries, breweries, and the nation’s first American single-malt whisky producer. Nearby, the Rockfish River provides kayaking and fishing opportunities, and the Fortune’s Cove Preserve offers a challenging five-mile hike with seven scenic overlooks.
Lovingston
Historic town, craft tastings, and river recreation
Centrally located on Route 29, Lovingston is the county seat—a small, walkable historic district with locally owned shops, lodging, and restaurants. It’s also the gateway to the Nelson 29 craft beverage trail, home to wineries, breweries, and the nation’s first American single-malt whisky producer. Nearby, the Rockfish River provides kayaking and fishing opportunities, and the Fortune’s Cove Preserve offers a challenging five-mile hike with seven scenic overlooks.
Geologic History
Roots of the Blue Ridge
The rocks beneath Nelson County reveal a long and complex geologic history of the Blue Ridge and western Piedmont, shaped by repeated cycles of tectonic plate collisions, rifting, and drifting over the past billion years. About one billion years ago, the formation of the supercontinent Rodinia caused crustal collisions that built the massive Grenville Mountains, ancestors of today’s Blue Ridge. Intense heat and pressure deep within these mountains produced molten rock that rose through the crust, sometimes erupting as lava but more often cooling underground to form granite plutons, which are now exposed at the surface in central and western Nelson County, from Lovingston to Three Ridges Mountain.
Geologic History
Roots of the Blue Ridge
The rocks beneath Nelson County reveal a long and complex geologic history of the Blue Ridge and western Piedmont, shaped by repeated cycles of tectonic plate collisions, rifting, and drifting over the past billion years. About one billion years ago, the formation of the supercontinent Rodinia caused crustal collisions that built the massive Grenville Mountains, ancestors of today’s Blue Ridge. Intense heat and pressure deep within these mountains produced molten rock that rose through the crust, sometimes erupting as lava but more often cooling underground to form granite plutons, which are now exposed at the surface in central and western Nelson County, from Lovingston to Three Ridges Mountain.
Geologic History
Roots of the Blue Ridge
The rocks beneath Nelson County reveal a long and complex geologic history of the Blue Ridge and western Piedmont, shaped by repeated cycles of tectonic plate collisions, rifting, and drifting over the past billion years. About one billion years ago, the formation of the supercontinent Rodinia caused crustal collisions that built the massive Grenville Mountains, ancestors of today’s Blue Ridge. Intense heat and pressure deep within these mountains produced molten rock that rose through the crust, sometimes erupting as lava but more often cooling underground to form granite plutons, which are now exposed at the surface in central and western Nelson County, from Lovingston to Three Ridges Mountain.
History
Nelson County was formed in 1807 from Amherst County, and named in honor of Thomas Nelson, Jr., third governor of Virginia. Lovingston is the county seat. Originally the home of the Monocan tribe of Native Americans, a settlement along the James River was established by English colonists in the early 1700s. Another stream of settlers, of Scotch-Irish and German descent, came into the western sections of the county from the Shenandoah Valley. By the end of the 1800s, Nelson’s agricultural products included tobacco, apples and chestnut trees; the produce and lumber were carried to market by canal and railroad.
During the 1930s Earl Hamner, Jr. began writing of his experiences growing up in Nelson County during the Depression. Those writings eventually provided the substance for the The Waltons TV series. In 1969, Hurricane Camille caused a flood, devastating Nelson County. Since Camille, Nelson County has slowly recovered its land, its infrastructure and the will to grow and prosper again. Events that have aided in this recovery include: the 1972 development of Wintergreen Resort, the restoration in progress at Oak Ridge Estate, development of Walton’s Mountain Museum, the resurgence of the apple industry, the maturation of new vineyards, and the steady growth in Nelson County’s tourism industry.
VA250
Nelson County is proud to be a Commemorative Partner of VA250—the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.
VA250
Nelson County is proud to be a Commemorative Partner of VA250—the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.
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