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Nelson County offers plenty of memorable drives.

Mountain top vistas, valley views, bucolic farmland, productive orchards, vineyards and hop farms showcase the scenery along the Blue Ridge Mountains of Nelson County. The first 35 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which follows the crest of the Blue Ridge on the western side of the county, includes many overlooks with stunning vistas of forested peaks, rolling foothills and agricultural communities.

In addition to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Nelson County contains seven designated Scenic Byways that crisscross the County and carry motorists through the Parkway’s viewsheds. For the motorcycle enthusiast, Nelson’s touring roads are some of the best the east coast has to offer. Blossoms of the orchards in the spring, manicured vineyards in the summer, harvesting of fruit and fall foliage in autumn and the snow slopes at Wintergreen Resort in winter offer fantastic photographic opportunities and memorable vistas of scenic Nelson County. The changing seasons offer a variety of beautiful landscapes.

Find Your Way

Blue Ridge Parkway

  • Entrance 1: Rockfish Gap on Afton Mountain (VA Scenic Byway Route 250 at I-64)
  • Entrance 2: Reids Gap (VA Scenic Byway Route 664)
  • Entrance 3: Montebello (VA Scenic Byway Route 56)

Crabtree Falls
Accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway: Travel to Milepost 27, exit onto VA 56 East. Follow signs to Crabtree Falls (about 6.3 miles) Open from dusk to dawn daily.

More Options

  • View Tye River’s Rushing Waters Cascading by Crabtree Falls near Montebello – Route 56 West
  • Traverse the Blue Ridge on Route 250 – Original pass through Rockfish Gap
  • Travel Route 151 & Route 6 – Parallel to the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge
  • Travel along VA Scenic Byways Rt. 800 and Rt. 617 along the Rockfish River
  • Ascend Weathered Peaks on Route 664 – Three Ridges Wilderness Area through Wintergreen Resort

The Nelson Scenic Loop

The Nelson Scenic Loop, comprised of four scenic byways, is a 50-mile auto and bike tour that features Nelson County’s bounty of natural, cultural, and historic attractions. Encompassing the Blue Ridge Parkway, Patrick Henry Highway, Beech Grove Road and Crabtree Falls Highway, the Nelson Scenic Loop traverses both the verdant foothills of the Piedmont as well as the summits of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Along the loop, you can encounter the landscape that was shaped by the clash of two planter cultures, the Scotch-Irish and Anglicans, who left a legacy of diverse farming practices, architecture, and local craft. There are a number of registered national historic landmarks along the way.

Nelson County Visitor Center

8519 Thomas Nelson Hwy (Rt 29)
Lovingston, VA 22949
434-263-7015

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