💛 A quick favor, if you've got a second.
We're really happy that you chose to read one of our stories and sincerely hope you'll stick around to read more. We took our paywall down — for now — but that won't last forever, and when the gate goes back up, we'd love for you to already be on the inside.
It's free. So please enter your email here and don't forget to like and follow us on all of your favorite Social Media platforms!
North Carolina State and Virginia will meet at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 3:30 p.m. ET for a Week 0 matchup. The game was originally scheduled for Rio de Janeiro’s Nilton Santos Stadium as college football’s first international trip to South America, but event organizer Athlete Advantage informed the ACC this summer that the event could not proceed as planned. Both teams were rerouted to Charlottesville instead.
The relocation presents an opportunity for fans to maximize their weekend by combining the football experience with outdoor recreation. Charlottesville’s proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah National Park offers numerous hiking options within an hour of kickoff. All recommended trails are accessible without international travel or advance passport planning.
Monticello’s trail system, situated 10 minutes from Scott Stadium, features a 4.4-mile out-and-back route along packed gravel and raised boardwalk. The path climbs gently through forest to the visitor center at Thomas Jefferson’s historic home. The trail is free to hike, dog-friendly, wheelchair-accessible and largely shaded, though separate admission tickets to tour the house range from $23 to $30 for adults and $10 for children ages 5 to 11.
A 30-minute drive leads to an 1850s railroad tunnel carved through the mountain beneath Rockfish Gap. The 4.6-mile out-and-back route passes through this tunnel, which grows increasingly dark and cool as visitors venture deeper. A flashlight or headlamp is recommended for this moderately easy hike.
Shenandoah National Park, accessed via the Rockfish Gap entrance 25 minutes from Scott Stadium, charges a $30 per-vehicle fee valid for seven days. Two standout hikes accessible from Skyline Drive include Calvary and Chimney Rocks at milepost 90, offering views from a flat-topped rock overlook, and Turk Mountain at milepost 93.5, which features rock scrambles and panoramic mountain vistas.
The Blue Hole swimming area lies 35 minutes from Scott Stadium via the Sugar Hollow parking area. A 3-mile out-and-back hike leads to this popular swimming hole on the Moormans River. Alternatively, a 4.6-mile route from the same lot reaches Big Branch Falls through shaded forest for those seeking more strenuous exercise.
Humpback Mountain, located 30 minutes away, offers a steep one-mile climb rewarded with 360-degree views of the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains. The summit lacks shade, making an early morning start preferable to afternoon hiking. The trail ranks among popular sunrise destinations for University of Virginia students.
Crabtree Falls, situated 60 to 75 minutes from Scott Stadium, features five major cascades dropping 1,200 feet total down the mountainside. The tallest single vertical drop measures 400 feet, making it Virginia’s highest single-drop waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The 3-mile round-trip hike includes switchbacks and handrails on steep sections and charges a $3 day-use fee. A separate Crabtree Falls exists off the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, requiring verification before GPS input.
Charlottesville’s location provides exceptional advantages for outdoor enthusiasts attending the game. The combination of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah National Park, and surrounding reservoir systems creates numerous hiking opportunities within reasonable distance of Scott Stadium.
More Stories
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti tells restless Hoosiers fans not to gripe over 38-0 win
State Department Reissues Level 3 Travel Advisory for Israel Amid Terrorism and Armed Conflict Concerns
Forest Service Proposes Steep Fee Increases at Lake Tahoe Recreation Sites