You Have to Experience This Cave Hike In Virginia For Yourself

Whenever I’m planning a hike, I tend to skew towards a hike that offers something. That could be a hike with a view, a waterfall hike, or some other notable attraction, like a cave! There are plenty of cave hikes in Virginia that are worth your time—Luray Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns, and Skyline Caverns are certainly the most popular, but there is one cave hike in Virginia that’s a bit of a hidden gem. 

Pete’s Cave isn’t technically an actual cave. It’s more of a collection of fallen rocks that have formed a cave-like structure, but it still counts in our book! Plus, the views along this trail are just magnificent. 

The trail itself only has an elevation gain of about 813 feet, but you’ll be doing a lot of the heavy lifting from the car. There is plenty of parking near the trailhead, but the road is pretty narrow and mostly gravel. Here’s the location on Google Maps so you can plan accordingly.

The Pete’s Cave Trail is about 6.5 miles, out and back. The good news is that hikers will experience stunning views pretty early into the hike! I’d recommend carving out at least three hours to complete this hike, planning ahead for all of those moments where you stop to take in the views. 

The trail has a mix of stunning views, rocky areas, and forest treks. It’s not particularly difficult, though you’ll be scrambling over some rocks once you reach the “cave.” Feel free to wander around and explore the "cave." There are stunning views all around!

It’s unlikely you’ll see other hikers along the trail, but you will want to keep an eye out for wildlife. Deer can often be spotted darting through the trees, which is always a welcome sight. Of course, this is bear territory, so make sure you are making noise along your hike and staying vigilant. A hiker in January reported a hibernating bear in this area, so please use caution. 

Since we’re on the topic of safety, allow me to be a mama bear (pun intended) for a moment. Scrambling across rocks to catch that epic viewpoint is one of my favorite things to do on a hike…but that comes with risk! It’s easier than you think to twist an ankle, scrape your knee, or worse. Please be careful as you play on Mother Nature’s playground! I always wear appropriate hiking gear and bring a small first aid kit with me whenever I’m on a trail. All it takes is one slip, y’all. I learned that lesson when I was hiking in Curaçao many years ago and fell onto a cactus. Don't worry, my hand broke my fall, and I spent the next hour picking tiny needles out of my hand. Don't be like me. Wear good hiking boots and pack a first aid kit with you.

The trail is decently marked (look for the blue blazes), but an AllTrails + account is always a good idea.

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