Saunders-Monticello Trail — Attraction in Virginia

Super activity accessible to walkers at all levels of fitness.

The main trail goes up to the Monticello visitors center - 2 miles each way. The trail is wide and smooth. It's a walking path, not a hiking trail. The walk up is a gentle incline.

At the top is a nice cafe with good food, albeit a bit pricey. The top also features clean bathrooms, free 10 minute movie, and a free museum about Thomas Jefferson. Nice reward for getting to the top. Then the walk back to parking is almost all slightly downhill.

The park network also has hiking trails for more ambitious hikers, complete with scenic overlooks. Dogs are allowed on the hiking trails but not on the main walkway to/from the Monticello visitors center.

If the small parking lot is full, try the large one around the corner on Rt 20. Should that fill up, two undocumented parking opportunities are: 1) PVCC across route 20 traffic light from the large parking lot, or 2) Mitchie Tavern, walk behind the complex to join the walking path at its mid point, or 3) visitor's center at the top, and then walk the...

I recommend parking at the Dairy Barn Rd additional parking because the main parking only has 12 spots. It was already full at 8AM. This is a great easy gravel trail that goes to the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center of Monticello. It was 4.32 miles roundtrip. I’m a slow walker, so it took me 1 hour and 56 minutes roundtrip. There’s ~10 boardwalks. Dogs are only allowed to go up to boardwalk #2, but you can take your dog on other trails that branch off, like the pond trail. When you get to the visitor center (about 2 miles to get there), there are restrooms, the Farm Table cafe, which has great baked goods, coffee, sandwiches, and salads, the museum where you can see one of the existing 50 original Declaration of Independence (free), and the museum shop. Majority of the trail is shaded, and I saw a lot of parents with strollers. There’s a picnic area near the visitors center. It was...

Went early July 4 for a hike on the "rustic" trails. We brought our dogs so we couldn't take the Saunders-Monticello trail with thr boardwalks as dogs aren't allowed. The rustic trails are still nice. They weren't muddy even though it had rained pretty hard a couple days earlier. But it could just be because it's been a pretty dry summer otherwise. The trails aren't marked well, but we managed to get around all right. Wasnt busy at all, but could be because we went early. Not a lot of parking so I advise you to go early. Additionally, there was a sign saying there is increased bear activity in the area. I'm sure on the Saunders-Monticello trails it would be fine, but on the more rustic trails, you should probably stay pretty alert. We will likely go back again next week to try the Jason Stevens trail. The park is nice because there are several different trails for a...