Fortune's Cove Preserve Fortune's Cove Lane, Lovingston, VA 22949

"Great hike with a beautiful forest and mountain views. Like others have said, it can be challenging in parts, but just take breaks. The main direction has a steep incline but if you go the other direction it’s more gradual. That entrance is a short walk up the road from the entrance, opposite direction of the entrance, and not marked. I did the smaller 4 mile loop and it took 3 hours. I do regret not bringing water. But it was quite pretty and a good workout. I’ll plan more next time and do the longer loop. No dogs, and that’s a good thing, for them."

"Not you typical walk in the park but if you are looking for some exercise, Fortune's Cove Preserve is just what you want. Great rugged hiking. Early season hiking would avoid some poison Ivy or wear pants... bring plenty of water and have fun."

"FYI: No dogs allowed. Google maps took us right to the parking lot. The trail starts across the road from the driveway leading to the parking lot. We did the shorter White Trail hike. According to the signs this is a 3.7 mile hike but both of our Apple Watches registered it as just over 4 miles. This hike starts out very steep for the first mile and then mostly goes down hill for the next 3 miles until you return to the road just below the parking lot. Surprisingly, we saw very little wildlife at the end of February but it was only 41 degrees. With all of the leaves down you can really see the terrain and rock formations. There are no bathrooms or garbage cans at the parking lot. Signs in English and Spanish. The trail is well maintained with several bridges over the small creeks."

"This is a strenuous loop trail that climbs 1400 ft in the first 3.5 miles. In fact, there's an inner loop whose trail is shorter & less difficult. The advertised distance never seem to match up w ours. We clocked in at around 6.5 miles w stops. It will be very helpful to bring at least one trekking pole. The climb is immediate & continuous w enough leveling to catch a breath or view the valley at 7 distinct vistas. Otherwise, the foliage blocks everything as you hike the ridge. Some parts of the trail were impeded by fallen trees & overgrown plants, creating obstacles to navigate. But this only added to the unique nature of the hike. Thankfully, once we hit the summit, it was ALL downhill from there. Logged steps and the absence of rocks made the descent much easier and faster. However, the trail seemed to never end. It eventually did after 3.5 hrs."

"Hiked the big loop and was treated to several compelling vistas. The leaves had fallen off the trees already as we did a winter hike so not sure how the views would be with full foliage. One small waterfall and not too crowded, perfect for a moderately strenuous hike that doesn't take up the whole day. Plenty of parking at the base of the trail and don't forget to leave your walking sticks for the next hiker! Highly recommend stopping by the mountain cove winery right next store after your hike."