The winter woods have returned to Afton & Blue Ridge Parkway

By Lynn R. Mitchell

After a particularly colorful autumn leaf show, the winter woods have returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Howardsville Turnpike can now be seen through the leafless woods from the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love the winter woods … trees are bare and you can see the forest floor. This time of year there are few people on the Parkway so it offers solitude with only the sound of the wind and the dry, rustly leaves on the ground to keep you company.

Afton offers a refuge from the world and is a great place to be alone with your thoughts while looking out over the Shenandoah Valley (western view) or Rockfish Valley (eastern view).

Howardsville Turnpike winds down the mountain from the Parkway toward Lyndhurst in the Valley.

An old split rail fence along Howardsville Turnpike is a reminder of earlier times.

 The vistas open up with the winter woods.

 Humpback Rock area

 View of the Rockfish Valley south of Charlottesville.

Looking east from the Parkway.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell