The Shenandoah Valley & Mountains of the Virginias, An Explorer’s Guide: Includes Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains & West Virginia’s Alleghenies & New River Region

West Virginia

I found this on Amazon…

Update 2026:

That title refers to a comprehensive travel handbook by Jim Hargan, first published in 2005 by Countryman Press (a division of W.W. Norton & Company).

If you’re looking into this for a trip or research, here is a breakdown of what the book offers and how it holds up today.

Core Details

  • Author: Jim Hargan (a travel writer and photographer known for his work in the New York Times and Field & Stream).
  • Length: Approximately 464 pages.
  • Series: Part of the “Explorer’s Guide” series (sometimes called “Explorer’s Great Destinations”).
  • Scope: It covers the “Greater Virginias” mountain region, spanning from the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge in Virginia to the Alleghenies and the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

What’s Inside?

The book is structured as a “one-stop shop” for the region, balancing outdoor recreation with cultural history. Key features include:

  • Outdoor Guides: Detailed access points for the nine national parks in the area, plus trailheads for hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking.
  • Lodging & Dining: “Opinionated” listings (Hargan doesn’t hold back on what’s worth your time) for B&Bs, historic inns, and dining ranging from roadside BBQ to high-end cuisine.
  • “What’s Where” Guide: A helpful alphabetical subject guide to help you find specific interests (e.g., “Civil War sites” or “Caverns”) quickly.
  • Cultural Context: Deep dives into the history of the Scotch-Irish and German settlers who shaped the valley’s architecture and traditions.

The “2026” Perspective

While this is a foundational text for the region, there are two things to keep in mind if you are buying a copy now:

  1. Geographic Reliability: The mountains, trails, and historical sites haven’t changed. Hargan’s descriptions of the scenery and the “soul” of these towns remain excellent.
  2. Logistical Accuracy: Because the last major update was in the mid-2000s, many of the specific restaurant listings, hotel prices, and business hours will be outdated. You should use the book for its geographic and historical wisdom but verify specific venues online.

Note: For more updated logistical info, Jim Hargan also authored The Blue Ridge & Smoky Mountains: An Explorer’s Guide, which saw more recent editions (up to 2012), though it focuses more on the southern end of the range.