There’s something almost rebellious about discovering a road that hasn’t been Instagrammed to death or featured in glossy travel magazines.
The Snickersville Turnpike in Virginia’s Loudoun County is that kind of delicious secret – a 15-mile stretch of winding byway that whispers rather than shouts its considerable charms.
Running between the historic villages of Aldie and Bluemont, this scenic route offers a journey through time that feels like trespassing into a living museum – except it’s completely legal and there’s no admission fee.
I’ve driven roads across America that promise scenic wonders but deliver only disappointment and overpriced gift shops.
This is emphatically not one of those roads.
The Snickersville Turnpike delivers views so quintessentially Virginian that you half expect Thomas Jefferson to come trotting around the next bend on horseback, tipping his hat as he passes.
Let me be your unofficial and occasionally amusing guide to what might be America’s most underrated scenic adventure.
When I say the Snickersville Turnpike is historic, I don’t mean it was paved during the Reagan administration.
This route began as a Native American pathway, evolved into a colonial trading route, and was formally established as a turnpike in 1810.
That makes it older than photography, the telephone, and sliced bread – literally all the greatest things.
For perspective, when this road was first being traveled, James Madison was president and the War of 1812 hadn’t happened yet.
The road takes its name from the original village of Snickersville, later renamed the less whimsical but more geographically accurate Bluemont in 1900.
During the Civil War, this turnpike witnessed significant military activity, with both Union and Confederate forces utilizing it for troop movements.
History buffs might note that Mosby’s Rangers, the famous Confederate partisan unit, operated extensively in this area, using the familiar terrain to their advantage.
Each mile of this roadway has witnessed the evolution of American transportation – from moccasined feet to horse hooves, from carriage wheels to automobile tires.
Driving it today connects you to this unbroken chain of human movement across centuries.
It’s not every day your commute can claim to span four centuries of American history.
The eastern gateway to this scenic journey begins in Aldie, a village that seems to exist in comfortable defiance of the modern world’s hustle.
The Aldie Mill Historic Park presents an immediate photo opportunity, with its imposing 1807 mill building and water wheel standing as monuments to early American industry.
The millstones inside once ground wheat into flour that fed troops during multiple American conflicts.
As you leave Aldie behind, the roadway narrows and begins its gentle undulation through the countryside.
The first thing you’ll notice is how the turnpike seems organically integrated into the landscape, following natural contours rather than blasting through them as modern highways do.
This is intentional design from an era when roads adapted to nature rather than forcing nature to adapt to them.
Early stretches of the drive showcase Virginia’s horse country in all its glory.
Pristine pastures stretch to the horizon, often bordered by immaculately maintained white fences that look like they receive daily manicures.
The horses themselves – these magnificent creatures with their gleaming coats – regard passing cars with aristocratic indifference, as if to say, “We were here first, and we’ll be here after your noisy contraption is in a museum.”
They’re not wrong.
The rolling Piedmont landscape creates a rhythm to your drive – up, down, curve, straightaway – that feels almost musical in its composition.
Around each bend, new vistas reveal themselves with theatrical timing.
In spring, these views include explosions of dogwood and redbud blossoms that look like nature’s version of fireworks frozen in mid-burst.
Summer brings fields of golden hay bales that resemble giant chess pieces arranged across an emerald board.
Fall – oh, magnificent fall – transforms the drive into a kaleidoscope of crimson, orange, and gold that makes even the most jaded travelers pull over in speechless appreciation.
Even winter has its austere beauty, with bare tree branches etched against gray skies and occasional snow transforming the familiar route into something otherworldly.
I’ve driven this road in all seasons, and like choosing a favorite child, I simply cannot pick a preferred time to visit.
Each offers its own compelling case.
Perhaps the most distinctive visual elements along the Snickersville Turnpike are its historic stone walls and split-rail fences.
These aren’t decorative additions created for tourist appeal – they’re authentic 18th and 19th-century structures that continue to serve their original purposes.
The stone walls represent remarkable feats of engineering, built without mortar using only careful placement and balance to create structures that have withstood centuries of freeze-thaw cycles, storms, and the occasional collision with wayward vehicles.
Each stone was placed by hand – a staggering thought when you consider the miles of walls that parallel portions of the roadway.
The split-rail fences, with their distinctive zigzag pattern, utilize a design that predates the Revolutionary War.
Made from durable chestnut or oak, these fences required no nails or hardware, just a clever interlocking arrangement that distributed weight and tension.
When autumn leaves gather in drifts against these ancient boundaries, the visual effect can be so perfect it almost seems artificial – nature’s own still life composition.
I’ve seen professional photographers and amateur Instagram enthusiasts alike blocked in turnouts, trying desperately to capture what the human eye processes so effortlessly.
The village of Philomont appears like an apparition from another era as you continue westward.
Its community center, housed in a former one-room schoolhouse dating from 1874, stands as a testament to rural education in post-Civil War America.
With its white clapboard siding and bell tower, it represents a quintessential piece of American architectural vernacular.
Nearby, the Philomont General Store offers a convenient stopping point for refreshments and local conversation – sometimes the most valuable souvenir of all.
The locals maintain a friendly but knowing demeanor toward visitors “discovering” their homeland.
They’ve seen generations come through, exclaiming over the beauty they’ve lived amongst their entire lives.
Approximately midway along the turnpike stands the Mt. Zion Old School Baptist Church, a stone structure dating from 1851 that served as a hospital and military rendezvous point during the Civil War.
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The church’s austere architecture reflects the straightforward faith of its congregation – no ornate stained glass or elaborate spires, just solid construction meant to endure.
The adjacent cemetery contains gravestones spanning two centuries, with epitaphs that range from heartbreaking to unexpectedly humorous.
Walking among these markers provides a poignant reminder of the brevity of individual lives compared to the enduring landscape.
I remember visiting on a quiet weekday afternoon when the only sounds were birds, distant farm equipment, and the whisper of breeze through ancient oaks.
The peaceful atmosphere belied the site’s tumultuous past as a center of wartime activity.
Several historic bridges punctuate your journey along the turnpike, each representing remarkable engineering achievement for their time.
The stone arch bridges spanning Beaverdam Creek demonstrate masonry techniques largely forgotten in our modern era of poured concrete and steel.
Their graceful arches create perfect circles when reflected in the water below – a sight that has remained unchanged for centuries.
Equally impressive are the more modest wooden bridges crossing smaller streams and creeks.
These structures, though less imposing than their stone counterparts, showcase the ingenuity of early American builders working with limited materials and tools.
From these bridges, you can often spot wildlife going about their business – great blue herons stalking fish, turtles sunning on partially submerged logs, and occasionally the silvery flash of trout navigating the clear waters.
If possible, take time to park safely and explore these waterways on foot.
The sounds of flowing water provide a soothing soundtrack to your journey, a natural counterpoint to the mechanical hum of your vehicle.
The agricultural tapestry visible from the Snickersville Turnpike reflects Virginia’s rich farming heritage.
Family farms, some operated by fifth or sixth-generation descendants of the original settlers, showcase a diverse range of activities.
These aren’t the industrial-scale operations that dominate much of American agriculture today, but smaller, more diverse farms that produce everything from heritage vegetables to artisanal cheeses.
Orchards climb the gentle slopes in geometric rows, producing apples, peaches, and cherries that supply local markets and farm stands.
In spring, their blossoms create clouds of pink and white that drift across the landscape like earthbound cumulus.
Vineyards have become increasingly prominent along the route, their orderly rows of vines testifying to Virginia’s growing reputation as a wine-producing region.
Several wineries near the turnpike offer tastings and tours, providing perfect opportunities to extend your journey with sensory pleasures beyond the visual.
I’ve found that a glass of local Viognier pairs remarkably well with sunset views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The western terminus of the turnpike reaches Bluemont, nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
This former resort village once welcomed heat-weary Washingtonians who arrived by train seeking mountain breezes and country hospitality.
Though the trains no longer run, Bluemont retains its welcoming character, with the historic E.E. Lake Store building anchoring the small downtown area.
From here, the view back eastward across the valley presents a panorama encompassing much of your journey.
On clear days, you can see all the way to the Bull Run Mountains, with the Piedmont’s rolling terrain spread between like a rumpled green blanket.
Wildlife sightings add unpredictable delight to your Snickersville Turnpike adventure.
White-tailed deer emerge from wooded areas with balletic grace, particularly during early morning or evening hours.
Wild turkeys strut through fields with prehistoric dignity, their iridescent feathers catching sunlight despite their comically ungainly gait.
Red-tailed hawks circle overhead, their keen eyes scanning for field mice and voles, while smaller birds like eastern bluebirds and cardinals add splashes of color to fence posts and telephone wires.
In summer evenings, the fields come alive with the twinkling of fireflies rising from the grass in mesmerizing patterns – nature’s own light show that no technology can adequately replicate.
I’ve spent entire evenings parked safely at turnouts, watching these luminous insects perform their silent symphony.
To fully appreciate the Snickersville Turnpike experience, abandon any notion of rushing.
This journey rewards the unhurried traveler who understands that scenic drives, like fine meals, are meant to be savored rather than consumed.
Allow at least half a day to explore the full route, with additional time for side excursions to nearby attractions.
Bring a picnic to enjoy at one of the many scenic spots along the way.
There’s something profoundly satisfying about dining al fresco with panoramic views that haven’t changed substantively in centuries.
Photography enthusiasts should plan their trips for early morning or late afternoon when the light casts long shadows and bathes the landscape in golden hues.
The area photographers call “the golden hour” extends longer here, with the mountains creating extended twilight periods perfect for capturing atmospheric images.
Consider bringing binoculars for wildlife spotting and examining architectural details on distant historic structures.
A good map or GPS is recommended, though cell service can be spotty in some areas – a limitation that many find adds to the sense of disconnection from the modern world.
Most importantly, bring curiosity and an appreciation for subtle beauty.
The Snickersville Turnpike doesn’t feature dramatic canyons or towering waterfalls – its appeal lies in the harmonious relationship between natural landscape and human habitation developed over generations.
This scenic byway exists today in its preserved state thanks to concerted conservation efforts.
In 1998, the road received official designation as a Virginia Byway, recognizing its historical and scenic significance.
Local organizations and property owners have worked diligently to establish conservation easements that prevent inappropriate development along the corridor.
When traveling this special route, remember you’re experiencing a landscape that has been intentionally safeguarded through community action and commitment.
Respect private property, drive at moderate speeds for safety and optimal viewing, and practice Leave No Trace principles if stopping for exploration.
Use this map to plan your perfect scenic adventure through Virginia’s most underrated treasure.
Where: Bluemont, VA 20135
In a world increasingly dominated by identical highways and homogenized experiences, the Snickersville Turnpike remains a road less traveled that makes all the difference.
Your soul will thank you for the detour.
