Hughes River

Discover one of the country's best brook trout rivers.

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Photo credit Kyle LaFerriere

Hughes River brook trout

Fishing for brook trout on the Hughes River

Photo credit Kyle LaFerriere

A (Scenic) River Runs Through It

Learn more about Virginia's Scenic Rivers Program that boasts more than 1,000 miles of waterways through the Commonwealth. 

Called “one of the finest brook-trout rivers in the Shenandoah National Park” by FlyFisherman.com, the Hughes River flows southeast from Stony Man Mountain to join the Hazel River in Culpeper County. The headwaters, within the park, are home to wild brook trout, while the majority of the river, from the park boundary line to the Hazel, is designated scenic and is stocked with both rainbow and brown trout. Most sources advise packing both hiking shoes and waders for fishing the Hughes, as the best spots are a mile or two down a trail. Fishing is best in the spring and fall, but summer can also present opportunities if the water level doesn’t get too low.