Rockfish Gap Outfitters

If you’re going for a light hike for a couple of miles or hiking the entire Appalachian Trail you need to stock up at this place. The guys here know what they carry and are a wealth of knowledge if you are just starting out.

Great store! Something for every kind of outdoor adventurer. Reasonable prices and very helpful and kind staff.

Really helpful friendly staff each and every time I go to the store for the last 25 years. This weekend I went there to check out their hiking footwear and was guided to try on the Men’s — TrekSta T745-​Evolution Mid GTX Light. Naturally I wouldn’t have tried on a men’s shoe however I’m on a tight budget and was specifically only checking out the clearance section which was decent in size but also limited. But these are the personal challenges of small budgets. This vegan hiking boot instantly felt like home for my feet and the clearance price made it possible for me to own a high quality hiking boot. Every time I visit my home town I make a point to stop here and see what they got. Love that store. Best stop in Waynesboro. Make sure you go if you love the great outdoors.

Waynesboro, Virginia – Road Trip #6
Everyone has a dream, right? Well, I have a dream, although it’s more of a fantasy. It all started with the book «A Walk in the Woods» by Bill Bryson. It’s a travelogue about his experience hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT). I fell in love with the idea of hiking the AT, and I devoured every book I could find on the topic. Along the way, I heard about Rockfish Gap Outfitters (RGO), which is a popular store for those hiking the AT. When I knew I would be in the same town as RGO, there was no way I was going to pass on the opportunity to visit.
RGO has been around since 1987. Since they are located only 2 ½ miles from the Shenandoah National Park, milepost zero of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the AT, they receive many outdoor enthusiasts. The store is huge – okay, it’s not huge compared to box chain stores, but it’s pretty impressive for an indy! Their 7,000 square feet is packed full of exciting goodies: apparel, kayaks, bicycles, hiking gear, camping gear, books… to name a few.
I want to mention the service. From the moment I walked in the door, I was met with friendly faces and knowledgeable staff. RGO is the kind of place where you feel at home. The staff is warm, and you know you are surrounded by likeminded people. I enjoyed talking to one of the staff about kayaking. Not only can they help you about items in the store, but they are happy to give you information such as local trails and kayaking spots. Speaking of kayaking, they rent kayaks as well as selling. Check out their website (
) for pricing or give them a call. They also do bike repairs in the store.
I highly recommend RGO, whether you are a local or visiting. Even if you aren’t that interested about the outdoors, go check it out. Maybe something at the store will ignite your primitive instincts, and you might want to take an adventure – maybe even hike the AT!

This is a short review, because I’m just passing along comments from The Hubs — he ran in, I stayed in the car with The Toddler. All we wanted was the National Geographic map for the Blueridge Parkway.
Lots of great-​looking equipment for several outdoors sports — understandable given the location. Reasonable prices, helpful staff who was happy to chat even though it was swiftly approaching closing time.
Bonus: they carry raised relief maps, which make fantastic souvenirs for map-​lovers. These are 3D topographical maps printed on rigid vinyl.

Amazing place, and the employees are extremely helpful and friendly.
Rockfish Gap Outfitters has a HUGE selection of outdoor gear. Everything from mountain bikes and kayaks to hiking sticks and backpacks. They’ve got a decent selection of hiking and outdoor gear for your four legged friend too — lots of Ruffwear available.
The layout is a little bit busy, but it’s not hard to find what you’re looking for. I really wanted to stay and browse longer, but the A.T. trailhead down the road was calling my name so I got what I needed and headed out.
I stopped in to get a portable stove that the had on-​sale in the «Attic» page on their website. When I arrived I’d asked about it, they knew exactly what I was looking for, but unfortunately they were sold out. One of the employees looked to see if there were any more in the back, but no dice. The employee did show me some similar priced stoves and I ended up going with his recommendation (MSR) and also walked out with a Soloist Cooking Set. Total bill was $ 100 for MSR stove, Soloist Cooking set and the fuel. Oh and a patch and bumper sticker too…
Price wise, I believe it’s fair and they do give great advice and suggestions for gear. Of the 2 employees I talked to both seem very well versed in the gear they carry and the outdoors in general.
I’d definitely go back and I’d recommend this place to anyone into the outdoor life.