The Appalachian Trail passes just southeast of Front Royal, making the town a practical access point for a short walk on one of the United States' great long-distance footpaths. The local trail access is near Route 522, also called Remount Road, about 6 km from the centre of town.
You do not need to be a through-hiker to use it: a half-day out-and-back gives a quick taste of the wooded ridges that continue south through Shenandoah and north toward Harpers Ferry.