Trail Map: The Hike: This short, easy hike has an excellent rewards to effort ratio. The overlook is 3,000 feet above the Blackwater Canyon with expansive views. In early July, flowering mountain laurel and rhododendron line the trail. This is a popular spot for sunrise and sunset. Hike Photos: Beer Pairing: Blackwater Lodge is just […]
ala Trail and Falls Trail Map: The Hike: This park is best known for Blackwater Falls. Elakala Falls, conveniently located near the park lodge, offers an opportunity to visit the falls from above and below. The waterfall is the highlight of this hike—most people just hike to the falls. A footbridge leads over the falls
Trail Map: The Hike: This short hike has some incredible views. The drive to the trailhead is more of a challenge than the hike itself. For most standard vehicles, the best route to the trailhead is from route 32 three miles south of Davis WV. The Canaan Loop Road starts out as a paved road
Trail Map: The Hike: Kathy has been experiencing some knee challenges and her doctor and PT recommended she scale back her hiking activities. We get lots of requests for shorter hikes and the Bear Rocks Preserve in WV has been on our list for a while. Our friends at the Nature Conservancy do an amazing
Trail Map: The Hike: This hike on the Appalachian Trail to the Audie Murphy Monument approaches from the north. The monument can also be reached on the AT from the south. Both routes are about 8 miles with similar elevation gains. Hiking southbound on the AT has a longer section on the ridge. From the
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Trail Map: The Hike: This hike to Buzzard Rock has some of the best views in the Roanoke area. Read Mountain is the long, undeveloped ridge looming above the Roanoke Valley. The park lands, protected by a conservation easement, were donated to Roanoke County and the hiking trails were built by volunteers. The 243-acre park
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Trail Map: The Hike: We have received a few emails requesting shorter, easier hikes. This hike loops through a hardwood forest where interpretive signs tell how the forest changes and adapts throughout time. A footbridge leads to Turtle Island with some nice lake and mountain views. The trail returns back to the parking area. Directly
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Trail Map: The Hike: This short, easy hike leads to a viewing platform overlooking Bush Mill Stream. The trail is well marked and well maintained. From the small parking area, follow the blue-blazed Deep Landing Trail as it gradually descends down to the stream. The preserve is rarely crowded, creating an ideal wildlife-watching experience. Several
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Trail Map: The Hike: Westmoreland is one of the original Virginia state parks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park is a great location for birdwatching. Bald eagles, ospreys, kingfishers, great blue herons, common terns, and green herons are frequently spotted in the park. The Laurel Point Trail is well
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Trail Map: The Hike: Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster (not be confused with Belle Isle in Richmond) is located on the banks of the Rappahannock River in Virginia’s Northern Neck. This area is a bird watcher’s paradise. We spotted several blue herons, osprey, and hawks. Bald eagles nest in this area but we didn’t
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