Admittedly, the Tunnel Trail at New River Gorge National River in south-central West Virginia is a bit of a letdown sans its namesake attraction: a cave-like passage now closed to visitors. Barring deep structural fixes to the poorly-supported tunnel—historically a favorite among locals—the rock maze is likely to remain inaccessible for months or years to …
Continue reading Tunnel Trail (New River Gorge National River, WV)
Lacking the most creative nomenclature, the Grandview area at West Virginia’s New River Gorge National River nonetheless lives up to its name, boasting spectacular vistas and craggy cliffs. With New River some 1,400 feet below, the Castle Rock/Grandview Rim Trail loop leads hikers to some of the best viewpoints in the park. At least the …
Continue reading Castle Rock Trail Loop (New River Gorge National River, WV)
It seems like every state park in America has a man-made reservoir, and Babcock State Park in south-central West Virginia is no exception. After checking out the area’s historic grist mill, beautiful waterfalls, and sweeping views, finish off your day with an easy-to-moderate loop hike around Boley Lake, stocked with trout between February and May …
Continue reading Lake View Trail Loop (Babcock State Park, WV)
Especially in the spring, when water levels are particularly high, the Skyline Trail – Narrow Gauge Trail Loop in Babcock State Park is simply spectacular. This 4,127-acre park in south-central West Virginia, often dwarfed by its larger and better-known neighbor, offers greater solitude and intimacy than New River Gorge National River. What the Skyline Trail …
Continue reading Skyline Trail – Narrow Gauge Trail Loop (Babcock State Park, WV)
Coal mining was once the ticket to wealth in rural West Virginia. Today it is a struggling industry—the number of coal jobs in the state has halved since 1983. Yet even as more coal mines close, they remain an integral part of West Virginia’s heritage, and a number of sites are protected by organizations like …
Continue reading Headhouse Trail (New River Gorge National River, WV)
Many visits to New River Gorge National River in south central West Virginia begin at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, situated off Route 19 on the east flank of the gorge. While some of the best hikes in the park lie elsewhere, the short Canyon Rim Boardwalk Trail offers excellent and convenient views of the …
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Situated 2-3 hours’ drive north of Quebec City, Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay boasts one of the world’s longest and southernmost fjords, a rare sight along the Atlantic coast of North America. Here the Saguenay River, a prominent waterway flowing into the even larger Saint Lawrence, twists and weaves through a glacial valley, the result of …
Continue reading Sentier des Chutes (Parc National du Fjord-du-Saguenay, QC)
Situated just north of today’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood in Washington, DC, Piney Branch carves a wooded valley that was a longtime source of quartzite and boasted the first road through what would become Rock Creek Park. A smattering of trails zig-zag across the steam valley, but the description below covers a 1.5-mile loop around the …
At 78 feet, Cunningham Falls, the centerpiece of the state park bearing its name, is Maryland’s tallest waterfall and one of the state’s most visited. Situated in the heart of the Catoctin Mountains, this scenic landmark is less than a 1 ½ hour-drive from Baltimore or Washington, DC. Come during the offseason to get the …
Continue reading Cliff Trail – Lower Trail Loop (Cunningham Falls State Park, MD)
Terminating at a multi-tiered waterfall, the Gulf Branch Trail follows one of northern Virginia’s several lush stream valleys from Glebe Road Park in Arlington to the Potomac River. The Gulf Branch Nature Center, situated roughly halfway through the hike, offers daily programs and surprisingly extensive exhibits on the local ecology and history. The below account …
Live and Let Hike 