The northernmost promontory on lengthy Massanutten Mountain, Signal Knob provides sweeping views of Strasburg, Virginia and Shenandoah Valley. Climbing to the overlook, however, is a haul: hikers starting in the Elizabeth Furnace area of George Washington National Forest must conquer more than four miles one-way and 1,500 feet in elevation gain to reach the viewpoint—and …
Continue reading Signal Knob Loop (George Washington National Forest, VA)
Often cited as one of Virginia’s best day hikes, the long but rewarding Blue Suck Falls Loop in Douthat State Park features tumbling cascades, dense rhododendron thickets, and a series of fine viewpoints in an oft-forgotten corner of the state. It’s no easy walk in the park, however, covering nearly 10 miles and 1,700 feet …
Continue reading Blue Suck Falls Loop and Tuscarora Overlook (Douthat State Park, VA)
- Civil War Series - In September 1862, Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson used Loudoun Heights as a staging ground for the bombardment of the picturesque—but also strategic—town of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. Today, remnants of the Civil War have mostly disappeared from the ridgetop, but spectacular views of Harper’s Ferry and the confluence of the …
Continue reading Loudoun Heights Trail (Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, WV)
Cunningham Falls, Maryland’s tallest, is the focal park of the state park bearing its name, but there are plenty of other worth destinations in this 6,000-acre wilderness a short striking distance from Frederick, Maryland. Cat Rock offers nice, albeit not fantastic, views of the surrounding Catoctin Mountains, but the real gem is the “rock” itself: …
Continue reading Cat Rock Loop (Cunningham Falls State Park, MD)
Despite its difficulty, the Hadley Mountain Trail is one of the most popular hikes in upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The journey to the summit is a tough slog, gaining more than 1,500 feet in less than two miles. Hikers are nonetheless rewarded with panoramic views of the Adirondacks, Great Sacandaga Lake, and even the …
Continue reading Hadley Mountain Trail (Adirondack Park, NY)
In terms of height, Shenandoah National Park’s Hazel Falls pales in comparison to its better-known neighbors, such as South River, Lewis Spring, or Dark Hollow Falls. But tucked away in a narrow, intimate gorge littered with caves, the multi-tiered waterfall is arguably just as spectacular. The relatively easy out-and-back to the falls (from Skyline Drive) …
Continue reading Hazel Falls, Hazel Cave, and White Rocks Trail Loop (Shenandoah National Park, VA)
Shenandoah National Park’s nearly 11-mile Piney Ridge-Thornton River Trail circuit covers nearly 1,700 feet in elevation gain/loss—perhaps one of several reasons this loop hike is lightly traveled. On a hot Saturday in July, I encountered only one pair of hikers—on the Piney Ridge Trail—before descending through a remote pocket of Shenandoah so sparsely visited that …
Continue reading Piney Ridge – Thornton River Trail Loop (Shenandoah National Park, VA)
A hike through Little Devils Stairs, featuring a narrow gorge with countless cascades, is one of the highlights of the North District in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. The 1,900-foot elevation gain makes this 7.4-mile “lariat” (or stem-and-loop) a demanding outing, but for those in good shape, intimate stony rambles and an abundance of peaceful waterfalls …
Continue reading Little Devils Stairs Trail Loop (Shenandoah National Park, VA)
(Note: This is the first post in a series of three, highlighting four neighboring slot canyons—all within walking distance of the Dry Fork Trailhead in Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The other two posts feature nearby Brimstone Gulch and the Dry Fork Narrows.) In the American Southwest, slot canyons are, simply put, an addiction. So …
Hundreds of thousands flock to southwestern Utah’s Zion National Park each year to witness the famed Zion Narrows, where the majestic Virgin River has sculpted a 16-mile stretch of cavernous bends and twists seemingly unique in their beauty. Midway across the state, however, Capitol Reef National Park boasts a comparably spectacular alternative in the remote …
Continue reading Halls Creek Narrows via “airport route” (Capitol Reef National Park, UT)
Live and Let Hike 