Elyse ClarkExplorer

Take the Rim Trail in Hocking Hills State Park, which descends into the deep gorge and takes you alongside a stream as you head towards a number of cascades and interesting rock faces. Rim Trail can be linked to Cedar Falls, as well, or from the Upper Falls you can take Grandma Gatewood Trail for a 6 miles trail through the park. This is the site of the annual Hocking Winter Hike in January, w...

Start at the trailhead located just past the Gray's Arch picnic area. Follow Auxier Ridge Trail #204 (white diamonds). You will pass a trail junction at 0.9 miles, but continue on Auxier Ridge. At the following fork in the trail keep right.Along the trail, you will catch views from the ridge of Raven's Rock, Double Arch, Courthouse Rock, and the surrounding valley. Be careful of the steep cliff...

Before you head out, check the status of the Blue Ridge Parkway (it periodically closes during the winter).  The entire Bluff Mountain Trail is a 7.1 mile trail that traverses the Doughton Park Area along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  To do this particular hike, park at the bathrooms in the Doughton Park parking area immediately off the parkway at MP 241.  There is a small trail to the left of the b...

Kaymoor was on old West Virginia coal mining town that thrived in the early 1900's until it was abandoned in the 1950's. Along this trail you will see remnants of the old mine entrance, mining cars, a coal processing plant, and coke ovens, among other structures. This trail, although short, is quite difficult. Starting from the parking lot, walk back towards the road you came in on and the trai...

For a tough hike with rewarding views, check out Angels Rest and the Wilburn Valley Overlook. Easily accessible from US-460 near Pearisburg, this hike along the Appalachian Trail gains a total of 1600’ elevation is a 4.6 mile round trip hike. Angels Rest is a large boulder that overlooks the New River at the crest of Pearis Mountain, and the Wilburn Valley Overlook has a wide viewpoint of the ...

From the Fern Creek Trailhead this is a 2.0 mile out and back hike to Diamond Point. The trail is relatively flat with minimal elevation gain and has a bridge stream crossing. When you arrive at the sign stating "Climber's Access", take a short side trip here to see the views of the gorge. Continue a bit further to the Diamond Point sign. Here is a good spot to rest before you turn around. Try ...

Robertson Mountain is often overshadowed by the nearby Old Rag Mountain, but standing 5 feet taller than Old Rag, this hike offers seclusion and gorgeous views to the south.  Starting from the Limberlost Trailhead parking lot at MP 43 on the Skyline Drive, take the chained off Old Rag Fire Road.  Walk for 2.1 miles on the fire road, until you reach the Robertson Mountain Trail which breaks off ...

Park at the gravel lot across from the Brimberg Fish Factory (the parking lot is marked with a sign for Tvísöngur).  Walk up the gravel road in the back of the parking lot, which has a few switchbacks and after 10-15 minutes you will arrive at Tvísöngur.  Tvísöngur is a sound sculpture that was built in 2012. It has five individual chambers constructed of concrete that are supposed to mimic the...

Take Porters Creek Trail, a gravel road alongside Porters Creek. You will pass by an old farmstead and cemetery, as well as lots of wildflowers if you're out during the spring. In a mile, keep left, then in another half mile or so you should cross over a small (and somewhat harrowing) footbridge. The 40-ft tall Fern Branch Falls is less crowded than other falls in the park, and has open access...

Sharon Woods Metro Park is located just northeast of Cincinnati in Hamilton County. To visit this park it is $3 for a day permit for residents of Hamilton County or $5 for a day permit for non-residents.  When you enter the park, take the first left on the road before you cross a bridge over the stream. Park in the first parking area on the right. Keep the creek on your right side as you walk a...

This 10.8 mile loop is a very demanding, but very rewarding hike that will take most of the day to complete. The hike can be started from many different locations but in this write-up it starts at the Saddle Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and the loop is in the counter-clockwise direction.From the Saddle Overlook take the trail to the right of the parking area, which ascends quickly into th...

From the parking lot, take the trail to the left of the bathrooms.  This trail will wind down past a unique rock feature with a hole in it and ends at the black sand beach.  Sprawled out along the beach are remnants of a shipwreck.  The British trawler Epine wrecked here in 1948 and many oxidized pieces of the ship still remain on the beach today.  On the right side of Djúpalónssandur a trail b...

From the parking area just off the Ring Road (Highway 1) near the town of Bifröst, the trail starts to the left.  It is a very short, steep hike up to the top of the crater, but there are stairs and boardwalks to aid the ascent.  At the top, there are wonderful views of the surrounding area and you can walk around the entire rim.  Exploring the crater takes about 15-20 minutes, so you could als...

From the main parking lot at Grandview's visitor center, follow the well marked paved trail about 0.1 miles to the Main Overlook. There is a large platform for viewing the New River here. A wide angle lens is best to photograph this large bend in the river.  There is another overlook in the park, the North Overlook, which also offers a panoramic view of the horseshoe bend in the New River. The...

Right off interstate I-77, Camp Creek State Park has two waterfalls that you can easily access: Mash Fork Falls and Campbell Falls. These falls can both have very low flows in late summer, so try to plan your visit for times of higher flows (early spring or after a rain). Mash Fork Falls is in the southwest part of the park and there is a parking lot with a viewing platform next to the falls. A...

Park at the parking lot at the crest of Clinch Mountain at Hayters Gap on Rt. 80, and walk along the road (Raven Ridge Road) behind the gate. The trail is fairly easy with minimum elevation gain and follows an old road bed almost the whole way. Be sure to keep to the left when the road splits and cross into "Channels State Forest".The trail is easy and well-marked, and will soon lead you to the...

Starting at the James River Footbridge, which is the longest foot traffic only bridge on the entire Appalachian Trail. Head north on the Appalachian Trail.  You will quickly cross over Rt. 501. After a mile of hiking through the woods skirting the Rocky Row Run stream, you will cross over Forest Road 812. There is an intersection with the spur trail to John's Hollow Shelter 1.8 miles into the h...

Starting from the old store parking area at MP 339.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, follow the trail through a meadow past the campground amphitheater. After crossing the paved road to the campground, the trail will come to a T-intersection. Take the trail to the right for the shortest way to the falls.  The trail will descend steeply with a couple of switchbacks and some constructed stone steps. ...

The Murray's Mill Historic District features Murray's Mill (constructed in 1913) with its 28 ft. waterwheel, a general store constructed in the 1890's, Wheathouse Exhibit gallery, and the John Murray House.  Free and open to the public to visit, this is a great place to stop and stretch your legs if traveling.  It is also a great place for a picnic as there are stream-side picnic tables on the ...

This is a strenuous 4.5 mile hike beginning from the Lower Parking Lot in Stone Mountain State Park (for a 5.2 mile hike, begin at the Upper Parking Lot). From the lot, take the trail by the bathroom. Keep right at the first trail intersection, then left at the second trail intersection to stay on the orange circle-blazed trail. You'll soon pass the Hutchinson Family Homestead, over a century ...

This easy 3.0 mile hike begins at the Lower Trailhead Parking Lot at Stone Mountain State Park and includes a 400' ascent to two granite outcrops with nice views. This hike can be combined with the Stone Mountain Loop hike for a 6.5 mile strenuous hike.From the parking lot, walk towards the stream by the bathrooms to take the Stone Mountain Loop Trail. After 0.2 miles, intersect the Wolf Rock T...

Hawk's Nest State Park is a true gem in the New River Gorge area. It has a roadside overlook that looks out over a horseshoe bend of the New River with views of the Hawk's Nest Dam and of a railroad bridge across the river. From the parking area, simply walk about 200 feet out to the stone overlook.Although gorgeous at any time of day, this spot is perfectly oriented for sunrises (especially in...

Maryland Heights is at the convergence of Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia, as well as the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. The Appalachian Trail and C&O Canal Towpath are also easily accessible from the trailhead parking lot. The parking lot holds about 16 cars and is between Locks 33 and 34, or approximately mile 61 of the C & O Canal Towpath. The hike starts on the opposite side of...

Located on Queer Creek in Hocking Hills State Park, the popular 50 ft-Cedar Falls still tends to be less crowded than Old Man's Cave. There are scenic views to be had year-round off of the stream-lined path, starting from the lower parking lot off of SR 374. For quicker access to the falls, start at the upper parking lot, nearby. A section of stairs, called the Democracy Steps, lead down to th...